4 quirky must-see Amsterdam icons, from flower bikes and gable stones to mosaic artist Fabrice Hünd’s works
- Amsterdam is famous for its canals, red-light district, museums and art, but there are other must-see attractions in the Dutch capital
- These include Warren Gregory’s colourful flower bikes – the first of which was created for his wife – and mini-libraries
Amsterdam is one of the world’s most visited cities, and is best known for the Van Gogh Museum, its red-light district, the I Amsterdam sign and its coffee shops that sell cannabis.
However, those who dig a little deeper will discover some more subtle features that help define the Dutch city. Here are some of the most interesting and quirky:
1. Flower bikes
Walk around Amsterdam’s city centre and pops of colour – bright “flower bikes” parked on canal bridges – greet you at regular intervals. The bicycles, decked out with fabric flowers and sequins, are the creation of Warren Gregory, an American and long-term resident of Amsterdam.
They have become particularly popular among TikTokers, Instagrammers and other social media users.
Gregory made the first flower bike for his wife, Michelle, nearly 20 years ago, but it was not just a romantic gesture. Michelle was suffering from short-term memory loss brought on by epilepsy. On a couple of occasions, she had complained about losing her bicycle.
In truth, she wasn’t able to locate her bike among the thousands just like it parked outside Amsterdam Central Station. By decorating her bike with fabric sunflowers, Gregory helped her spot it easily.
“I’m just a man in love with his wife, who found a way to help her,” he tells me.
In the process, Gregory created a Dutch quirk. He says he has created nearly 500 flower bikes to date, each uniquely decorated. About 100 can be found in Amsterdam; the rest are scattered across other Dutch cities and towns.
