Travelling Light, Dutch Style
Relocating to the Netherlands and immersing in the culture was a big transformation, and I immediately fell in love with the simple way of life. I thought de Dubbele Fietstassen (a few Dutch words I remember), which means a double bike bag, was the best invention, ever. Travelling light this way allowed me to eliminate my hefty petrol expense and reduce my carbon footprint, simultaneously keeping fit, by cycling across the town.
That lifestyle was a contrasting and welcoming change which brought me much excitement, and I spent my days gleefully cycling the quaint streets, feeling like a child again.
Going food shopping and packing it on a bike felt light and free, and I would ride away on my bike, confident in my cycle lane, knowing that cyclists had priority on the street. I thought the Dutch had the right idea for not only helping to protect the environment but also progressively encouraging and supporting an active green lifestyle.
I was a student who shopped at budget supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl, and I quickly learned to do it lightly and efficiently, the Dutch way.
Back in those days, there were no trollies or shopping baskets in Aldi, and no plastic bags. So I shadowed the Dutch by gathering empty cardboard boxes from the isles where I'd place my shopping items.
I would then take the cardboard box of goods and load them up in my bike bags, before racing off like a lunatic in the cycle path.
Cycling as my main mode of transport in the Netherlands, brought out my inner child, and memories of the mischievous kid I was became fresh in my mind. Travelling light on a bike meant that I could go faster and never have to endure painful traffic jams. I was enraptured with the freedom my bike gave me, and it encouraged me to fine-tune my personal belongings.
These bicycle bags were water resistant , and made of durable material, to withstand all weather conditions. They made shopping convenient, and it's a safe way to carry shopping bags.
It was an astounding and triumphant feeling to be able to pack my full grocery shopping in my bike bags. The same amount that I previously packed wastefully in plastic bags in my car boot.
So did my school bag and books. I enjoyed the fresh air while cycling, which I knew was a result of the environment being greener. This had an emotionally positive effect on my mind. Light and free!
Cycling and minimalism go hand-in-hand with me because it encourages me to take less, plan better, and stick within my limits, without complicating and having unnecessary items on my shopping list.
Is cycling promoted in your country or town, and do you like it as a means of transportation or preferably for recreation only?
I thank you for reading, as this has been an integral part of my minimalism journey:)
This is a contribution to The Minimalist Daily Theme #TravelLightTuesday
All images are mine.
#TravelLightTuesday, THE MINIMALIST Daily Theme
Image belongs to millycf1976 and was manipulated using Canva.
People usually do cycling for exercise, like my dad...
I wish I still know how to bike. The last time I tried was last 2013...
You still look thinner in your photos, btw... Continue biking and you might regain that body 😁
They say that you never forget how to ride a bike, so I believe that you still can 😁
Those photos were taken in 2007. I have been in many different sizes since then, slimmer and way bigger. My weight fluctuates. I just need to get back to doing some regular exercises and my body will transform itself 😆
I certainly do miss that lifestyle though:)
Haha.. For sure you can still go back to that figure.. Just need more motivation 😁.
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But one guy said to her mom, (i just heard them talking), "You're getting old already. You don't need to lose weight."
Haha...that was rational..
I used to stress over my weight, but not anymore.
It's not good to let yourself go, but as women, our bodies are always changing:)
Oh I'm so envious! What an incredible experience. I have to say, you look SO very happy with your independence and your no-carbon transport. Plus you are so darn CUTE! Did you ever consider a modeling career? Great blog post, and very inspiring. I love everything having to do with reducing carbon emissions and caring for the planet.
Thank you! It was an amazing lifestyle. Living in the Netherlands was like a dream that I didn't want to wake up from.
I wish the UK was as convenient for cycling, but it is not so. There are cycle paths that lead you head-on into traffic. The Netherlands has it down pat.
No modelling at all. I'm shy behind the camera, but I'll take my own photos just for memories of my life at different places. I went through an entire decade without any photos, and I made a conscious change:)
Funny! I have recently started asking my husband to take pictures of me because there are so few and I feel like a ghost! Ha ha ha.
My husband got mad once and said that he has no photos to show and people are going to believe that I'm a myth 😂
Being born and raised in the Netherlands I don't know better than this.
Short distances within a range of 5 kilometers are almost always done by bike.
Nowadays with e-bikes people even cycle longer distances.
It sometimes is good to hear how special this actually is.
Thanks for sharing your story!
You're totally right about all the positive effects of cycling.
I'm now hopping on my bike to cycle to work (no joke) 😅
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It is indeed!
I probably was Dutch in my former life, because cycling makes total sense to me. 😆
When I lived in Leiden I explored the outskirts, and I did Leiden to Leierdorp regularly for a part-time job, and I enjoyed exploring the villages where people did not speak much English, but were super helpful with directions.
Haha! I believe you. Enjoy:)
We have a cycle plan for the city and some provision for cyclists but it is patchy, plus the national cycle routes go through. There are some traffic free bike routes - the old Central Railway has been converted to a cycle route. I bought a bike nearly thirty years ago, but I have never felt confident enough to ride it on the road. I have an idea to take it to the caravan for local trips to the shops etc. I see some very ancient people riding bikes very slowly in the next village and one of the streets is pretty much 45 degrees 😂
I don't have the confidence to cycle across towns on UK roads. The safest place to cycle in Leicester is down the New Walk, which is the non-cycle route. My husband used to cycle to work and one day he got a 30 quid fine for riding down the New Walk... he was livid!
