A Dutch Love Affair

The Netherlands is known as a cyclist’s paradise. However, the culture of cycling did not spring up overnight. In fact, the first dedicated bicycle lanes were developed some 125 years ago. By contrast, the idea is only beginning to catch on now in a number of Indonesian cities. But how did Holland develop an integrated transportation system that supports cycling? Is it ideal, and is it something that could be emulated here? For example, the level of bicycle theft in Holland is very high, with more than 900,000 being stolen every year.

Tantyo Bangun, a Tempo contributor in Europe, visited a number of cities in Holland to report on the latest developments in bicycle culture, including the prevalence of cycle theft.