A Dutch Love Affair

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

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.

. tempo : 178041312919.

IT was afternoon at the Huis ten Bosch Palace, the official residence of Queen Beatrix in the Hague, Holland. The queen was due to receive a report on the establishment of a new cabinet. A cyclist entered through the main gateway of the palace and pulled to a stop before a palace official, who ushered the visitor in, before parking his bike for him.

The visitor was none other than Piet Hein Donner, the Social Affairs and Labor Minister, who was

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