Friends come further online

In 2025, things are changing and Vrienden op de Fiets will focus even more on the online use of our unique network. Below, we list the key changes of that decision.

At the same time, we will remain just who we are, because....

Friendship remains Friendship

The changes effective January 1, 2025

1. Are you a Friend and live in the Netherlands?

  • Your Friendship ('membership') remains ongoing, but the basis is now online.
  • The annual contribution will be € 7.50
  • You pay the annual contribution as agreed. Most Friends pay by direct debit.
  • Booklet and roadmap can be ordered separately. For printing and shipping we charge a modest fee.
  • You will receive an email with an order link in early December.
  • You pay directly when ordering, for example with iDeal.

2. Are you a Friend and do you live outside the Netherlands?

  • Your Friendship ('membership') ends automatically on December 31. This also applies to Friends who live in Belgium or Germany.
  • The annual contribution of your Friendship remains € 10.
  • You pay with Ideal, Bancontact, credit card or Paypal.
  • At the beginning of December you will receive an email with a link to extend your Friendship, if you wish.
  • Booklet & route map can be ordered separately and paid for together with your Friendship.

3. Are you a new Friend?

  • You sign up through the site, the rest is self-explanatory.

Some Friends already receive no booklet and no road map, for them there is little change.

How to order?

Friends will receive an email in early December with an order link. Using this link, you can order the booklet for next year and/or the road map through December 31, and pay directly. You then pay the lowest rate. You will receive your order around mid-January, together with your new Friends Pass.

Want to order in another month of the year?
Then you'll pay a little more. You will receive your order after about two weeks.
You'll find the link to order in My Profile by then.

Do you live outside the Netherlands?
Then you will receive an e-mail in December with an order link. Using this link you can extend your Friendship ('membership') and at the same time order the address guide and/or roadmap.

Why these changes?

The unnecessary sending of the booklet & card to countless Friends who do nothing with it -and yes, there are quite a lot of them- is something we can no longer do. As a foundation we stimulate sustainable use of our globe, so this is where we really miss the mark.

Moreover, it is no longer affordable. The production costs are rising, but especially the sending of the booklet & card is getting more expensive every year and can no longer be financed from the annual contributions of Friends.

Another big disadvantage of the booklet: when the address guide arrives it is already out of date. During the year the Guest Addresses drop out and new addresses arrive. So the information is never up to date and, compared to the site, incomplete. Moreover, a growing number of Guest Addresses choose to only be found online and are therefore not listed in the booklet.

Therefore, we are shifting our focus to online, but we continue to serve Friends who do want the booklet and map.

Online has many advantages

That's right. These days our lives consist largely of doing things online. This includes finding lodging for your cycling or hiking trip. The Vrienden op de Fiets website is user-friendly and also functions great as an app on your smartphone. For Friends, it is a fine helping hand because you can, for example:

  • Find many more Logeeradressen - the Booklet by no means lists all the Guest Addresses
  • Finding the exact location - also along routes (cannot be done with the map)
  • Find the current availability of Guest Addresses (not in the booklet)
  • Calling directly from the site (can't from the booklet)
  • More fun, interesting and relevant info about the Guest Address (is not in the booklet)

And now?

Nothing for now.
As mentioned, all Friends will receive an email with full information in early November and can order the booklet and/or card from 1 December. Or neither, also good.

In short.
Just wait and see, we will report back when we really need to.

Thank you for your patience!