WISaw in Amsterdam! - YouLookFab Forum

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WISaw in Amsterdam!

Isis

Veteran

I recently returned from a heavenly vacation in the Netherlands, my first time there.....my husband, 18 yr old son and I spent 3 days in Amsterdam and then 5 days biking to from Amsterdam to Bruges Belgium. A fantastic vacation! A wonderful country!

In Amsterdam, I was struck with how few heels I saw. Stores were loaded with wonderful flats and shoes with chunky low heels. Here are a few shots taken as we sat in a cafe, including several stylish MOTG's. And one stylish guy who blew me away with his bookending of oxfords/hair/bike!

We spent our days wandering around the streets, looking at architecture, looking at people, riding bikes along the canals, drinking coffee, Belgian beer, and eating appletaart. There aren't many cars and the city was so quiet and peaceful! I want to go back!

Angie, you are unique in being a fashion blogger who does not automatically favor heels. I wonder if there your preference is connected to your Dutch roots?

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36 replies

Latest reply was from Lynne

HeleenH

Veteran

Oh, you were so close to me! We could have a YLF meeting... I would have cycled to meet you on one of my 2 bikes, either the normal one or the bakfiets as pictured in picture 5.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I love the outfit in #3; lol,

Man, I noticed none of these people wear helmets.

HeleenH

Veteran

Lyn*, only people who cycle on racing cycles wear helmets, and some little children who are told to by their parents. Cycling is a normal way of commuting over here, no sport. I cycle to the supermarket, the gym, town centre/mall area of my suburb or Amsterdam.

HeleenH

Veteran

More on helmets: http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl.....st-volvos/ or http://tinyurl.com/2v7vnx6 if the first one breaks

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh...I would love to shop Amsterdam shoes! They must have great 1 to 2 inch heels there and small wedges. Sigh...

Isis

Veteran

Heleen, what city do you live in? (If you feel comfortable posting that here?) This was our route: Amsterdam --> Utrecht ---> Gouda (2 days to bike to Kinderdijk --->Delft ---> (train) Middleburg --> Bruges. On route we stayed with Vrienden op de Fiets, a network of people who rent rooms to bicyclists, although we rented apartments in Amsterdam and Bruges. And the fietspad (bike paths) were amazing!

It would have been fun to meet you, although I confess I would not have been very stylish! Since we had to carry everything on the bike, I had a single offbike outfit of darkwash jeans, knit top, and jacket!

I loved seeing all the variations of bikes, including the bakfiets, and the multiple seats on bikes to carry kids!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thank you, Isis! Amsterdam is my favourite Euro city. Love, love, love the photos!

KILLER to the power of KILLER. This is what the Netherlands is all about. Bikes are the number one mode of transport there. Look at the older people climbing onto their bikes. LOVE IT!

Lyn, no helmets and gear necessary. The Netherlands is very flat and there are bike paths everywhere. People do not bike fast. The traffic is very civil. This is the way of life. I don't quite have the words to describe how fabulous it is. And people bike in *all* weather. These Mums are very much on the go

Isis, I know that batting for Team Flats is unique in my profession. Lots of Euro people wear low heels and flats because of the walking nature of their lives. I am very Dutch!

I like the cool dude in #6 best, along with the distinguished lady in #1.

Isis

Veteran

Lyn, I probably saw only two helmets the whole time I was there. Both on men in full lycra racing gear. Most of the time, the bike paths are totally separate from cars, and when there are intersections, bikes have the right of way. I never felt "pushed" by a car the way I can in the U.S.

Suz, you are right, the stores were loaded with the coolest shoes!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Traffic is actually civil? WHOA.

I need to go visit there (I have family); and I want to try biking in a civilized traffic society. That being said, I guess if you bike slow you really don't need a helmet ... I just bike fast. And off roads. And sort of on tree stumps. And logs. And cliffs.

WHEEEEEEE.

ETA: I may own gear for biking. Maybe... >__> *shifty eyes*

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hah! We posted at the same time, Isis

Isis

Veteran

Angie, we did post at the same time! Amsterdam might also be my favorite city! It certainly was on this trip. It was incredibly stylish in a down-to-earth and interesting way. Hard for me to put the to describe the style in words. These shots were taken in a 10 minute window as we were sitting in a cafe drinking a beer. That's how much cool fashion was on the street; you didn't have to look for it!

Lyn, you could still fall off your bike and hit your head on the cobblestones, but it is not likely! You must go there! Especially if you have family! Bikes are very easy to rent and absolutely the best way to get around.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

It sounds like the kind of place where you won't be "overdressed" if you're not wearing your rattiest jeans and baggiest t-shirt. I'm in

Maybe next year. *fingers crossed*

I really want to go to Anne Frank House.

rachylou

Veteran

I like those bakfiets (I've learned a new word!).

HeleenH

Veteran

Isis, I live in Amstelveen. So you were real close. Before I lived in Utrecht, I love the town centre of Utrecht.
Lyn*, when you cycle fast, you need your helmet. My neighbour found that out the hard way, he bumped into a standing truck. Thanks to the helmet he just had a headache, sore muscles and a shoulder injury. If he hadn't worn a helmet, the picture would be very different.

Anonymous

Love the bikes! I have a Townie by Electra (comfort bike). It's a 'girls' bike, so I can ride it even when I'm wearing a skirt/dress.

I don't like the "gear' look (plus I hate stopping to change my clothes), and don't see any reason why I can't just hop on my bike to go to the store in what I'm already wearing. I live in a suburb with excellent bike lanes everywhere, yet so few people take advantage of them.

