this small intersection can probably handle as many people as 5 lanes of asphalt in America because of the bikes

Slight confusion: in the Netherlands most people who ride a bike ARE working! -> over here a bicycle is not (especially) for leisure or sport, but simply for transport IN GENERAL. Most people who live close to work prefer commute by bike (because it is more pleasant, often faster en more healthy)...

The cart, in this case it's one from "PostNL" A postal service. It's used to deliver mail and small packages In the larger busy cities which often have narrow side-streets it's way more convenient than using a regular delivery van.

Imagine the congestion if every single one of those people would've been in a car, congrats you are thinking of the US and Canada! And that "wheelbarrow" is a modern cargo bike.

Wait, what. Chaos? Where? Did I just miss that?😂 It didn't seem like chaos to me. Just a regular day in a Dutch city centre. It's all about eye contact.( hence the up right position on Dutch bicycles) everyone is making eye contact with each other. An enormous amount of non verbal communication is going on : " Did you notice me?" So, no, not many accidents happen amongst cyclists.

There is a misconception that bicycling is about the activity. It's not. It's about the transport. There is no way you can move a million cars through medieval streets. Amsterdam is basically a swamp. They have tried to build one subway line. It costed 12 times the budget and 6 times the amount of time to get it done. 2 contractors went bust on the project.

What I like most is that nobody wears a helmet here, the cyclist indicates in which direction the route will be continued and nobody sets foot on the ground during these maneuvers. A real circus act if you ask me. Hollywood ready. \0/

Coming from a smaller town, If I lived there I would ditch the car lol. I'd feel comfortable cycling there but throwing your car in between al those bikes, is probably the most anxiety inducing thing I can think of.

3:00 "Somebody let the car through"... meanwhile, my Dutch brain is going: 'why the hell didn't that car driver wait their turn? What an entitled asshole...' :D Just to illustrate the difference in mindset.

This crossing is built according to a new philosophy that says that is better to let things regulate themselves in situations where speeds are not too high (because people are forced to pay more attention... and therefore become more cautious)

That "wheelbarrow thing" is a cargo bike, which isn't uncommon in the Netherlands at all. You'll see plenty of them around schools, because parents can easily use them to transport their kids, bags and all. There are even bigger versions for daycare centres that need to transport more kids than you can fit in the usual cargo bike. This is a busier crossing, but not something you won't see elsewhere in the Netherlands. The cars waiting at the sides do so because they don't have right of way. The triangles you see on the road, pointing towards the cars, are called "haaientanden" or shark teeth, and are a sign that the cars and bikes need to yield. The reason why you only see one little accident, where no one even got hurt, is because bikes don't go high speeds, aren't as heavy, and can maneuver around obstacles easier. It's the best way to commute in most Dutch cities, though you should learn basic Dutch traffic laws first, just like our kids do while they're in primary school. They even get a traffic exam, where they have to cycle a route through city/town on their own, to show they understand how to correctly and safely participate in traffic, by the time they're 10-12 years old. Because they're expected to use their bike to go to secondary school, on their own. Car drivers here also grew up riding their bikes, and many of us still ride our bikes until we're too old to not fall off. That's why car drivers here aren't as aggressive towards cyclists. Unless you get the speed cyclists, who don't always follow the rules, and are known to cause dangerous situations by passed too closely at a high speed. Most people don't want to bump into those guys, because of how some of them act like they are above the law.

After a few hits one starts using hand signals to warn others what you are about to do. 😉 love the channel sir.

The cart is an inner city electric delivery truck. Because the guy is standing and can't pedal, it's shorter . They can carry quite a lot and still use the bicycle infrastructure.

I didn’t know that watching an intersection in Amsterdam could be so satisfying

That two wheeled cart is a cargo bike/segway thing, it's electric (silent and no exhaust) and compact as result they can go nearly everywhere... This one was from PostNL (Dutch version USPS) which has ties to TNT so he's bringing around mail or packages with it CoolBlue is a huge Dutch Amazon like online store they deliver on their own cargo bikes if possible because... If the infrastructure allows for it... WHY NOT?

that cart thing was a Stint, the stint is an electrically powered pickup, where the driver stands on the back, it is smaller than a small van and ideal in tight city streets.

