Would you please remove your bike, a photo from Noord-Holland, South

Photographer's Note

Would you please remove your bike?

This is a picture from Amsterdam again, taken today, three days before Koninginnedag, Queen's Day, the national holiday, when Amsterdam as well as the rest of Holland will be one big, orange party.

30 April was the birthday of the former Queen, Juliana, so this day was the national holiday in the Netherlands and her daughter Beatrix decided when she became the Queen, that this still would be the Dutch holiday. Queen Beatrix visits every year on this day together with the whole Royal Family two cities anywhere in Holland. This year she'll go the Den Haag (The Hague, where she also lives) and Scheveningen. But also in the rest of the country there are a lot of festivities on this day. This year the party will be even bigger, cause on 30 April 2005, Beatrix is exactly 25 years the Dutch Queen!

But what has this picture to do with Koninginnedag?
Well, this picture shows you bicycles on het Stationsplein (Station Square) in Amsterdam with on the background de Fietsenflat (Bicycle Flat). And the little yellow sign tells us that it is not allowed to park your bicycle here (outside the flat) from 28 April (tomorrow!!) to 1 May. So there's still a lot a work to do if all those bikes have to be removed before tomorrow!

I cropped the picture a bit and added some colour and contrast, hope you like it!

weswang, Intruder, duder, Fixfocus, singuanti, thohau, jmdaoudal, papagolf21, aloyho, jrj, jpdeloof, jhm, Didi, castellano, Albrecht, MoosicMan, Guenther, sylvie, capthaddock, apazevedo, AiresSantos, Facsi, jbweasle, riclopes, emjleclercq, ikeharel, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

alvaraalto (42804) 2005-04-27 17:50

Hi Lars,
Wat er nog blijft staan kunnen jullie zaterdag op de vrijmarkt verkopen.
groet Rob

MiguelP (14470) 2005-04-27 18:08

Yes Lars, I like it. Specially because talk me about another point of view, I mean, considering that my town has been build up over many hills, bycicles are not very usual here... Thank for sharing.

Intruder (3099) 2005-04-27 18:43

hello Lars, i heard that in amsterdam everyone is using a bike, exactly the opposite from greece, but ur pic is amazing! nice title too, well done!

duder (359) 2005-04-27 19:27

Hi Lars, nice photo. The way you have taken this picture makes it seem like the rows of bikes have no end, it's really quite mesmorizing. The sign in the foreground gives it the extra touch needed.

Fixfocus (9385) 2005-04-27 19:36

Excellent title,fits it perfect!
Yes,Koninginnedag is always nice for taking fotos with all those flags hanging outside the houses and the orange dressed people having fun.
Good compo with an interesting story behind it,comes together with a great note!
goed werk!

yzzabelle (257) 2005-04-27 19:49

Very original and fun compo. I've never seen so many bikes! A little more DOF would have made it a little better. For example, focusing on a few bikes in front and letting it blury a bit in the back. It's just a suggestion, but you photo looks great like this too. Bravo!

singuanti (15250) 2005-04-27 22:24

Lars that's an insane amount of bikes!! That's outrageous that there's no bike parking there. This is quite the catch and you show a good eye. I love everything about this shot, I wouldn't change a thing!

john_c (24666) 2005-04-28 2:33

Quite an incredible capture, Lars. This resembles a topsy turvy scene from a movie - even the tree looks intoxicated! Great POV and a perfect humorous and daily life shot.

thohau (919) 2005-04-28 2:49

Oh my god! The Netherland is well known for its bikes...but this seems like an invasion!
I took a similar scene in front of the station of Amsterdam several years ago but I have to say there were not so many than in your photograph. Funny scene of daily life - well done!
Gruß, Thorsten

jmdaoudal (82) 2005-04-28 4:32

a very great smile on this humoristic and well composed one.
This is a rich idea, as rich as the number of bicycles, with only one person coming from.
Good angle, colors and depth.
A nice composition.
I like it
Jean Michel

papagolf21 (152607) 2005-04-28 4:36

Bonjour Lars,
C'est une véritable fourmilière de bicyclettes, cela grouille de partout, c'est impressionnant, voire inquiétant.
Comment retrouver son vélo parmi cet amas d'acier !
Excellente idée, très originale et très bien exploitée.
Félicitations.
Philippe

aloyho (6798) 2005-04-28 5:09

Hi Lars,
This is really wonderful - with all those bikes!! Nice green background to strengthen the message and the signs to provide a good break. Simply fantastic!!! Regards and best wishes.

