What do I need for Holland? - SV650.org

12-08-05, 04:41 PM

Can anyone tell me what I need? I'm going to Amsterdam for a couple of nights next week, taking the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry. Can you help me with the following?
1 Do I need a GB plate
2 Do I need any special headlight patches
3 What are the ferry companies like with regard to bikes? Do they strap it down? what about rough seas etc?
4 How is the driving in Holland
5 Do they drive on the right or left!!
6 are signs in English?
I've got AA recovery for £27 which aint too bad, my insurance co says I'm covered.......I'm sure I've forgotten something........HELP! Any advice esp routes or things to go see appreciated....ta

12-08-05, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidmarx

Can anyone tell me what I need? I'm going to Amsterdam for a couple of nights next week, taking the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry. Can you help me with the following?
1 Do I need a GB plate

Quote:

not really, tho you can put a GB sticker on your plate if it makes you feel better

2 Do I need any special headlight patches

Quote:

un sure on this one i never stayed anylonger than a day in another country

3 What are the ferry companies like with regard to bikes? Do they strap it down? what about rough seas etc?

Quote:

yeah they will strap it down they are very good & it won't go anywhere even if its rough seas, you will most likey feel worse than the bike

. i would say be very careful on entry & exit there is bare metal connecting ramps!!! which can be real slippery

4 How is the driving in Holland

Quote:

not too bad better than france but speed limts are pretty high compared with britian, but then where's not these days

5 Do they drive on the right or left!!

Quote:

right

6 are signs in English?

Quote:

is that a joke

hell no they are in dutch, get a large map on the ferry it gives clear names of places in the the native dialect & english so you should be fine

I've got AA recovery for £27 which aint too bad, my insurance co says I'm covered.......I'm sure I've forgotten something........HELP! Any advice esp routes or things to go see appreciated....ta

i hope all that helps. james

12-08-05, 05:12 PM

Thanks James that does indeed help, esp the bit about the ramps....I'll be sure not to get caught out with that one! I've been to Holland loads before and I'm sure I remember seeing some signs in english.......they all speak it.....maybe I was....er....imagining it....

12-08-05, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidmarx

Thanks James that does indeed help, esp the bit about the ramps....I'll be sure not to get caught out with that one! I've been to Holland loads before and I'm sure I remember seeing some signs in english.......they all speak it.....maybe I was....er....imagining it....

maybe there are some english signs where you go, but when i went i saw none but i went quite far inland

12-08-05, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidmarx

Can anyone tell me what I need? I'm going to Amsterdam for a couple of nights next week, taking the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry. Can you help me with the following?
1 Do I need a GB plate
2 Do I need any special headlight patches
3 What are the ferry companies like with regard to bikes? Do they strap it down? what about rough seas etc?
4 How is the driving in Holland
5 Do they drive on the right or left!!
6 are signs in English?
I've got AA recovery for £27 which aint too bad, my insurance co says I'm covered.......I'm sure I've forgotten something........HELP! Any advice esp routes or things to go see appreciated....ta

1. AFAIK Yes.
2. Dont know
3. My ex used to travel frequently by bike between here and holland and never had any problems. I believe they will secure the bikes.
4. Not too bad ime though Im sure MavUK will disagree

Though traffic in Amsterdam can be a pain

5. Right
6. Most are understandable. Amsterdam is pretty well signposted

Fave places in Amsterdam:
Arends Nest - brew their own beer... very nice... prinsengracht I believe. Theres a cool rock pub down near Rokin just round the corner from the cinema. Pool tables upstairs. The absinthe bar is... er.... an experience

thats near Dam square cant remember the exact address - sorry

Loads of great places to eat. If you like fish theres a fish restaurant on Leidseplein [a couple of cool pubs there too - rock/blues pub on the Leidseplein and a belgium beer bar just round the corner.... damn, sorry cant remember its name for the moment... embarrassing how I forget the names of the good pubs...

]. Otherwise near museumplein and the Reichsmuseum is a nice pancake restaurant [Hansel & Gretel IIRC]. Really recommend the profijites [sp?].

Anyone offers you a doble zaut dropjes REFUSE unless you like really salty liquorice sweets.

