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This week, Dutch Cycling Embassy International Relations Manager Chris Bruntlett welcomed two groups of high-performing sales representatives, regional dealers, and local retailers from Gazelle North America to Amsterdam for an immersive introduction to the infrastructure, policies, and culture that make Dutch cycling so successful.

Travelling from across the United States and Canada, the delegates were invited by Gazelle to experience firsthand the conditions that have enabled cycling to become an everyday mode of transport for people of all ages and abilities. Through presentations, guided rides, and site visits, participants gained valuable insight into how Dutch cities have created environments where cycling is safe, convenient, and attractive.

The program began at Ride Out, where Bruntlett delivered a presentation exploring the evolution of Dutch cycling policy, the role of infrastructure in shaping travel behaviour, and the broader societal benefits of designing cities around people rather than automobiles. A lively question-and-answer session followed, allowing participants to connect Amsterdam’s cycling story to the challenges and opportunities they encounter in North American communities.

Following the presentation, the delegation continued to Urban Arrow for a series of presentations, interactive sessions, and bicycle demonstrations. The afternoon featured a guided cycling tour through Amsterdam, providing participants with an opportunity to experience the city’s connected network of protected cycling infrastructure from the perspective of everyday users.

The multi-day program also included visits to cultural landmarks such as the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam’s historic canals, offering guests a broader understanding of the urban qualities that contribute to the Dutch quality of life.

By connecting North American cycling professionals with real-world Dutch examples, the visit supported Gazelle’s efforts to promote cycling as a practical, inclusive, and enjoyable mode of transportation. It also aligned closely with the Dutch Cycling Embassy’s mission to share Dutch expertise and inspire sustainable mobility solutions around the world.

As interest in cycling continues to grow across North America, exchanges such as these demonstrate the value of experiencing successful cycling environments firsthand—transforming abstract concepts into tangible lessons that participants can bring back to their own cities and communities.

On Thursday, July 2nd, 2026, Dutch Cycling Embassy International Relations Manager Chris Bruntlett had the pleasure of leading a cycling tour of Amsterdam for Luis Álvarez-Icaza Longoria, a senior UNAM engineering figure with longstanding institutional ties to President Claudia Sheinbaum’s UNAM and Mexico City policy environment.

Travelling side-by-side on a VanRaam duofiets, the pair explored how Amsterdam’s streets have been transformed over the past half-century through deliberate choices that prioritize people over cars. The unique bicycle allowed for continuous conversation while experiencing the city’s cycling infrastructure firsthand.

The tour began beneath Amsterdam Centraal Station at the underwater bicycle parking facility in Stationsplein, before tracing a route through several locations that illustrate the Dutch capital’s evolution. At Jodenbreestraat, they reflected on the historic citizen-led campaigns that successfully challenged plans for urban freeways in the 1970s. Nearby, Mr. Visserplein demonstrated how streets once dominated by traffic have been redesigned to better serve people walking and cycling.

Continuing east, they visited Plantage Middenlaan, Alexanderplein, and Sarphatistraat, examining a variety of cycling infrastructure treatments and discussing how network design, traffic calming, and public space improvements work together to make cycling a safe, comfortable, and attractive option for people of all ages and abilities.

The tour concluded at the Rijksmuseum, where one of Amsterdam’s most iconic public spaces serves as a powerful reminder that world-class cultural destinations can successfully prioritise active mobility while remaining vibrant, accessible, and welcoming.

Throughout the morning, discussions focused not only on the physical infrastructure, but also on the governance, public engagement, and long-term political commitment required to create successful cycling cities. As many cities around the world, including those in Mexico, seek to expand opportunities for active mobility, exchanges like these help demonstrate that Amsterdam’s success is the result of sustained investment and policy choices that can inspire adaptation in different local contexts.

On Wednesday, July 1st, 2026, 18 participants from the United States gained a deeper understanding of the Dutch approach to cycling during a special knowledge session hosted by the Dutch Cycling Embassy in Gouda as part of the Climate Ride: Netherlands to Bruges event.

