Fietsmissie to North Rhine-Westphalia strengthens Dutch-German cycling cooperation

Münster: learning from Germany’s cycling capital

The mission started in Münster, widely recognised as Germany’s cycling capital. During an exchange with the city’s Bicycle Office, mobility planners presented the ambitious Masterplan Mobility Münster 2035+, which aims to create a climate-neutral, safe and liveable city while further strengthening cycling throughout the municipality. One of the most impressive ambitions is the continued expansion of the city’s Cycling Network 2.0, including approximately 100 kilometres of upgraded cycling infrastructure and around 60 kilometres of new bicycle streets.

During the cycling tour through Münster, participants experienced these developments first-hand. Besides the extensive network of bicycle streets, discussions also focused on the German regulatory framework surrounding cycling infrastructure. Topics such as the Pollererlass NRW, which provides guidance on the placement of bollards, illustrated how German regulations can differ significantly from the more pragmatic Dutch approach while pursuing similar safety objectives.

The evening concluded with a networking dinner in Düsseldorf, where the delegation met representatives from municipalities across NRW, the state ministry, AGFS NRW, JobRad and other organisations involved in cycling policy and implementation. Alongside productive discussions about future cooperation, participants were also introduced to some typical Düsseldorf cuisine.

Düsseldorf: exchanging policy and practical experience

The second day focused on cycling policy at both municipal and state level. Despite persistent rain, the walking tour through Düsseldorf highlighted how the city has transformed many of its streets to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists. One particularly interesting example was the redesign of Schadowstraße, where public space has shifted away from cars towards walking, cycling and urban quality.

The delegation then visited the Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia before participating in the AGFS Congress. Discussions with ministry officials and Members of the State Parliament provided valuable insight into NRW’s current cycling ambitions and funding programmes. During this meeting, Sonja Munnix (RVO) presented the Dutch approach to cycling policy and development, which sparked lively discussions between the Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport, political representatives from North Rhine-Westphalia and our delegation participants.

One recurring theme throughout the exchanges was that NRW has made substantial financial resources available for cycling, but faces challenges in delivering projects due to a shortage of qualified professionals (Fachkräfte). In addition, the German administrative landscape—with many different authorities responsible for approving projects—can make implementation more complex. Comparing experiences highlighted one notable difference between both countries: while the Netherlands often adopts a pragmatic approach to implementation, German processes generally involve more institutional layers and regulations.

The AGFS Congress provided an excellent platform for expanding professional networks and exchanging practical experiences as representatives from most cities and towns in North Rhine-Westphalia were gathered in one location.

Bocholt: connecting cities, industry and cycling

The final day brought the delegation to Bocholt, Germany’s most bicycle-friendly medium-sized city, located close to the Dutch border. The visit clearly demonstrated how closely connected Dutch and German cycling ambitions have become.

The visit concluded at ROSE Bikes’ BIKE TOWN headquarters in Bocholt, where the company generously hosted the delegation and provided the perfect setting for an exchange between the Dutch delegation, ROSE and the City of Bocholt. Participants also had the opportunity to explore the city by bicycle using ROSE bikes, experiencing Bocholt’s cycling infrastructure first-hand.

What made the visit particularly interesting was seeing how one of Germany’s largest bicycle manufacturers works hand in hand with their city. Rather than operating independently, ROSE actively collaborates with the municipality to strengthen Bocholt’s cycling culture and improve the local cycling environment. The discussions highlighted how the bicycle industry can contribute far beyond manufacturing bikes—by supporting local cycling initiatives, sharing expertise and helping create a city where cycling is part of everyday life.

During the joint discussions, the City of Bocholt also presented several ambitious projects currently under development, including the redevelopment of the central station, improvements to public transport frequencies and plans to create more intuitive connections between the station and the city centre for pedestrians and cyclists. Similar to discussions earlier in the week, city officials explained that while funding is available, a shortage of specialised staff (Fachkräfte) remains one of the biggest challenges to delivering these projects. Along the cycling tour, the delegation also discovered innovative interventions, such as modular playgrounds replacing former parking spaces, demonstrating how public space can be reimagined to create more attractive neighbourhoods.