Police picked a random day to stop people and he was among the bunch. I saw a folding bike a few weeks ago that I thought of getting, but I'm still deciding. I'm in Devon right now, and it's pretty and hilly... just what you don't want when cycling😅
Cycling isn't really so prominent around here unless you're just riding around as a hobby. Not an effective means of transport with all the hustle and bustle.
You look really beautiful in your photos, I didn't even know it was a throwback. And you look so happy and at peace too. Looks like you've always been a minimalist from the onset right?
Thank you 😊... Yes, this is a throwback from 16 years ago.
I cycled for pleasure when I lived in Jamaica, but it was dangerous, and not worth the hassle. Yes, I've always had a minimalist mindset, and used to park my car at a far distance and walk the rest for exercise. My friends didn't like driving with me either, because I preferred driving with my sun roof open than using air con... They absolutely hated it.😆
Wow.... the picture quality is so clear, I'd never have imagined that it was from so long ago.✨
I can imagine your friends getting all worked up and saying "no thanks, I'll pass when you offered to take them along with you."
Fun times indeed.😂
😆 That's exactly how it was... Haha!
Cycling safely was one of the things I really enjoyed about living in the Netherlands. I went everywhere by bike when I lived in Dublin too but with less confidence. Now I live in a valley ...turn right huge hill, turn left huge hill...I bought an electric bike!
I had a bike when I first moved to live in the UK, but I seldom used it, simply because the roads are not safe for cycling through towns. There were some cycle lanes across the town of Leicester, but they stopped abruptly right into traffic. It's properly dangerous.
Huge hills are a killer, so I'm happy that you got a trike:)
Cycling goes well with our city, because this country is small and the capital even smaller. But, people prefer their private cars instead, not just because of the "luxury" it provides, but because of the safety.
We have way too many cars, trucks and buses in the capital, and way more than that we have incompetent drivers. So it's really not safe to ride around in a motor bike or cycle, accidents can be fatal. That is why most people end up relying on the metallic cocoon of a car or our public transport, like buses or the metro even.
It sounds a lot like Jamaica. Far too many incompetent drivers, and a lot of resentment for cyclists. It's rough on the roads, and motorists will deliberately swerve into cyclists and tell them to get off the roads.
I get that. I bought a car in Jamaica because public transportation is risky.
They don't care, cycles and motorbikes are a nuisance in everyone's eyes, and even though it's true for half of the riders, things still shouldn't be this way. We just need stricter laws, the penalty isn't harsh enough for being violent on the roads, so people don't really care about one another.
Oh, it's really risky. You can bet that some people go out there thinking and sometimes knowing, that they might not return in one piece. Thing are just that bad over here.
Cycling is the only way to travel in the Netherlands. That country is unreal in terms of infrastructure and set up for bicycles. Places here in Canada are slowly starting to introduce dedicated bike lanes and such. The country was built around the car though so it's not great at this point for bikes. I don't feel safe on the roads here like I did in Europe.
That's like the UK. You won't get me on the roads on a bicycle because it would be too much stress.
There's so much road rage here in the UK too, but I understand why. There's much structure, and people obey rules, so when someone breaks it... My God! There's aggression in its worst form. I've seen videos of people being punched because a driver broke a road code. In Jamaica, anything goes. I've NEVER paid for parking in Jamaica. I always have a bag of mangoes or whatever fruit that's in season ready to give security guards at any parking lot, cause there's no electronic parking 😂
Pay in mangos 🥭 that's both funny and delicious 😋
😂
All smiles, I love it! <3 Yeah, I've heard the Dutch are really big on cycling. Sadly here, there are very few lanes for it, which creates problems (not to mention drivers hating cyclists, and viceversa). I think it would be preferable to most transport (I walk mostly, anyway, but to avoid public transport, it'd be great). But I don't really trust myself as a cyclist to go into traffic, nor do I think it's optimal going on the walking part of the street.
I love the light in this travel light post :D
Thank you 😊
I don't know much about Romania so I'm gonna look it up.
That's what I've experienced everywhere except Holland.
I don't see myself riding in traffic in the UK either. It's a real shame. Some cities in the East Midlands like Leicester have nice cycle routes through nature along the canals. However, there's so much crime that I wouldn't want to ride alone through those paths.
It's great that you walk most places;)
You're so darned cute! :D
Awesome you have these photos still. Wow. What a time that must've been for you. Lucky gal.
Bicycles are a brilliant way to travel... *thinking
Thank you 😊
I forgot about those photos and I was really happy to see them on my old hard drive.
It was an amazing time in the Netherlands, and YES! If it's safe where you are, I would recommend a bicycle. No petrol, licensing, MOT, and a lot cheaper to maintain than a car. 🤗
And fun! Don't forget fun :)
Copy copy. When the Long Winter passes I may look into that.
Stay beautiful 😌❤️
😍
Once had a person tell me that a woman looked ugly on a bicycle, it's a pity I can't show her these pictures so that she can take it back completely. I was totally captivated.
I would like to ride around like that although I don't know if I could have such a style.
Many things in Venezuela are not recommended, however, as a distraction it can be done although a few know no limits and use it as a means of transport but it is quite complicated, I think.
Oh, thanks for your lovely comment.
I think your friend is so wrong. Your friend should see some stylish Dutch and other European women who go about stylish every day on the bike. I enjoyed seeing them.
I understand about cycling not being recommended in Venezuela I wouldn't recommend it in Jamaica or some other Caribbean countries either:)))
I would love to visit one day at least one of those countries where this is common to enjoy seeing and doing it. It is a marvel!