There are 750,000 people in Amsterdam and 600,000 bikes. Many residents have more than one bike – a posh one for touring, and one that inevitably gets bashed up a bit with daily use. How long your bike lasts will depend on whether it is stored outside or in: not just because of the chances of it being stolen (high) but because all that rain inevitably takes its toll. The city is keen to support cyclists, with anti-theft prevention (free registration of bikes) and more supervised lockups (there are now 25 – see www.locker.amsterdam.nl). Bike theft is pretty endemic so buy the best lock(s) you can.

Cyclists may look pretty casual in terms of their road use but the police are getting hotter on fines – cycling without lights at night or shooting through red lights (€50, thanks) are particularly common. Helmets are not common (or indeed lycra outfits or other urban cycling kit) but don't let that stop you choosing to wear one or putting one on your children. The wide cycling paths and the fact that these are well observed is a critical safety issue, compared with cycling in other capital cities. (London's cycle paths, where they exist, can measure just 18 inches). In accidents, it is inevitably car drivers who lose out in court. If you want to hire a bike, see the table below. There are also numerous shops which do repairs and often sell second-hand bikes. (For more on everything to do with bikes. To help trace your bike if it goes missing, it is wise to get it engraved. For information on this see www.fietsendiefstal.nl. If your bike does get stolen (and it has been engraved) contact www.afac.amsterdam.nl. On a lighter note, the 20-seater Beer Bike and the Conference Bike (where you sit in a circle) are fun activities for groups visiting Amsterdam.