I'm trying to start a trend here....if they can do it in Amsterdam and look so cute, then I'm right in line! Seems like part of a healthy, environmentaly friendly lifestyle, just riding to the market to get the day's produce; skirt and sandals, boho scarf blowing in the wind, baguette and flowers sticking out of the basket....very fetching!

HeleenH

Veteran

rachylou, those bakfietsen are great. Not only for transportation of children, but also great for doing the weekly groceries at the local farmers market.

rachylou

Veteran

Heleen - it looks like you could really put something in there and get it home. Even something like a chair. I like 'em!

HeleenH

Veteran

Funny you should choose that example, rachylou! One day I wanted to bring an old, bulky chair to the council waste centre. I tried to fit it in our 3-door car, but almost damaged the roof... So I brought out the bakfiets and popped the chair in and cycled the 3,5 miles to the waste centre.
And yes, they do have a seat with straps for 2 children. The seat is hinged so if you pull the seat up you have more space for groceries or chairs of whatever.

Isis

Veteran

Can't resist adding 3 more cool bike photos....

#1- a family bike (didn't see these on the street, the bakfiets was much more common
#2- you can carry anything on this bike!
#3- the bike parking garage at the Amsterdam train station. 10,000 bikes! Better remember where you parked!

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Jonesy

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How wonderful! Thanks for sharing these pics, Isis!

Lynne

Veteran

Ah, Isis, great photos. We lived in The Hague for 4 years, and I worked in Utrecht....we have very happy memories of our time there. Angie, my sister lived in Arnhem for two of those years so we enjoyed a lot of nice family weekends in that area, too.

Isis, you did really well cycling through to Bruges. It is so unique; have you seen the movie made there of the same name? The mayor makes a cameo appearance.

Heleen, I still have my fabulous Dutch bike, with the toddler seat at the back and the baby seat at the front. My baby is now 6 years old, but the seat is too handy for strapping my handbag into to ever lose it :).

But I cannot abide cyclists not wearing helmets; I have seen too many moderate-severe head injuries resulting from seemingly minor incidents, like the one Heleen mentions. DH hated wearing a helmet in Holland, as he hated standing out as a foreigner, but I insisted. Interestingly, in Copenhagen, recently rated one of the worlds best cycling cities, helmets are the norm, although I am not sure if they are legally enforced.

Anonymous

Fabulous, Isis! Thank you for sharing your photos and travel with us.

Anonymous

Thanks for the Fab pictures Isis. I love the lady in red - dress and bike together look so unexpected for me but so great (and Mr uber trendy looks so arty).

In NZ biking is more of a thing for kids or a sport, but there are a group(s?) of women who like to wear proper clothes and still ride their bikes. I think they're really inspiring and the lady in red reminded me of them. Love seeing people on bikes who aren't wearing exercise gear!

And now I want a bike - my wallet does not thank you YLF!

HeleenH

Veteran

Lynne, that accident was not on a normal bicycle but on a racing bicycle. And it is the first head injury in all the people I know in my whole life. So I am with your husband, 'when in rome do as the romans do'. So when you just cycle for transportation no helmet, when you are racing or mountainbiking (not on the streets), wear your helmet.

Patty

Veteran

Heleene you live in an AWEsome country!!
Thanks for sharing these wonderful pics of your vacation Isis!!!
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Fruitful

Veteran

Isis thankyou for posting these wonderful pics! Who could not be inspired by all of them? The freedom of movement, the unselfconscious grace. I love seeing people of all ages doing this.

HeleeneH that is a fascinating link about the helmets. It is kind of reverse world thinking to me as in Australia helmets are enforced by law. The arguments in the blog post and comments do make sense, especially about helmets providing a false sense of security. However it only makes me even more less inclined to cycle as my conclusion from that post is, the high safety of cyclists in The Netherlands is due to the separation of traffic and cyclists. We definitely don't have that here! Some people do put their children in a wagon in front, or behind, and it looks like it would be quite safe in your streets, but it scares me here with our 4 lane traffic going crazy at 70 kmph!

I am realising Angie is unique in loving mid-heeled footwear and it's how I came to this blog (looking for info about Miz Mooz). I LOVE that about her. <3 I'd be very curious to know about some Dutch shoe shops!

I have a couple of friends who are Dutch and they're the staunchest, most authentic, and kind people I know. ♥

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Fruitful :). I LOVE both flat and low heels. A 1.5 inch heel is my *best* heel height. Or my ballet flats. I hope that you found some great Miz Mooz

The Netherlands has great footwear options. Inge recently hoped over the border and brought back some 1.5 inch gems.

Isis, I love the way the Dutch people dress. It's somewhat casual but almost always with a fashion forward and often colourful twist. The men look *great*. I also love how the older people dress - men often in ties and hats.

sarah

Veteran

This is so great. Thanks for sharing, Isis. I was on business in the Netherlands last year, and I too was struck by the complete lack of helmets. A helmet saved my life on one occasion when I was "doored" in Berkeley. I was also hit by a car two years ago and ended up in the emergency room and was very glad that I had my helmet on. I had some long discussions about this with my Dutch colleagues, and we decided that the big difference is that the Dutch drivers are trained as soon as they learn to drive to be VERY aware of cyclists. Phew, it still made me nervous. But how liberating to be in a culture that values bikes so much. I would so love it if the US became that way some day. We can do our part, right?!

san

Veteran

Thank you for sharing these great pictures Isis. I would love to live in a place where I could ride a bike daily to get around to the store or whatever. I have a bike but am afraid to ride it on the street with traffic so that means a bike ride would be taking the bikes by car to a safe biking trail.

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