It started because I was fed up with all the electric Van Moofs in the city. The biking lanes have transformed because of those. And not in a good way. A once cool brand, I owned the very first model in 2010, turned into a hip electric brand riden by fast yuppies in a city where you totally don't need an electric bike. Everything is so compact. You can literally get everywhere within a 15 minute ride on leg powered pedals.

I always loved biking in the city and would still encourage everyone moving to Amsterdam to buy a bike and get to know the city. I wrote about why Amsterdam is such a livable city in the past and that is mainly because of the biking infrastructure!

But......... here goes:

In the heart of Amsterdam, amidst a sea of cyclists and the symphony of (now often electronic ;( ) bike bells, I embarked on an unconventional quest: forgoing my bicycle. This decision wasn't a critique of the city's cycling culture perse (maybe a bit towards the e-bike craze) but a personal exploration into a slower, more mindful way of living in this compact, vibrant city.

The Compact City Advantage

Amsterdam's charm is not just in its postcard-worthy canals and historic buildings but also in its manageability. The city's size is perfect for walking. This realization dawned on me as electric bikes whizzed by and tourists swarmed the streets, making cycling less enjoyable. Walking became my sanctuary, a way to reclaim the joy of moving through the city at my own pace.

The Family Dynamic

The practicalities of my daily life played a significant role in this lifestyle shift. While Amélie and Mika have grown independent, biking to school on their own, Eli and Mia's school is a stone's throw from our houseboat, about 100 meters away. This proximity has been a blessing, allowing me to easily integrate walking into our daily routine without compromising on family time or responsibilities. I understand and am very grateful that that is possible for me without too much sacrifice.

So after I bring Mia to school I can just walk to where my work needs me.

Physical Well-being

Walking, in its simplicity, has profound physical benefits. It’s a testament to the power of gentle, consistent movement. My daily strolls through Amsterdam have become a form of exercise that feels less like a chore and more like a leisurely exploration. My step count has soared, last month to above 20k steps on average per month, but so has my appreciation for the city’s beauty, proving that good health doesn't always require a strenuous workout regimen.

A Sanctuary for Mental Health

The mental clarity and creative inspiration derived from my walks cannot be overstated. Each step through Amsterdam's streets has been a step away from stress and toward tranquility. This walking meditation has provided a space for uninterrupted thought, allowing me to solve problems more creatively, listening to inspiring podcasts and coming up with new ideas and learning new skills and reach out to loved ones with a clearer mind. It's as if the rhythm of my footsteps has become the beat to which my thoughts organize and flourish. 

Together

Conversations flow really well while walking. You can speak more freely sometimes if you don't have to look eachother in the eye all the time. Even before I said goodbye to the bike I started having walking meetings with people. During Covid this was the new normal, but for me this started earlier. Sitting was the new smoking, remember.

The nice thing is that you can also decide to cut a meeting short by just casualy directing the person back to where you started ;)

Embracing Slow Living in a Fast-Paced World

This journey has been about more than just physical health; it’s been a holistic embrace of slow living. By stepping out of the cycling lanes, I've stepped into a world rich with details—the play of light on water, the architectural quirks hiding in plain sight, and the spontaneous interactions that enrich daily life. Photography, a cherished hobby, has found new vitality as I capture these moments that would have otherwise sped past unseen.

Another insight

Efficiency vs Effectiveness

Technological advancements make our lives more efficient. The 'use of fire' being by far the most important innovation helping us become self conscious because it enabled cooking our food. (Read this mindblowing book about this).

The wheel (essential part of the bicycle :) ) the second most important innovation. But we're worshipping innovation just a bit too much. Yes we can get from A to B fast thanks to E-bikes, but what does it actually give us? Are those three minutes won worth missing out on taking a deep breath and tapping into your body? 

By taking a bit more time between meetings and places (by leaving my bike and walking) I found mindspace to process. I compare it to sleep. In your sleep your brain and body takes care of a lot of processes it can not handle during your active waking hours. By literally taking some more time in between work meetings and family responsibilities by slowing down during the walk home instead of being projected from the one thing into the next. The same counts for a walk after lunch or dinner. The bike lane demands an alerted state of your brain. Trade in some efficiency for effectiveness!

