Knowledge Dutch Expertise at Active County Cambridgeshire Conference 6 October 2026 Cycling News The Dutch Cycling Embassy (DCE) brought Dutch expertise to the Active County Cambridgeshire conference, supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in London. Two experts from the DCE network, Ross Goorden from the Municipality of Utrecht and Alex van Gent from Arcadis, joined the programme to share Dutch experiences and practical approaches to active mobility. A highlight of the exchange was a mini-workshop led by Alex van Gent on fietstraten (cycle streets) — a familiar concept in the Netherlands where cyclists have priority and cars are guests. The workshop was particularly timely for Cambridge, which has recently installed what is being described as the UK’s first fietstraat. The session provided an opportunity to look beyond the physical design of a cycle street and discuss the principles behind it: how to give cycling a clear position in the street, how to manage motor traffic, and how design and communication can help create a street that works for different users. Ross Goorden brought the perspective of Utrecht, sharing experience from a city where cycling is an integral part of the transport system and where the development of cycling-friendly streets is closely connected to wider urban planning and mobility policy. Together, the contributions from Utrecht and Arcadis demonstrated the value of bringing different perspectives to the discussion — from municipal experience and day-to-day implementation to planning, design and consultancy. The Active County Cambridgeshire conference brought together local authorities, mobility professionals and other stakeholders to discuss how walking, cycling and other forms of active travel can become a stronger part of everyday mobility. The exchange with Dutch experts offered an opportunity to share practical lessons while also learning from the innovations taking place in Cambridgeshire. For the Dutch Cycling Embassy, these international exchanges are at the heart of its work: connecting cities and organisations with the knowledge and experience of the Dutch cycling ecosystem, while encouraging mutual learning and adapting solutions to local contexts. We are grateful to Active County Cambridgeshire and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in London for making this exchange possible.