I'm Dutch, but this made me say "holy shit" more than once lol

When I see this I'm so happy to live in a little village in the Netherlands! Nearly nobody is following the traffic rules in this video🤯

I drove a small truck in that area for a big drinks company supplying bars and restaurants. The smallest regular style truck that fit into cities, but converted to electric, so nobody heard me coming. Had to drive through pedestrian areas as well, hilarious to scare the shit out of people walking and looking at their phone. I also drove regular trucks in the city neighbourhoods to supply stores. Those intersection in the video are all about going slow and steady, as there is never a good time to cross with a truck. By keeping a single, slow pace, everyone can see you where you are going and go in front or behind you. You're constantly looking left and right to make eye contact with as many people as possible and make sure everyone is paying attention. The bikes are like a colony of ants, which kind of move as one but avoid objects as a single entity. The bigger intersections with the truck were more about taking very slow turns at first and driving purely on the mirrors as you can't see beside you. People learn from a very young age not to be next to a truck. You either go way in front, in their line of sight, or stay behind and wait for it to move. The crash you saw is quite rare, she looked like she hadn't ridden a bike a lot as she couldn't hold her line looking right and checking is she could merge. The old lady in the mobility scooter is actually stopping cars with her hand, as crazy as that may sound. In those streets, cars do not rule the road. Laws protect pedestrians and cyclists, and everyone driving also walks and cycles themselves. They know how scary cars can be and take care to not put people in danger. We use the roads in a very different way to Americans. Check out Not Just Bikes for, in my opinion, the best videos about this, from the perspective of a Canadian who lived in the US and now Amsterdam.

That's why you are better off by bike in Amsterdam than by car

I could watch this for hours, it's soothing. That one chick causing the little crash though🙄... get off the road!!! One thing to not give way when you're supposed to, but how on earth do you just crash into somebody like that?? And I could be mistaken, but she actually seemed to be the one being mad🤔

The guy at 2:25 has a mailman uniform. The scooter probably makes for a pretty efficient way to visit a lot of addresses in a dense city without running into parking or congestion problems. A lot of similar services use such scooters or bikes

Him screaming Wow! at totally normal traffic 😆

You should see this in Hanoi or in Phnom Penh even for me as a Dutchman it was a amazing experience over there.

4:35 - 4:56 I'm dead... HAHAHAHA

I think the "wheelbarrow" is an urbanarrow cargobike. They sell them in the USA as well. You can actually go to homedepo with it. They also use it to transport children in the Netherlands. Kids love it and you are at your destination faster than any car can get you there.

Don't you just love how everything basically just blends in. Bikes turning the corner, and ending up in between a group of other cyclists. People being able to not hit others with just a small correction of their steering. What most people see as "near hits" are actually just calculated moves: "I can just fit in between that".

imagine all these people driving a car in those small streets... that is why the bicycle is the fastest way to get around in Dutch cities

we have dutch mountains, the wind. lots of professional bikers get beaten by it.

THis DOES show something important. The key is to see that everybody is taking care of themselves and avoiding any collisions. Even the 'crashes' are very low impact and usually when somebody made a mistake. As you know the car is ALWAYS wrong (that's Dutch law) so drivers NEED to be careful or they'll soon find themselves banned from driving. (We have a points system that adds up until you lose your license, and reasonably effective insurance mechanisms.

