Together with the member organizations (and their individual members, the cyclists) and with the support of the national and regional authorities (Ministries and Provinces) Fietsplatform tries improve the facilities for recreational cycling/ cycle tourism in the Netherlands and the use of these facilities.

Fietsplatform has two main tasks:

1.     Functioning as a national expertise- and co-ordination centre
Giving impulses to the improving and the promotion of recreational cycling/ cycle tourism in NL (collecting and exchanging information, benchmarking, pointing at specific problems, organizing excursions and study-trips);

2.     Functioning as the project leader for the National Cycle Network
Development (signing), maintenance, improvement and promotion of the Dutch network of long distance cycle-routes (4.500 km) as a basis for cycle holidays and weekend trips.

The Dutch National Cycling Platform (Stichting Landelijk Fietsplatform) has designed and developed a network of cycle routes throughout the Nether­lands, with a total length of more than 4.500 km. All of these LF-routes are signposted in two directions, with the support of the national government and regional authorities. The most important target group of the network are people that like to make cycle holidays – long or short. Fietsplatform is also responsible for the further product development, for promotion and marketing. We have published a lot of maps and guides.

A survey was held in the summer of 2003; Results were presented in spring 2004.

Modules

·           Questionnaires by telephone: 973 persons, representive for Dutch population;

·           Questionnaires on the LF-route: 528 LF-users;

·           Questionnaires via internet (www.fietsplatform.nl): 630 LF-users;

·           Panel: for getting specific information about preparation, use of maps etc.;

·           43% of the Dutch people (> 18 yr) know of the LF-network;

·           11% of the Dutch people (> 18 yr) use the LF-network (= more than 1 million persons!);

·           Use for cycle holidays, but also for daytrips;

-     Yearly 400.000 cycle holidays via LF-routes; more than 2,8 million overnight stays/ year

-     Yearly 5,4 million daytrips using the LF-routes;

·           more than 2,8 million overnight stays/ year

·           Campsites are still favourite, but B&B is becoming more popular (see figure below)

Where did you stay for the night? (more answers possible)

·           47% between 35-55 year (biggest group);

·           Relative much people from two persons households without children living at home
(more than average);

·           Relative high (higher than average) education level and income;

·           LF-cyclist cycles almost never alone;

·           Average group size: 2,4 persons;

·           59% of the LF-cyclists make a break for other activities;

·           Most popular activities:

-     visiting café/ restaurant (39%)

-     visiting villages/ cities (34%)

-     visiting family/ friends (15%)

·           Spending during the LF-cycletrips: consumption and overnight stays (see figure below)

·           ± € 150 million of touristic spending per year

·           That means: ± € 23.000 per km LF-route per year!