The motorcycle season in the Netherlands has officially started again today with the national Motorcyclist Day. After months of cold and brine, thousands of enthusiasts take their beloved machines out of storage for the first rides of the year. According to Wim Mulder from Zwiggelte, chairman of the Royal Dutch Motorcyclists Association (KNMV), motorcycle culture is more alive than ever.
“Motorcycling is really on the rise. We currently have about 850,000 registered motorcycles in the Netherlands and about 350,000 active motorcyclists. And that number is still growing,” says Mulder.
It is striking that the growth is not only in numbers, but also in diversity. “We see that more and more women are starting to ride motorcycles. About half of the people who now take driving lessons are women. That is really a change compared to the past.”
According to Mulder, motorcycling also plays an increasingly practical role, especially in busy urban areas. “In the Randstad you see people using motorcycles because of traffic and parking problems. A motorcycle takes up little space and you can often easily store it.”
Motorcycling is still regularly seen as dangerous, but according to the KNMV chairman, the key lies with the rider himself. “It has a lot to do with how you drive. People sometimes say: ‘I wasn’t seen by a car.’ But it really depends on you. You have to drive differently, pay more attention. If you have that in mind, you’ll be fine.”
The love for motorcycles often starts at a young age. It was no different for Mulder himself. “I grew up in Gieten and during the week of the TT, big teams and well-known riders always came there. As a young boy you pick that up and you never let it go.”
Although the season is now really starting, Mulder is not yet riding his first kilometers of the year today. “But I’m going out again tomorrow anyway,” he says with a smile.