From 'dubbeltjies' to Dutch Bikes

Dear KuierKos Family,

Like most of us, my cycling journey started as a child, wobbling along with side wheels. But growing up on a farm, learning to ride a bicycle was a whole different adventure. Sand was never your friend, and those gravel roads shaped by tractor tracks, with the “middel mannetjie” in between, made things even more interesting. Ride on the middle, and your side wheels didn’t touch. Ride in the tracks, and suddenly balance was not your ally. Eventually, the day came when I decided I was ready to lose the side wheels. My dad wasn’t known for his patience, so you had to pick your moment wisely. I remember him busy working on a tractor when I seized my chance. Off came the wheels. No gentle guidance, no slow introduction. Just a firm push and a clear expectation: pedal like mad and figure it out.

Years later, getting Anne and Paul to ride without sidewheels took a very different approach, lots of running behind them all day. Definitely not my dad’s style,

Of course, falling was part of the journey. Scraped knees and hands full of dubbeltjies were almost a rite of passage. But there was always a small comfort waiting, a cookie or something sweet from Mom. To this day, I still feel like I deserve a treat when I get hurt, or even just slightly inconvenienced. And then there were the thorns, endless punctures from riding through the veld. Oom Roelf, who helped on the farm, had a “brilliant” solution: putting hosepipe inside the tyres to make them solid. Have you ever tried cycling with solid tyres, especially in sand? Absolute torture. But I like to think that’s the real reason I have strong calves today.

Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for those experiences. Because here in the Netherlands, cycling isn’t optional, it’s essential. Rain or shine, groceries or school runs, work or weekend outings, the bike is part of everything including your hairstyle, which the wind will redesign for free. They do say in the Netherlands that there’s a good chance someone might “borrow” your bike at some point. In fact, you may find yourself in that situation about five times in your lifetime. The Dutch are also known to cycle with just about anything, kids piled into a bakfiets, balancing two bikes at once, carrying a long piece of wood from the Gamma, or even transporting a Christmas tree. I’ve seen things on bicycles here that would normally require a small Nissan 1400 bakkie back home.

If you feel like making a day of cycling, take on the Bloemendaalse Kopje (±45–50metres above sea level), just five minutes from KuierKos, and make us your pitstop afterwards. We’ll be ready with a nice cooldrink, a good cup of coffee, a pie, or even a lekker stuk koek.

Warm regards,

Marnella, Andreas, Anne & Paul