After settling in we assembled the bikes to make sure there wasn't any damage. We spent the rest of the day exploring Amsterdam on foot. First impressions were poor; it is potentially a beautiful city with fine architecture but it is seedy with litter and graffiti. Cannabis is effectively legal in Amsterdam and is sold through 'coffee shops'. This makes Amsterdam a popular destination for people who enjoy an alternative lifestyle and the graffiti and mess is noticeably worst nearest the 'coffee shops'.
We went for a walk around the city. There were thousands of bikes securely locked to all available structures. Some bikes had multiple locks (the red one on the photo had 4 locks!), and the chains would have served for anchors on ocean going ships. Most bikes were old and dilapidated with rusty chains. We saw a few that had buckled wheels, either accidents or vandalized.
The city is full of cyclists. It is the easiest way to get around in the narrow streets and they wind easily though the narrowest gaps while holding their mobile phone to their ear. We felt a little intimidated, they don't notice clearances that make us wobble.
