VELOMOBILE MEETING OLIEBOLLENTOCHT 2019

Check out the DETAILED TIMELINE DESCRIPTIONS! The Oliebollentocht is an annual velomobile meeting in The Nederland’s organized by the recumbent bicycle’s organisation https://en.ligfiets.net/. Utrecht was selected for the 2019 meeting. DETAILED TIMELINE DESCRIPTIONS By Victor Charles 00.10 The present “Leidsche Rijn” canal was 2000 years ago the Rhine, which runs into the sea at the present day town of Leiden. It was the border of the Roman Empire with the Batavian and Frisian tribes, which become the Dutch. 00.40 Passing by the Roman museum, “Castellum”. Which is free of charge. 00.44 An old cast iron bridge, which was moved to this location, due to historic value. Instead of demolishing the bridge. 05.36 These metal structures are workplaces for artists and a daycare center. 05.42 The “Castellum” museum again. 05.45 “Groenedijk” (green dike) which is a fast cycle route into the center of Utrecht. Thanks to posts on the road, cars cannot ride here all the way. Except for the cars of residents. It used to be a quiet country road, before the urban sprawl of Utrecht happened. 06.01 Cyclists have priority over crossing cars. That makes the Groenedijk fast. 06.05 Park “de Hoge Weide”, with manmade hills, because most of the Netherlands is flat, without hills. 06.31 The ”Daphne Schippers” cycle bridge. World famous, because one end of the bridge was built on top of school. 06.36 That is the Amsterdam Rhine Canal. 07.51 “De Munt” the Mint, where the coins of the Netherlands were made. But it is closed down. 08.08 You are now riding on a bicycle street, where cars are guests. So, cars may ride here, but they must be careful. 06.36 Windmill “de Ster” the Star. It is now a children’s farm, so kids can play with the animals. 08.44 A bicycle tunnel leading into the center of Utrecht. 09.16 Bicycle parking garage “Stationsplein” Station square, the largest one in the world. With 12.500 parking spaces for bikes. 10.53 The “Dom” bell tower, 111 meters high, covered scaffolds, due to renovation. 11.01 “Zadelstraat” one of the many shopping streets of Utrecht center. 11.26 Crossing the Old Canal “Oude Gracht”. This canal is unique, due to loading platforms next to water and cellars next to it. 11.37 The “Dom”again up close. 11.57 Dom square (Dom plein). 16.53 This velomobile has painted like the flag of the province North Brabant (red and white checkers). Despite being located in the south of the Netherlands, it is called North Brabant, because Belgium has also 2 provinces called Brabant; Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant. 21.19 On the runway of former US Air Force base “Soesterberg”. Decommissioned in the early 90’s. It was built to bolster the air defense of the Netherlands during the cold war. Now it is a park, only closed during the spring and summer months for egg laying birds. Also, home to the Dutch Military Museum. 29.57 The bridge over the “Plofsluis”, which means blast lock. Another cold war relic. The old bridge itself was filled with 40.000 tons of rocks and debris and bottom of the bridge could be blown, so the rocks would fall into the canal and block it. It was both against the Soviet Army, but also to prevent flooding. It was never used and replaced in 2015 by the present cycling bridge, connecting the cities of Nieuwegein and Houten for cyclists.