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Assen and Groningen Cycling Study Tour 2010

In 2010 we are again running Study Tours for groups of politicians, transport planners, transport campaigners, cycling co-ordinators and individuals interested in infrastructure for cycling. The tours will be in the English language and will take place in Assen and Groningen in The Netherlands (Holland). Locations which boast some of the best cycling infrastructure in the world.

Assen is the capital of the "Cycling Province" of the Netherlands, Drenthe. Although it is not a university city, 41% of all journeys in Assen are made by bicycle. A few kilometres further North is Groningen, where 57% of all journeys are made by bicycle.

The usual three day study tour is guided and spends two days in and around Assen, a compact city in which it is possible to demonstrate many different aspects of infrastructure, and one day in Groningen. These tours are for groups of between six and twelve people.

New for 2010, we can also offer a one day self-lead study tour as part of a holiday package. This is to accommodate individuals who wish to include aspects of the study tour within a holiday.

We can also accommodate small groups for the three day tour on request.

Whatever group size you have, please ask for details, letting us know the size and composition of your group and an approximate date.

The object

This tour is intended to show different aspects of what makes cycling in the Netherlands so appealing that is is a common mode of transport for all segments of society.

You will see cyclists young and old, male and female, of all races and religions confidently going about their daily business by bike. Everyone cycles here.

Just over 41% of all journeys in Assen are made by bicycle, with Assen's 65000 residents between them making an average of around 71000 cycle journeys each day. Groningen has even higher cycle usage with nearly 60% of all journeys by bike, its 180000 population making an average of over 250000 journeys each day by bike.

Virtually all children here cycle un-accompanied to school, and some make journeys as long as 20 km in each direction to do so. This all happens in conditions which make their parents confident that they will be safe. It goes without saying that there are many health and environmental benefits from such a level of physical activity.

There is much debate in English speaking countries about the best way of providing for cyclists. This debate doesn't happen here. The Dutch have achieved the highest rates of cycling in the world by providing high quality specific infrastructure for cycling. This approach works. Cycling rates are higher than anywhere else in the world. "The proof is in the eating".

The figures on the chart come from a useful document published by the Fietsberaad, a Dutch government body responsible for Cycling Policy. It is entitled "Cycling in the Netherlands" and downloadable from our cycling articles page.

Three Day Study Tour Schedule

The single day self lead study tour contains a condensed version of this schedule

You will travel on Monday, arriving in the evening to pre-arranged accomodation. The tour itself starts on Tuesday morning and runs through to the end of Thursday, allowing for a return home before the weekend.

Flexibility is built into the plans to allow participants to take photos or otherwise take note of what is happening at different places. We do not have a fixed distance which must be covered each day by bike, so there is no need to rush anywhere. We will have planned cafe stops for lunchtime and we will return to the city centre accomodation in good time for an evening meal. Assen is a small city but has a large number of cafes and restaurants reachable by foot or by bike.

The distances ridden each day are not long and the speeds ridden are not fast. Time has to be allowed for discussion and asking of questions. However we split the group for part of the last day in order to allow those interested in cycling further or faster to have this experience.

Tuesday

After introductions we will have a coffee and a short discussion about local cycling conditions, including a summary of local highway regulations concerning cyclists, we will take to our bikes and get our first quick look around the city centre. We will take time to watch how interactions between cyclists and motorists take place, and how segregation of the modes allows for cyclists to make more direct and efficient journeys than are possible by car.

Our journey takes us out of the city, using commuting and school run routes and to a brand new housing estate which is built around an efficient cycle path network. We see the extent of cycle parking at a secondary school and also have a chance to watch how primary school children get to school by bike (video here).

We return to the centre using a "bicycle road" which gives priority to cyclists and there is an optional additional ride on very scenic recreational paths outside of the city. If the aim is to encourage all types of cycling and creative a real cycling culture then all types of cycling have to be catered for here, not just the practical.

Wednesday

On Wednesday we see 1970s through to 1990s residential areas, including woonerven (living streets or home zones), cycle facilities in an industrial estate, an outlying village from which there is a lot of commuting by bike, These areas are all linked by the high quality cycle route network. Provision for cyclists extends well beyond the city boundary.

There will be a presentation and discussion in the early evening.

Thursday

In the morning we ride directly to Groningen, which is 30 km North of Assen. This gives a chance to experience a longer journey - showing how long journeys by bike are also well catered for by the infrastructure. We have two guides so that faster cyclists can experience the efficiency of the direct cycle paths and we can regroup again a little later. On the way to Groningen we pass through an area of "Shared Space".

In Groningen we will see the exceptional provision for cycle parking at the railway station and see how busy the car free centre of the city is. After lunch we will explore the city a little, seeing how industrial and residential areas are linked to the centre, and afterwards there is a choice of cycling back to Assen by a more rural route through villages and countryside or taking bikes on the train. Usually the group splits at this point and meets later in Assen so that notes can be compared about the rural routes and the service on the trains.

Photos

We have a collection of photos and videos of cycling in the Netherlands. Many of these locations will be covered on the Study Tour. There are also some photos on the page of a book we reviewed which shows how Assen has changed and a few more on the photos of Assen gallery of the Cambridge Cycling Campaign website.