Culture - LOADS of museums. Never did the sex museum but the torture museum was interesting. The Reichsmuseum was fabulous. Seeing those Dutch Masters paintings was awesome especially the size of them. Given I cant draw a circle I was blown away by how good they are. Didnt do the Anne Frank house either as it was always too busy but there are loads of places to go and see in the city. Theres a Heineken museum there too I believe

If you wanted to get out of 'dam then I can recommend Utrecht and the Zoo in Arnhem is an interesting place to visit. Bout an hour by train from Amsterdam.

HTH

Biker Biggles · 12-08-05, 05:31 PM

Don't forget to take some Rizzlas and an open mind.

12-08-05, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Don't forget to take some Rizzlas and an open mind.

i thought the open mind came after

12-08-05, 07:30 PM

I've just come back from there...

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidmarx

Can anyone tell me what I need? I'm going to Amsterdam for a couple of nights next week, taking the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry. Can you help me with the following?
1 Do I need a GB plate

No.

2 Do I need any special headlight patches

No.

3 What are the ferry companies like with regard to bikes? Do they strap it down? what about rough seas etc?

We had no problem. They have to be strapped down by law.

4 How is the driving in Holland

Good but not as good as the Germans whom IMHO are the best drivers.

5 Do they drive on the right or left!!

The wrong side.

6 are signs in English?

Not usually.

I've got AA recovery for £27 which aint too bad, my insurance co says I'm covered.......I'm sure I've forgotten something........HELP! Any advice esp routes or things to go see appreciated....ta

E111

12-08-05, 07:44 PM

Wow thanks for that you all, sorted me right out. Biggest hassle so far has been finding somewhere with secure parking :roll: but that has really set my mind at rest. So far I need to remember:
GB plate
No headlight stuff
Know right from left
NO ZAUT in anything liquid
Lots of Arends Nest
Visit Leidseplein
E111
Metal ramps
Rizlas..........
Mmmmm.........
Anyone been to the bizzare villages that are set around the coast?

12-08-05, 08:37 PM

Oh and if you drink tea you'll need to ask for it strong or English tea. And for the milk. The dutch drink their tea with a 2 second introduction of tea bag to hot water and with no milk. Only children have milk in their tea.

lucky sod. wish I was going.

Didnt get up to the coast, usually ended up in Utrecht most times we went out.

12-08-05, 04:41 PM	#1
skidmarx Guest Posts: n/a	What do I need for Holland? Can anyone tell me what I need? I'm going to Amsterdam for a couple of nights next week, taking the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry. Can you help me with the following? 1 Do I need a GB plate 2 Do I need any special headlight patches 3 What are the ferry companies like with regard to bikes? Do they strap it down? what about rough seas etc? 4 How is the driving in Holland 5 Do they drive on the right or left!! 6 are signs in English? I've got AA recovery for £27 which aint too bad, my insurance co says I'm covered.......I'm sure I've forgotten something........HELP! Any advice esp routes or things to go see appreciated....ta

12-08-05, 05:31 PM	#6
Biker Biggles Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Barnet Herts Posts: 5,069	Don't forget to take some Rizzlas and an open mind. __________________ On a clear day we stand there and look further than the ordinary eye can see.

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12-08-05, 05:12 PM	#3
skidmarx Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks James that does indeed help, esp the bit about the ramps....I'll be sure not to get caught out with that one! I've been to Holland loads before and I'm sure I remember seeing some signs in english.......they all speak it.....maybe I was....er....imagining it....

12-08-05, 07:44 PM	#9
skidmarx Guest Posts: n/a	Wow thanks for that you all, sorted me right out. Biggest hassle so far has been finding somewhere with secure parking :roll: but that has really set my mind at rest. So far I need to remember: GB plate No headlight stuff Know right from left NO ZAUT in anything liquid Lots of Arends Nest Visit Leidseplein E111 Metal ramps Rizlas.......... Mmmmm......... Anyone been to the bizzare villages that are set around the coast?

12-08-05, 08:37 PM	#10
lynw Guest Posts: n/a	Oh and if you drink tea you'll need to ask for it strong or English tea. And for the milk. The dutch drink their tea with a 2 second introduction of tea bag to hot water and with no milk. Only children have milk in their tea. lucky sod. wish I was going. Didnt get up to the coast, usually ended up in Utrecht most times we went out.