Originally Posted by
Doug64
Another thought about the Netherlands bike infrastructure; while it is excellent, much of it is on dirt or gravel.
A helmet cover is a nice piece of gear when it rains.
Much of it is dirt or gravel is a bit of an overstatement.
The vast, vast majority of it is well surfaced. Routes through forests and national parks can be unpaved but generally suitable for all kinds of bikes.
Weather conditions clearly play a part - NL is pretty flat after all and excessive water can take a while to clear.
The photos presented aren't really representative of the Dutch cycling experience even if they are representative of yours.