Corners of enschede

I wasn’t really a bike person before coming to the Netherlands. Back in Indonesia, I mostly went everywhere by car or motorbike, and biking was something I did just for fun, not for daily life. The moment I stepped outside in Enschede, I saw people biking everywhere. Some were young; some were old. They rode their bikes in the morning and even when it rained. Everything about it looked so natural. It felt like a second nature to them.

I had always heard that the Netherlands was the country with the most bike users in the world. So, once I had settled in, my friends and I started looking for bikes. At first, we planned to buy one, because it felt like a basic need here. However, since I was only staying for six months as an IISMA exchange student, I realized bringing the bike back to Indonesia wouldn’t be practical.

That’s when someone from PPI Enschede gave us a better idea. PPI stands for Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia, an Indonesian student association community that helps Indonesian students in Enschede feel more at home. They suggested we rent bikes using an app called Swapfiets. I had no idea how it worked at first, but one of my friends explained the whole process to us.

Renting bikes through Swapfiets turned out to be a smart choice. The process was simple, the price was reasonable, and the bikes worked well for daily rides, from going to class to exploring the city. That small decision made my time in Enschede smoother, more fun, and full of little bike adventures.

Swapfiets: A Smart and Simple Bike Rental

Four days after I arrived in Enschede, I downloaded the Swapfiets app. In the app, there were a lot of bike choices. Some bikes had foot brakes, and some had hand brakes. There were also electric bikes for people who didn’t want to pedal too much. I picked the one with hand brakes because I was used to it. It costs around €30.80[1] per month. The hand brake bike was a bit more expensive than the foot brake one, but I thought it was worth it.

After I picked the bike, I paid and chose a date to collect it. My friends and I made an appointment on the same day so we could go together. On that day, we went to the Swapfiets store at Haverstraatpassage 90. The shop was small but neat. It was only open from 12:30 in the afternoon until 6:30 in the evening, and it was closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. I brought my passport and showed the email receipt to the staff. He typed my details into the computer, asked me to sign, and then picked a bike that matched my size. He told me to sit on it first to check the height. I sat, but my toes were just touching the ground. I laughed and said, “I’m wearing shoes with heels, but I still can’t reach.” He laughed too and said, “You’re very short, huh?” It was funny, and I didn’t feel embarrassed. The seat felt a bit high, but the bike looked shiny and new, and the rubber grips felt smooth under my hands.

I asked for a front basket as an add-on. I thought it would be helpful to carry my groceries or a bag. The bike also came with a strong lock. It was easy to use and didn’t take long to close. The staff also offered me an extra security option. If someone stole the bike even when I locked it properly, I wouldn’t need to pay full price or sometimes anything at all. That made me feel more relaxed about using it in a new city.

That afternoon, my friends and I rode around Enschede with our new bikes. The wind touched my face, and the road felt smooth under the wheels. I was smiling without even thinking. That first ride felt like the start of something fun.

Exploring Enschede with My Bike: Easy Rides and Daily Adventures

After I got my Swapfiets bike, which I named Iki, it quickly became part of my daily routine. I rode it almost every day around the city. Whether I was going to class, buying groceries, or visiting friends, Iki was always with me. Biking made everything faster and more fun. In autumn, the cool air touched my cheeks, and dry leaves crunched under my wheels. Riding through quiet streets with the fresh wind brushing my face felt calm and refreshing.

One day, I went out to buy groceries even though it was raining lightly. I did not wear a raincoat, but I enjoyed the feeling of soft raindrops on my skin. I could smell the wet pavement and hear my tires rolling on the damp road. The roads were quiet and peaceful, and I saw many people like me riding their bikes in the rain, smiling. It felt like a scene from a movie. I used Google Maps to make sure I did not get lost while exploring the city.

In the end, Iki was not just a bike. It helped me enjoy and explore the city. Even rainy rides turned into memories I will not forget. Swapfiets made my days brighter and my life here better.

[1] All the prices mentioned in this article might change because of the currency fluctuations.