Orange Bike Ride Palmerston North

The Dutch love to cycle - and the colour orange! We want to share our fun approach to cycling with everyone and have created the Orange Bike Ride, a fun and safe family friendly cycle event using one of Palmy's cycleways a loop along the river, starting at He Ara Kotahi.

The Orange Bike Ride was a hit last year in 14 centres across the country, and we don't want Palmy to miss out this time, so your local Dutch Club are hosting this event. It's part of nationwide celebrations for Dutch Week (27 April - 5 May) which include festivals, films, a youth speech competition and of course cycling! Dutch Week starts on Koningsdag (Kings Day) which celebrates the Dutch King's birthday. Even the King rides a bike! Thats 'King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima in the (you guessed it) orange dress in the photo.

It's not a race - the 'winners' are the most fun people! Prizes sponsored by the Netherlands Embassy for the best dressed people and bikes! Spot Prizes! BYO Bike and water. Refreshments and Dutch Treats will be supplied at the end.

Dutch Week Orange Bike Ride aims to promote cycling as a sustainable means of transport which helps us to address climate change through a standout and enjoyable family oriented event connecting New Zealanders and the local Dutch communities in as many regions as possible across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Meet at 10am at the He Ara Kotahi Bridge, Dittmer Drive (opposite Ruha St) for a leisurely cycle along the Cycleway and across the Massey bridge. There are no crossings, so safe for our younger cyclists.

Don't forget to dress up - in orange! We might even have some orange props on the day. (Or you could use the red, white and blue theme of the Dutch flag if you don't have orange).

Let us know you are coming: Either by getting a free ticket here; Tick 'Going' on our Facebook event, or email dutch.club.manawatu@gmail.com

Did you know: There are more bikes than people in The Netherlands?

Did you know: That over 20% of 'roads' in The Netherlands are cycleways? A whopping 35,000km of cycleways!