According to the statistics bureau, 610 people died in 2020 in The Netherlands because of traffic accidents, of whom 229 where cyclists. Now, every death is one too many, but it’s still insanely low for the number of cyclists we have. And I’m just guessing here, but the refusal of Dutchies to wear a helmet is probably a huge factor in those deaths. There also was a studie about these intersections, and accidents don’t happen often, until tourists are involved haha. Because they don’t understand how to behave.

fun factor is that there are "sharkteeth" on the ground for people comimg from the left and the right and that indicates that all traffic coming from these directions have to stop. At an extreme busy crossing like this actually it would be better to use traffic lights in stead of sharkteeth because you see a lot of people are not stopping.

when I get stressed I watch this video and become relaxed as Dutchie

You figured out the herd mentality of bicycles ! Cyclists generally don't get upset enough to really get aggressive with one another. Damage is usually small or non-existent, the hold-up minimal and we got places to be. Same with the number of accidents. There's plenty of them, but most accidents don't even result in a bruise. Waving the hand around helps - it's not so much to signal the people in front, though it helps, it's more to signal the people behind you: "I'm going to slow down and turn off here, don't pass me on this side" Funny you say it's flat, because at the bottom of the screen is a rather steep bridge. People transport everything in those 'bakfiets'. Groceries, plants, furniture, kids I know this intersection and always try to avoid it

It all might seem chaotic, but since most Dutch people learn to ride a bike ever since they could walk, it’s become second nature. One thing is apparent in this video: all cyclists are very confident in the unwritten traffic rules and nobody hesitates. When they see an opening, they go for it.

You should see a crossing like this but with trams involved 😂 Actually there is one a few blocks from there. Really scary sometimes cause Amsterdammers don't watch and trams can't leave the track....

The segway looking, in the beginning, was a ""PostNL Stint". That is how mail is being delivered in some parts of Amsterdam.

Cars are always guilty in case of an accident with a bicyclist or pedestrian. That is why cars are being careful around bicycles. Also, we have this thing called “a conscience” which makes us disinclined to run people over 😁

Dutch bikeriders between themselves pay very well attention and hardly ever have a (serious) accident. The danger starts when tourists try to ride among them: they don't pay attention and they're not familiar with the 'unwritten rules'. This is not meant negative to tourists (ya'll are very welcome!), it's just that the Dutch 'bikingsystem' is a bit complicated for outsiders 😅 At this intersection, the traffic going 'vertical' in the screen has priority. When you enter the white triangles pointed towards you, which the Dutch call shark teeth, you have to let the traffic coming from the left and right go first. As you can see for yourself, on this intersection that's almost not really possible, unless you wish to grow a beard, so traffic coming from the sidelanes tries to fit in and yes, they force themselves in a little. Traffic is a game that you play together.

I follow the "Not Just Bikes" channel. From that I've learned that bicycles have the right of way in The Netherlands, not cars. A car going through an area like that has to give way and be super careful. And the cyclists know just what they are doing and are paying attention to each other. I tell you, I'm super envious of that bicycle culture. That said, I live in a very hilly rural area of upstate New York. There is exactly nothing for bicyclists here. You take your life in your hands being on these country roads! Also, as you mentioned, The Netherlands is flat. Not so much of a challenge to cycle on flat terrain, unless it's a very windy terrain. That is one dizzying intersection - woah! Some of the videos I watch have busy intersections, but there are traffic lights, for both vehicle lanes and bike lanes, so people are not weaving in and out of each other like that.

I'm from a small town in the Netherlands and to me this also looks very chaotic and dangerous. I wouldn't want to ride my bycicle around there and certainly not drive my car in the middle of this chaos.

What are you trying to blend in with? 😂 Priceless!

The Traffic on the left and right have to wait untill the road's free from priority traffic. You see those white triangles , those are called "Shark Teeth" , which means you have to wait. 2:56 The guy/girl in the white B.M.W is a real asshole for ignoring the Shark Teeth

2:40 That's a mail man. I've never seen it but at a blind guess he's transporting packages to one of the more weird post offices no van can possibly get to because of all the old buildings.

@Highly thank you so much for your bonus comments.

A lot of people cycle with headphones or airpods or something (me included). And although its true that it would be safer, often looking around is more than enough. And cycling with some music makes for a quicker and more enjoyable ride.

