English

The Holiday biker

Set up and run by seasoned long distance cycling enthusiast, Eric Schuijt, The Holiday Biker (De Vakantiefietser) is the specialist shop for your cycling holidays selling trekking bicycles, biking and camping equipment and providingg travel information.

Cycling is fun!

An increasing number of people choose to go on an active holiday using their own power. You feel as free as a bird on your bicycle with the wind blowing through your hair whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery surrounding you,.
“De Vakantiefietser” helps you to get prepared by sharing with you enthusiastic stories of biking trips; to select a well-fitting bike as well as, practical equipment. We also provide practical, advice and share our expertise based on the shop’s personnel’s own experiences of long distant biking trips.

Bicycle trekking equipment

From waterproof panniers to cycle maps, from gasoline burners to down sleeping bags, from unbreakable carrier racks to self-inflating mattresses and from breathable rain jackets to puncture proof tires, we have everything in house. Headlights, waterproof socks, compact tools, bicycle trailers, synthetic towels, luggage nets, water bags, first aid kit, universal bath plugs or a camera stand for on your handlebar.

Holiday bicycles

The kind of bicycle which is suitable for you not only depends on the duration of your trip and the destination, but also on your budget. It makes quite a difference whether you are going on a world trip, or on a cycling holiday to France.
That is why we have bicycles in different qualities and price categories: idworx, Koga Miyata, Koga Signature, Santos, Snel, Van Nicholas and VSF. Besides this we are the specialist in The Netherlands for a trekking bike with Rohloff speed hub.
Delivery for a new bike can take from one day upto eight weeks.

Cycle guides, maps and travels

There are hundreds of cycling holiday guides in our book cupboards. Apart from Dutch cycling guides, we also have German and English ones as well as travel stories.
Our maps are especially selected for cyclists – so you will not leave our shop with a walking or car map.
On our coffee table (next to the ‘negerzoenen’ chocolate biscuits) you will also find brochures from a number of cycling travel companies. We do not sell cycling holidays, but we can help you find the most suitable travel organisation for you.

About Eric Schuijt

Eric Schuijt has cycled through more than eighty countries and has written four books about his trips. Eric is not the only one with considerable biking experience in foreign countries.

All the staff at “De Vakantiefietser” have also cycled through different parts of the world including Switzerland, China, Iran and South Africa. Therefore Eric and his team cannot only offer you invaluable technical knowledge about bikes, but also practical knowledge and insight about long distance biking in various parts of the world.

Friend-of-Eric-card

Naturally, you don’t want to get backache or neck ache or painful wrists as a result of biking on the wrong size of bike or on a badly adjusted bike. That’s why, we use our measuring frame to find your ideal frame size and to adapt the bike to your body.

If you unable to come during our regular opening hours, you can make an appointment at a time which is more convenient for you. Every customer who buys a bicycle receives a “Friend-of-Eric”card. This entitles you to a discount on your travel equipment. Moreover, if you have problems with your bicycle while you are on holiday, we will send you the necessary parts.

Activities

Almost every Tuesday-evening we organise an activity in the shop like:

• Bicycle maintenance course for on the road;
• Basic bicycle maintenance course;
• ‘preparing’ for a cycling holiday;
• ‘preparing for a long distance cycling trip’;
• Readings about bicycle trekking from enthusiastic bicycle travellers

On this website

you can find information on

• Advice about equipment, bicycles and bicycle clothing,
• Tips for buying a trekking bicycle,
• Packing list,
• Diary of activities,
• Travel impressions,
• Books and maps via internet,
• Links to websites which are interesting for trekking cyclists.

Everything is written in Dutch, but with the help of Babelfish, you can at least understand what I have written.

Address

De Vakantiefietser is located in the centre and is not far from the Central Station.

De Vakantiefietser
Westerstraat 216
1015 MS Amsterdam
Telephone 00-31-(0)20-616 4091
info@vakantiefietser.nl

Opening hours

Tuesday from 10:00 – 18:00 hrs
Wednesday from 10:00 – 18:00 hrs
Thursday from 10:00 – 21:00 hrs
Friday from 10:00 – 18:00 hrs
Saturday from 09:00 -17:00 hrs.

Due to Eric’s continuing cycle trips, the shop has limited opening hours in the months of november en december.

Free parking for cyclists

If you visit us, you can park your (trekking) bicycle save inside!

Route

Public transport from Amsterdam Central Station, tram 17, get off at stop Westerkerk, it’s a 400 m walk to our shop.

On cycling or walking-distance from Amsterdam Central Station.