Delivered by International Relations Manager Chris Bruntlett, the hour-long presentation introduced the fundamentals of the Dutch cycling model, exploring how decades of coordinated investment in infrastructure, policy, planning, and culture have made cycling an attractive and accessible mode of transport for people of all ages and abilities.

The participants—travelling across the Netherlands and Belgium by bicycle as part of Climate Ride’s immersive cycling experience—were particularly interested in understanding not only what makes the Dutch system successful, but how those lessons can be applied in communities across the United States.

Following the presentation, an engaging question-and-answer session covered topics including protected cycling infrastructure, traffic safety, governance, funding, public support, and the opportunities and challenges of adapting Dutch best practices to North American cities. Discussions emphasized that while every place has its own unique context, the principles behind the Dutch approach—safe design, connected networks, and people-centred planning—can be successfully tailored to local conditions.

The session formed part of Climate Ride’s Netherlands to Bruges tour, which combines multi-day cycling adventures with participant-led fundraising, turning personal challenges into financial support for climate action, conservation, and active transportation organizations. By providing fully supported experiences, fundraising coaching, and educational programming, the nonprofit builds a community of engaged environmental advocates while directing millions of dollars in grants to organisations working to protect the planet.

In May 2026, the Dutch Cycling Embassy was invited to contribute to the Smart City Congress in Stockholm, Sweden. The yearly conference brings together urban innovators and policymakers focused on the transition towards a smarter urban future. Project coordinator at the Dutch Cycling Embassy, Wiel Wijnen and Johan Diepens, founder of Mobycon, were present to share information on cycling and the positive impact it can have on cities. Johan and Wiel hosted two panels at the congress. The first panel was with Henrik Söderström from the municipality of Stockholm.  Together with the crowd, they discussed how to make room for cyclists and the current steps needed to facilitate change in the city.

The second panel with Agnes Landefjord, cycling strategist for the Stockholm Region, looked at the bike-train combination. In order to create a good balance, the modes should be co-designed with different users in mind. They explored different shared bike models, such as Swapfiets and OV-Fiets, which provide a great first and last mile solution for train travellers. Further, they discussed if cyclists should be encouraged to bring their bikes on the train.On the second day of the congress, the DCEwas invited by the founder of the Swedish 2030-Secretariat, Mattias Goldmann to speak in a debate on how political parties should approach the sustainability goals of the city. The conclusion of the debate was that alongside steps to electrify vehicles, attention should be brought to creating an active, green and pleasant environment for people. 

Later that week, we met with Lars Strömgren, Stockholm’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, to discuss the evolving challenges the city faces as it grows and transforms. The conversations throughout the congress laid the groundwork for promising connections between Dutch and Swedish expertise in cycling and urban mobility.

All in all, the Dutch Cycling Embassy was a welcomed guest and offered a fresh perspective on the road to Stockholm’s sustainability and innovation goals.

On 25 June 2026, Dutch Cycling Embassy International Relations Manager Chris Bruntlett participated in Human Mobility Code: Building Future Multimodal Ecosystem, a multidisciplinary event hosted at the Aula Congress Centre of the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). The gathering brought together researchers, mobility professionals, authors, artists, and policymakers to explore new approaches to creating more sustainable, people-centred mobility systems.

Organised around the launch of the Shifting Mobility book series by mobility expert Dewan Masud Karim, the event examined how cities can respond to climate change, resource constraints, and rapid urbanisation through integrated and human-scaled transportation networks. The programme featured contributions from TU Delft academics, mobility practitioners, and artists, all united by a shared interest in rethinking how people move through cities.

Representing the Dutch Cycling Embassy, Chris Bruntlett opened the programme with reflections on the critical role of cycling within a broader multimodal ecosystem. Drawing on examples from the Netherlands, he highlighted how high-quality cycling infrastructure, supportive public policy, and seamless integration with public transport have enabled Dutch cities to reduce car dependency while improving accessibility, public health, and quality of life.