Hello from the Netherlands . that cart with the young man on the back = is an electric delivery cart on four wheels for delivery in the busy city center where a car or van is not located or is not even allowed to come. 6:17 2x a scooter from the enforcement / kind of police. and where are the police? well at 6:41 , 10:32 and 11:33 . that white (wheelbarrow) bicycle is a cargo bike with electric pedal assistance. thanks for the video Highly

In the eighties before Nintendo we had atari. One of their classic games was frogger. A crossing like this is exactly the same 😂❤

Do you see those triangles on the road? They are called Sharksteeth and that's why those cars stopped for the bicycles. The teeth point towards the cars so the upcoming traffic has the right of way. They HAVE TO stop.

I love watching your face on these videos. Such wonder and confusion. In the Netherlands we call this a normal tuesday

This is what we call "give & take" 😄

Well actualy it does. When given a hand signal in traffic it surpasses the signs and the traffic lights. Especialy given when they are given by the police or traffic controlers. You can even get fined when you ignore them. If there was an accident and i started giving signals to direct trafic you better believe they are followed. As would anyone do in the same situation. And if i saw someone ging them to me i would follow them too. It's just polite to do when in traffic. I don't understand why driving a car means you can act like an 🤬 (unpleasend person ) just because you are in a (big) car. And while driving they think that they own the road. We conciderd it highly uncivilised. And by the way, it's not flat. It's slightly uphill towards the camera.

The holding up the hand is to signal to others that the driver was turning

The wheelbarrow is a BACKFIETS. Very common these days in Nederland. For everything, shopping, kids, delivery, you name it.......

Geez thats very busy indeed. That intersection probably moved more people than a 3 lane car stroad

Those cars at the sides are also forced to yield to the bikers, that is what those "shark teeth" are for (those white triangles on the grey background)

You can really see how the cars are the geust and the 2 wheelers the boss

In Dutch law, when a motorized vehicle is involved in an accident with a pedestrian or cyclist, they are always responsible for the damage of the pedestrian/cyclist unless they can prove real mitigating circumstances.

that cart is the postal service LMAO

5:40 we raise the arm we want to go to, she raised her left arm because she wanted to go left.

The cart is a Segway adapted for delivering packages, like an Amazon service...

3:20 They won't run you over. In The Netherlands the car is always at fault. There's no lights here, but even if there were and the car got a green light, started going and hit a cyclist who just the ran a red light that driver of the car is liable for damages. That's how you keep drivers calm.

Indeed……better Bicycles than guns. In the city of Amsterdam you must have a bicycle and no car as you see. Why not the same in New York? Alternative is only drive in a Smart in Manhattan. Bicycles are the future. Greetings from the Netherlands where I have three bicycles 😀

11:24 do you mean that bakfiets with wheelbarrow? That is a cargo bike they are very popular in the Netherlands to transport various different things like kids, plants, groceries, pets and way more.

The wheelbarrel (And grandpa's lowrider as well) are actually bikes with a contraption in front to wheel around the kids. It easily fits a baby carrier and two or three toddlers...

The car where he is standing is a cargo bike. Its actually TNT post. Post cargo worker

You can better say that we are "car friendly" 🤣👌

No policeman needed here. Normal traffic rules here. Look at the marks on the streets that cross😂

I’m so glad I don’t live in the big cities. If I visit cities like Amsterdam/Rotterdam I always travel to a Park and Travel parking. And travel to the city centre by tram or metro. In the city I just walk or hop trams.

Which urban camouflaged car you talking about? I ain't seeing any!

the cars need to wait for the bicycles, the triangles on the street say you need to stop even the bicycles need to stop there as well, we don`t always are polite on the road.

Red roads, bike has right off way!

I've read there are 1.3 bike per person in the Netherlands, there's 0.3 bikes per person in the U.S.

00:20 I googled how many guns there are in America. It's estimated to be about 400 million guns.

If you know the rules and let the other people know where you want to go you're fine. Keep your eyes on the road and around you and be bold.