Bicycles

You have the option of hiring a bicycle or bringing your own. We recommend the hire option as the hire bicycles are the same practical machines as used by most people daily in this country. They are efficient and reliable machines for utility journeys, fitted with mudguards and racks, have comfortable saddles and are entirely suitable for this tour. The easy availability of practical bicycles is one of the things that defines the Dutch cycling experience.

If you prefer to bring you own bicycle, in order that that the holiday goes without any snags we ask that you please make sure in advance that it is well maintained, possibly by asking a bike shop to service the bike. Also, we ask that you carry with you any required spare parts and that you consider how you will carry your day luggage on the bike. We recommend mudguards as they help to keep those you're riding with clean as well as yourself.

Hire bicycles can be collected from the railway station.

About us

Judith and David Hembrow are experienced British campaigners with a keen interest in how planning changes behaviour. We were so impressed with the quality of planning in the Netherlands that we moved here. We are also keen cyclists and have commuted on, toured with and raced bicycles. We have ridden extensively with children, in groups of adults and alone.

We organised our first study tour in 2006.

We have very varied experience of using bikes in both British and Dutch conditions. This includes touring as a couple in Lincolnshire, with children in The Netherlands and travelling distances such as from Land's End to John o'Groats by bike.

Feedback / Background information

In 2008, we had participants from Bristol, Bromley, Cambridge, London, Manchester, Sheffield and Southampton.

Articles about the May 2008 tours:

A cyclist's paradise on earth. Short summary of the tour.

Co-ordinator's comment. Cambridge cycling campaign co-ordinator comment about the tour.

Articles about the 2006 tour:

Summary of the 2006 Study Tour

Participant's views of the 2006 Study Tour

Cambridge Cycling Campaign Co-ordinator's comment on the 2006 Study Tour

Photos taken on the 2006 Study Tour

You may also be interested in a set of Dutch Articles about cycling written in English and photos of Dutch cycling infrastructure.

Anything Else ?

If you have special dietary needs, such as being a vegetarian or vegan, or you have any questions at all, we can help. Just let us know.

Cycling in the Netherlands is very safe. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend that participants have both travel insurance and third party liability insurance.

How to book

We offer two levels of accommodation on the tour, either Bed and Breakfast accommodation or Hotel accommodation. Both include breakfast but not the evening meal.

Note that the bed and breakfast accommodation that we use fills up very quickly. If you wish to use this cheaper option you must book as soon as possible. It is generally possible for us to book the hotel option up to a week before the tour starts, but we would appreciate as much advance notice as possible.

These prices are based on group sizes of six or more participants. Smaller groups can be accommodated on request, but the price may be higher.

Please contact us directly by email to make a booking.

Hotel option

The Study Tour costs per participant to include four nights of accommodation in a city centre hotel and breakfast. A deposit of is required on booking and full payment one month in advance of the tour.

You will need to arrange your own transport to and from Assen and will need to buy your own lunch and evening meals either in the hotel or at other restaurants on Assen. You will also need to bring a bicycle or to hire one and cover any other small expenses that you may have.

Bed & Breakfast Option

The Study Tour costs per participant to include four nights of accomodation in Bed and Breakfast accommodation. This doesn't include bicycle hire or an evening meal. A deposit of is required on booking and full payment one month in advance of the tour. You will need to arrange your own transport to and from Assen and will need to pay for lunch, evening meals, bicycle hire, and any other small expenses.

How to get here

Please book the study tour first and wait for confirmation before booking your transport. You will need to arrive on the evening of the Monday before the Study Tour and unless you wish to take extra days in the area, depart on the Friday after.

For participants from the USA: It is possible to fly to Amsterdam Schiphol directly from many US airports. There is a direct train service from Schiphol to Assen which takes about 2 hours. The Schiphol to Assen train costs in each direction. A non-folding bicycle costs an additional per day for any journey. Note that some trains divide south of Assen. Please ask for information from the rail ticket office.

For participants from the UK: Assen is near to Groningen Eelde airport which is served by VLM from London City Airport (www.flyvlm.com). It is also possible to fly from most UK airports to Schiphol. You can then take a direct train from Schiphol to Assen which takes about 2 hours. The Schiphol to Assen train costs in each direction. A non folding bicycle costs an additional per day for any journey. Note that some trains divide south of Assen. Please ask for information from the rail ticket office.

For those who would rather not fly, there is of course also the option of taking a ferry (Harwich to Hoek-van-Holland, Hull to Rotterdam or Newcastle to Ijmuiden) and continuing by rail, or all the way by rail.

One of the most convenient and lowest cost options for those in East Anglia or London is to take the Dutch Flyer combined train/ferry service which provides a train from London or East Anglia to Harwich, the ferry from Harwich to Hoek van Holland and a train from Hoek van Holland to any location in the Netherlands including Assen for one all in price of about £30.

Do you want to ride further ? Do you want a holiday rather than a Study Tour ? Would you be interested on a different date ? Click for information on our other tours...