His presentation underscored a key message that has become central to the Dutch Cycling Embassy’s international work: cycling is not simply a mode of transport, but an essential component of a resilient mobility system. When combined with walking, public transport, and emerging shared mobility services, cycling can help cities deliver greater freedom of movement while using less space, energy, and resources.

The event also provided an opportunity to engage with researchers and students from TU Delft, one of the world’s leading institutions in transportation and urban mobility. Discussions throughout the afternoon explored how cities can move beyond automobile-centric planning and develop mobility ecosystems that prioritise people, place, and sustainability.

As cities around the world search for practical solutions to climate, congestion, and public health challenges, the Dutch Cycling Embassy remains committed to sharing Dutch expertise and facilitating international dialogue on the future of human-centred mobility. Events such as this demonstrate the growing global interest in cycling not as a niche mode of transport, but as a foundational element of thriving multimodal cities.

On Wednesday, June 25th, the Dutch Cycling Embassy joined representatives from the Klaten Regency Government in Central Java, Indonesia, for an online knowledge exchange focused on cycling development and international cooperation.

During the session, International Relations Manager Chris Bruntlett shared Dutch experiences in developing connected cycling networks, integrating cycling into broader transportation systems, and establishing the institutional frameworks needed to support long-term investment. Participants also explored opportunities for future collaboration, including knowledge exchange around governance, cycling master planning, infrastructure design, and community engagement.

The discussion centred on Klaten’s ambitious vision to become “The World’s Tropical Cycling Laboratory”—a living laboratory dedicated to understanding how cycling can be normalized in hot, humid climates and scaled across tropical regions around the world. Home to more than 1.3 million residents and located between Yogyakarta and Surakarta, Klaten sees cycling as a strategic opportunity to improve mobility, strengthen tourism, and enhance quality of life. According to the Regency’s recently published Cycling City Profile, the area combines flat terrain, strong political commitment, active cycling communities, and significant tourism assets, creating favourable conditions for a shift toward daily cycling.

A key topic was the proposed Klaten Tropical Cycling Lab (KTCL), which would serve as a platform for research, pilot projects, and international partnerships. By combining Dutch expertise with Klaten’s unique tropical conditions, the initiative aims to generate new knowledge that can help cities across Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and other tropical regions unlock the benefits of cycling.

The meeting marked an important first step in what both parties hope will become a long-term partnership. As cities around the world search for sustainable mobility solutions, Klaten’s willingness to experiment and innovate offers an exciting opportunity to expand the global conversation on cycling beyond the temperate climates where most current best practices have been developed.

On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, the Dutch Cycling Embassy welcomed a delegation of eight politicians and planners from Taoyuan City, Taiwan, led by Deputy Mayor Su Jun-bin, to its headquarters in Utrecht.

The visit formed part of a broader study tour focused on sustainable mobility and urban development, providing an opportunity for the delegation to learn firsthand about the policies, infrastructure, and governance that have made cycling an integral part of everyday life in the Netherlands.

Hosted by International Relations Manager Chris Bruntlett, the group received a presentation exploring the Dutch approach to cycling, including the evolution of the country’s cycling culture, the role of national and local governments, and the design principles that underpin safe, comfortable, and connected cycling networks. Particular attention was given to the importance of creating complete mobility systems that prioritize people over private vehicles and enable cycling as a practical transportation choice for residents of all ages and abilities.

Following the presentation, delegates engaged in an in-depth discussion on topics ranging from network planning and road safety to public engagement and political leadership. The lively question-and-answer session highlighted Taoyuan City’s growing interest in expanding active mobility options and creating more sustainable, liveable urban environments.

We thank Deputy Mayor Su Jun-bin and the entire delegation for their visit and look forward to following Taoyuan City’s continued progress towards a more cycling-friendly future.