Amsterdam is weird, it's BUSY and PEACEFUL at the same time, unlike London for example which is busy, dirty and stressful

This is a bit 'free for all' kind of situation.😅 Although the with triangles (shark teeth) indicate that the traffic coming from the left and right have to give way to the traffic in the middel. With that in mind, most people act accordingly. But is is so busy that the cars need to slowly push themselves forward and disregard the 'give way' rule otherwise they'd be standing there for ages. And yeah, some of them coming from left or right going to fast, bit careless.

You cant use the baby as a shield !!! ....ehhhhm Yes you can 😁

we got hills in limburg and we still ride the bices up and down the hills

That seems like a perfectly normal afternoon traffic to me? What's the big deal ;-)

The orange cargo segway is the mailmen.

12:05 Nobody cares about acting right if the police is around on a place like this. And the police doesn't care either. As long as nobody gets hurt, nobody is going to get fined or anything for some minor traffic violation. This is one of those situations where just making it all work together is more important than the exact rules.

a average dutchman has 1.3 bike. Personally i have 3 bikes

Those white,haaientanden, on the road means for cars to stop and wait

4:54 That car wasn't on the market yet when the video was made. It must have made a test drive or was driven to an unknown destination. The pattern is deliberately made to make spying practices by other car brands difficult. I once stopped an entire bus with one hand!

I think I will make you some footage from a few intersections in my hometown (Utrecht) so you can see how it CAN be done without all this chaos. the 3 bussiest bikeroutes in the country are all in my city. I am shocked how maybe 5% of the people is signalling where they want to go when making a turn. 6:26 I drive with either on ear headphones or earbuds, I can hear traffic just fine. Just don't put them on full blast and don't use noise cancelation. According to CBS (Central Buro for Statistics) 2022 was the most deadly year for cyclists ever with almost 300 deaths nationwide over the entire year. Biggest group of those were 75+. It is thought to have two main reasons. 1-E-bikes: Older people nowadays tend to ride e-bikes, they tend to drive to fast and be less alert to traffic. 2- The end of the pandemic: Everyone and their grandmother went out on their bikes when the pandemic was at it's end and we were allowed to live a normal live again. The increased traffic and the eagerness of people being able to cycle again probably has contributed. In general it has been stable for decades.

Big momma. 😂

But the amount of people that passes that point... Just imagine if they where all in cars.

thist is organisized chaos, that woman on 4:03 has not learned biking in there childhood.

You hit the nail on the head comparing this to a Sims situation 🤣 I know I go crazy seeing this, and I’m Dutch 😜

Actually the Netherlands has the lowest accident rates, because of the great infrastructure.

That's a very bussy crossing point. I have never been in this area of Amsterdam.

Imagine what would happen when all those cyclists used cars instead of bicycles. ;-) Most times it's just one person in a car.

that 2 wheeled things has 4 wheels and i think its only getting used by postman and something else i can't get my lips on. so i don't think you can buy those over here in the netherlands

Highly, cargo bikes are a thing :D

Funny to see right highly and if you think this is a busy bicycle crossing you should see Utrecht during rush hour .But isn't great you only saw 1 near accident 'cus that lady obviously was a novice cyclist.O and cars always get the blame if they hit a bicycle doesn't matter who's wrong.

When I had my drivinglessons my instructor said: If you will have your driverslicence, you are going to be so irritated about people on bikes. He was and is right. But I also have 2 bikes. Yes 2 for no special reason. One is lighter to use. And I am not taking the car if it is just 15 minutes by bike. So I am sure cardrivers are irritated by me as well. Although I am quickly irritated when I have to drive and it is so busy. 😤

4:10 I think she's from America. Funny thing is, you can go to google earth and drop the little person at any random location in Amsterdam, when you do and look around you'll see a bicycle 99.99% of the time. There's literally no place in Amsterdam where you can look around 360 degrees and see 0 bikes. Go ahead, try it!

Red bicycle lanes in the Netherlands❤

The old guy was to blame