How to buy a bike as a student in the Netherlands?
A bicycle is the ideal means of transportation in the Netherlands. With 35,000 km of dedicated bike paths spread out over this (mostly) flat country, cycling is the best way to get to know your surroundings. Your bike is your best friend and is always there to take you precisely to your destination.
But first, you must find a suitable bike. With all the available options, that can be challenging. Do you want a cheap student bike from a webshop or a second-hand bicycle? Whatever you do, the number one rule is to never buy a cheap bicycle from a stranger at the station; these are always stolen.
Buying a bike online
You can buy a cheap new bicycle at various web shops and stores. At Decathlon, you can find a decent new bike for 150 euros; at Bol.com, you can also choose from many different city bikes. When buying, pay attention to the bike's measures. Bicycles for adults have a standard wheel size of 28 inches, and the size of the frame determines the bicycle size. The frame size indicates the distance between the bottom bracket's center and the seat tube's top.
Here is an overview of which frame size you need for your height:
From 155cm: frame size 47 - 50 cm
From 165cm: frame size 50 - 52 cm
From 170cm: frame size 52 - 55 cm
From 175cm: frame size 55 - 58 cm
From 180cm: frame size 58 - 61 cm
From 185cm: frame size 61 - 63 cm
From 190cm: frame size 63 - 66 cm
Buying a second-hand bike from a bike shop
If you need help determining whether a bicycle is a good purchase, you can visit a bicycle shop for second-hand bikes. The prices of bicycles start from about 200 euros, but you can sometimes find cheaper ones at bicycle shops outside of the city center. This way, you can buy a high-quality bike for a low price. Brands to look for are Koga, Gazelle, Batavus, Sparta, and Union. You will also receive advice about the size, and you can take a test ride. Necessary repairs have already been done, and the bike will often get a serial code connected to your name (which is handy in case your bicycle gets stolen). Second-hand bike shops are found on every street corner. Just use your Google Maps and search for 'Bicycle shop'. Online variants are, for example, Cheapassbikes, ASVA, and studentfiets.
Buying a second-hand bike from a private individual
You can easily buy a second-hand bicycle via Marktplaats or on Facebook Marketplace. You can find an affordable second-hand bike between 50-100 euros, sometimes even cheaper. Just make sure you're not buying rubbish! Take a good look at the frame: is it not cracked or warped? Is there no knock on the wheels? Are the tires not worn out? Replacing these parts costs a lot, so a cheap bike can quickly become expensive. At Marktplaats you can buy a well-maintained bicycle, which cost 1000 euros a few years ago, now for 200 euros. Look out for brands like Koga, Gazelle, and Batavus with 3×8 or 3×7 gears and V-brakes, as they would be a good buy. When the second-hand bike has been properly maintained, it is wise to ask for the serial number of the bicycle and the purchase invoice. This way, you know exactly what the price was, and you can be sure the bike has not been stolen.
Now that you have a new bike, you don't want it to get stolen. You can read our blog on how you can prevent that.
.jpg)