This also accounts for other innovations like all the addictive apps on your mobile phone: Yes it is great that we can update our friends on our outfits and give them a shoutout through Snapchat, but is that worth the detachment from the room you're actually in? It is good to ask yourself often what the innovation brings and takes away. It comes at a cost and you should be aware of that.

Update: 1000 days bikeless – More Steps, More Books, More Hellos

Since writing this piece, the journey has only deepened.

I’ve ramped up my movement, now averaging 22,300 steps a day. With a stride of about 75 cm (more when running), that adds up to a projected 6,100 kilometers this year — roughly the distance from Amsterdam to Timbuktu, if I ever decided to just keep walking. The physical benefits are obvious, but it’s also become a rhythm, a pulse to my days.

This past year, I layered in something unexpected: reading — while walking. Yes, I’ve become that guy, eyes scanning my e-reader while weaving through the city like a plot twist in motion. It started as a way to squeeze in a few extra pages, but now it's a full-on routine. Legs move, mind wanders, and the city becomes my reading room. A 2016 study in Social Science & Medicine found that book readers who read at least 30 minutes a day lived an average of two years longer than those who didn’t. Bookworms, rejoice.

I’ve set myself a goal of finishing 26 books in 2025 — one every two weeks. So far, it’s been a rewarding mental workout alongside the physical one.

Some recent reads that stuck with me:

• Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss: a wild behind-the-scenes exposé of how processed food became an addiction machine — and how even the people who sell it won’t touch it. (read my review)

• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: the kind of book that rewires your brain while explaining why you needed rewiring in the first place. (read my review)

• The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock & Fernette Eide: not just helpful for parents like me — it shifted how I see intelligence, creativity, and the power of difference. (read my review)

And Then There Was Hello 🌞

Since those early walks, something shifted within my routine — not just more steps or pages, but more connection. I didn’t just walk and read; I started walking, reading, and saying goedemorgen or goedemiddag. But that greeting isn’t a sidebar — it’s its own small revolution.

Why saying “hello” matters, the power of hello
In a time marked by zoomed‑in individualism and constant digital noise, our brief real‑world interactions are rare lifelines:

• A study by Sandstrom at Sussex University found that even fleeting daily exchanges with strangers—like a smile at a hot‑dog stand—significantly lift happiness and reduce feelings of isolation (research)

• Another body of research reveals that greeting or chatting lightly activates oxytocin and dopamine—“feel‑good” chemicals that counter loneliness .

• Large‑scale surveys confirm: people who engage briefly but regularly with strangers report higher life satisfaction and lower loneliness (research)

• The World Health Organization and others equate social isolation with health risks comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day (research). But even a nod or hello to a neighbor offers “social buffering”—lower stress, stronger sense of belonging (research)
  
  

The takeaway? In cities dominated by rushing e‑bikes and earbuds, being seen matters. A simple greeting isn’t just politeness—it’s a mini‑reset for the city’s emotional grid. It says: “I see you, and I matter too.”

A Routine That Works on Every Level

So here’s the heart of it:

• Walking gives my body space & time—slowing the pace of my day.

• Reading gives my mind depth & perspective—whether traversing ideas or novels at 5 km/h.

• Greeting gives my soul & community warmth & connection—tiny sparks that brighten both our days.

Combined, they form a compound routine: moves me physically, enriches me mentally, and connects me socially. It slows the world down without losing momentum—and in doing so, fills each step, each page, and each greeting with purpose.

What started as a choice not to bike has grown into a deliberate rhythm—one that benefits me in multiple dimensions, every day. Calmer, fuller, kinder. That’s a journey worth walking.

Conclusion: The Path Less Pedaled

500 (700 now, no 1000 now!) days on, walking in Amsterdam has offered me not just a healthier lifestyle but a richer, more connected way of experiencing the world. It's a reminder that in the rush to get from point A to point B, there’s a whole alphabet of life to be explored at a slower pace. This experience has been a privilege, one that’s reshaped not only how I move through the city but how I move through life itself.

As I continue my journey on foot, I invite you to consider how slowing down might reveal new dimensions in your life, whether it's through walking, reading, mindful pauses, or simply choosing to engage with your surroundings in a more deliberate way. After all, the best journey is the one where we're fully present, step by step.

If you want to join me for a walk: book me 

Below some random scenes I stumbled upon.