muses on Netherland

[Irongrinder]

I guess that could be the answer. I live near Rotterdam so that's probably why I never got to keep my bike for long

[Legolas]

Urk? Why would I want to live there? It's too crowded [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Besides, it's rumoured to smell of fish and people are speeding there all the time. No, the city theory is all wrong. And I have proof.
First off, the main place I take my bike is Groningen, a city. And it hasn't been stolen yet, although I've got this nagging suspicion it will be when I look out the window...
Second, Rotterdam has just recently been awarded the title 'fattest town in the Netherlands'. Appearantly, people don't ride that many bikes there.
Enschede was the 'fittest town', so unless you can prove there are more bikes stolen there, I won't buy the theory.

Although... fit people can recover their bikes whereas those less fit will have more difficulty doing so.

*goes off pondering*

[johnny]

Originally posted by Legolas: Urk? Why would I want to live there? It's too crowded [img]tongue.gif[/img] Besides, it's rumoured to smell of fish and people are speeding there all the time. No, the city theory is all wrong. And I have proof. First off, the main place I take my bike is Groningen, a city. And it hasn't been stolen yet, although I've got this nagging suspicion it will be when I look out the window... Second, Rotterdam has just recently been awarded the title 'fattest town in the Netherlands'. Appearantly, people don't ride that many bikes there. Enschede was the 'fittest town', so unless you can prove there are more bikes stolen there, I won't buy the theory. Although... fit people can recover their bikes whereas those less fit will have more difficulty doing so. *goes off pondering*

LOL I've read about that, and that Rotterdam was elected "fattest" city. People have way too much time on their hands.

[Grojlach]

Originally posted by Irongrinder: yes, but the problem is, they now have points drivers license (which makes you lose your license really quick in the first few years, which is actually not a bad idea for our safety. But they also want to have 4 exams instead of one, the way of answering questions has been made more difficult (not a simple yes or no anymore). But my biggest gripe about it is the price of it all, the lessons start to be more expensive, the exams also and soon perhaps more often so even more expensive. So I'll probably try to convince my mom to teach me in secrecy a little bit, so I have a good start and have to take les lessons

That is oh so very true... I believe these changes will start on the first of March; exams will suddenly become 1000 euro (!!!!!) more expensive, among other things. I don't have my driving license, never bothered with it either, but with prices like these? I suppose I can't even think about bothering with one until I've finished my studies and have a fulltime job, so I'll actually have enough money to be able to pay for it. 1000 euro extra is just criminal.

[johnny]

Sheesh, i remember the days that an exam cost a mere 250 guilders, why did they make it so expensive ? It's almost like they don't want us to drive cars.

[Barry the Sprout]

Originally posted by Ronn_Bman: Better to be prepared for the mountain, than have the mountain take you by surprise.

LOL... just had this sudden mental image of a Dutch person riding a bike into a mountain then scratching their head going: "Where the bloody hell did that come from...".

[img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Irongrinder]

Originally posted by Legolas: Second, Rotterdam has just recently been awarded the title 'fattest town in the Netherlands'.

Hey, I'm not fat
*goes to check his own weight*

The reason why Rotterdam is the fattest city could be perhaps because all of the bikes get stolen

[Irongrinder]

Originally posted by johnny: Sheesh, i remember the days that an exam cost a mere 250 guilders, why did they make it so expensive ? It's almost like they don't want us to drive cars.

I think that is partially the reason, but it won't help. Those stupid guys who call themselves the governement should be focusing on making public transportation cheaper, but no, they had to make that more expensive as well. A local trip (two zones) went from 1,40 to 1,60. And on top of that, they have made going by bus in the evening les convenient, by pulling back some busses. At first I could take 6 buses in an hour to go to the city center of Vlaardingen, 4 times bus 56, 2 times bus 52. Now the've pulled out 52 and halved the trips of the 56. So if I miss a bus I have to wait much longer then before

[ 02-18-2003, 07:44 AM: Message edited by: Irongrinder ]

[wellard]

Originally posted by Link: I had a mountain bike when I was little, but now I own a crappy bike which is literally falling apart. [img]smile.gif[/img] Do you live in Holland now Wellard?

G'day Link
No I don't live in holland anymore, that was 13+ years ago! I had a wonderfull time. very friendly people, libral attitudes, well educated in languages.. thankfully most spoke English and were very patient while they listened to me butcher the few words of dutch I had learned considering the fact that I was an imigrant coming to thier country taking thier jobs.

Fond memories, but I was to immature to enjoy the *ahem* bountifull supply of *errmm* ingrediants that where available in moderation. I had to leave for the benifit of my health

By the way what happened to Fokker I know they do not make thier own planes anymore but do they still make bits for Airbus?

[johnny]

http://www.ndt.net/news/fokker_i.htm

Sad that it had to happen.