Don't do it. Instead, rent bikes at Central Station and immediately take the ferry to North. Once there, cycle the loop along Nieuwendammerdijk, stop at Het Sluisje for a drink, continue to Durgerdam and back again via Ransdorp to the ferry.

Cycling in Amsterdam is serious business, and us, serious cyclists don't suffer tourists on bikes lightly.

What Menachem says.

>>Don't do it. <<. . . . Or more accurately . . . >>DON'T do it!<<

Amsterdam is not a place for casual biking. As Menachem suggests, get out of town and ride.

https://www.macbike.nl/bike-tours/

If you want to cycle around the city with a group and guide check out the daily tours on Amsterdam by bike - they obviously chose routes next to canals and avoid the notorious main bike paths that can be so dangerous to novice Amsterdam cyclists. They also offer in country tours a la menachem's routes and others.

I have biked around Amsterdam and menachem's route via the free ferries at the rear of Centraal Station lead thru a bit of urban areas with wide bike paths into the countryside for beautiful bike paths with few other bikers, at least compared to Amsterdam.

I've seen MacBike tours ride through the city. DON'T DO IT! Despite everything PalenQ remembers from Amsterdam.

I know nothing about MacBike's city tours but they've been doing them a long time -not out of business due to accidents - just listing as option.

Yes, they bank on other road users paying enough attention to have no collisions with their groups.

There is no such thing as a quiet bike path along the canals.

Well they've done those Amsterdam bike day trips daily for years and yes the pictures show canals -again if they had dangerous routes they would not do those trips - I don't know how they get around the city but they do and without mayhem one would assume.

When was the last time you used the bike company you recommend in Amsterdam, PalenQ?

I've never used it nor meant to imply that I had. But those tours have been around - MacBike - forever and if they offer city tours twice daily in season I assume they have a safe way of doing it - don't you? I only mention it as an option since OP expressly wished to have a city bike tour like they have had in so many cities. And these tours IMO are very safe - contrary to the hyperbole locals put on bike mania in every street of Amsterdam when in effect this mayhem is on a relatively few bike paths that provide access to and exits from the city and these can be like the Indianapolis 500, especially at rush hours. But I'm sure those tours do not go on those busy paths - again these tours have to be safe or they would not be in operation.

A look at their tours say exactly where they go and they do circle the city. I know nothing about these tours but know that they must be safe or would not be offered. Tulips - don't you think so too?

>>I've never used it . . .<<

End of discussion. The rest is all irrelevant.

>>I've never used it . . .<<

End of discussion. The rest is all irrelevant>

Total B S - I am just giving options - when everyone else said to never ever bike in Amsterdam I know of a very reputable tour group that does such trips - and presumably safely. To be able to mention something as an option does not mean you have had to actually take one - and I am NOT recommending it - just giving it as an option to explore. Another one of your picayune snarks based on nothing but....

<<Another one of your picayune snarks based on nothing>>

No, another one of your useless recommendations based on nothing.

I did NOT recommend it - just gave it as a viable option. I said up front:

<I know nothing about MacBike's city tours but they've been doing them a long time -not out of business due to accidents - just listing as option.>

Since none of you have taken the city tour you can't say how dangerous it would be either as several said.

Enough said.

Pal: Fodorites who LIVE in the Netherlands have tried and tried (and tried) to explain that your recommendation is not good. Yet you persist.

You 'know of' a tour company yet admit you have never used them. Anyone can 'know of' anything -- all it takes a google search.

Again janis I did not recommend it just gave as option of a city tour that has gone on a long time by a veteran tour company - don't you think if that would be as dangerous as one ex-local said the would be out of business. Just options janis - especially when others said was daft. IMO using that tour would not be daft or again they would not give the tour. DUH! You can deny that all you want but thousands of folks have taken a city bike tour with MacBike and other groups I have not heard of probably. And you obviously are just parroting what other Fodorites say - something you criticized me for!

<< just gave it as a viable option.>>

But you don't KNOW if it's a viable option because you've never done it and haven't set foot in Amsterdam in years. As a recent visitor I can attest that a tourist on a bike tour in Amsterdam these days has a death wish.