Cos (1562) 2005-04-28 5:33

Hi Lars,
A great composition, good colours and sharpness throughout. I can't believe how many bikes there are in the shot!
Regards, Sarah

jrj (34843) 2005-04-28 5:46

For an insertion in typical daily life shots, this one must be a good contribution from Amsterdam. You got right to the point here lars, just very impressive to sight all those bikes.

Frans (211) 2005-04-28 6:08

nice observation, and an interesting note for al l the non-dutchies on TE.

groeten
Frans

jpdeloof (2546) 2005-04-28 6:13

bonjour Lars. Peux-tu me dire où j'ai mis ma bicyclette, je ne la retrouve plus, elle est verte, selle rouge et une grosse sonnette. Merci Lars
jp
***
hello Lars. Can you say to me where I put my bicycle, I do not find it more, it is green, red saddle and a large bell. Thank you Lars
jp

Kenny10pin (19301) 2005-04-28 7:27

This could be China huh? apart from the signs. Really well shot of the bikes, I like the composition and also the lightingm well done

Steft (6109) 2005-04-28 9:26

O ja, Koninginnedag. Altijd erg schreeuwerig en druk, maar dit jaar kan ik het niet vieren:(

Hier zie je vaak toeristen fotograferen als je met de trein Amsterdam inkomt - misschien is het voor veel mensen het eerste en laatste fotograferen voordat ze de trein naar Schiphol nemen.

Maar nu met deze borden erbij is het extra speciaal. Zo te zien moet er nog heel wat werk verricht worden. Mooie volle compositie. Grappig dat er net een meisje liep. Wat zijn de bomen al groen. Hier nog steeds niet:( Tenmiste, sommige beginnen uit te lopen, maar ze zijn nog niet zo groen.

Ik kom trouwens snel weer terug.

weswang (18247) 2005-04-28 10:53

Wow, Lars, that is a sea of bikes. A very impressive scene. I like the endless view of bikes in this picture. The colorful signs and the green trees made a very nice contrast to the all metal ground. A well seen, well captured and well contrast photo. Thank for the informative notes. Have a happy holiday.

alexlie (5359) 2005-04-28 11:04

Hi Lars!
Photo is nice composed. I don't like this sign but with note is ok.
Indeed a funny view. I suggest a title: Dude, where is my bike ;)
Regards.

jhm (211738) 2005-04-28 13:45

Hoi Lars,
Hoe rap men ook in Nederland is om zijn fiets in bewaring te krijgen, hier geloof ik niet meer in, maar het idee om de foto te nemen, en zeker met de aanmanings borden moet ik u een tien geven, misschien is de vrouwelijk toeschouwer al enkele uren opzoek!!!
Groeten,
John.

Didi (61589) 2005-04-28 14:19

Bonjour Lars
Les Hollandais économisent l'essence,c'est le pays de la bicyclette.
Je ne m'attendais pas à ce nombre incalculable dans ce parking.
C'est une composition intéressante; cependant je me demande comment il font pour retrouver leurs vélos ?
Hello Lars
The Dutchmen don't spent petrol, this is the country of the bicycle.
I did not expect this incalculable number in this park. It is an interesting composition; however I wonder how they make to find their bicycles?

MvS (4163) 2005-04-28 16:27

Ja, Lars, det blir ju lite brådis att få undan cyklarna. Rolig bild med fina färger. Att du gillar cyklar vet vi, så nu har du fått ditt lystmäte tror jag.
Vi ses!
Magnus

castellano (791) 2005-04-28 16:37

"Geen fietsen te plaatsen??"
Oh my god!!!what a mess!!! I remember when I left my bike in that square (but closer to the Railway Station) in one of my trips to the Netherlands and I have to admit that I had problems on finding it even though it wasn't as crowded as this. The photo is quite funny as well as subrealist. It's like the rebellion of the bikes.

Brilliant idea. Very good job!

Jeppe (18654) 2005-04-28 17:49

Ok - Holland vinder ;-) Jeg tror alligevel der er flere cykler i Amsterdam end i København - jeg vil nødig være ham der har sin cykel inderst - tak Lars for deltaljerne med skiltet og noten.

quantabeh (5205) 2005-04-28 20:49

Excellent observation Lars. Makes a really good subject to shoot. I wish you had a bit better lights, but it is really a good original shot! I like the sea of bikes. Impressive.
regards,
Behrang

Albrecht (11283) 2005-04-29 15:41

Hoi Lars
Heerlijk zo'n plaatje met dat bord ervoor. Dat kan alleen in Nederland.....Hele mooie en goede foto.
Groeten Albrecht

MoosicMan (1231) 2005-04-30 12:21

Lars, an excellent photo of a massive bicycle parking lot. Good composition, and good idea to add color and contrast. What a mess!
Matt

Stepan (27210) 2005-05-01 13:17

Simply incredible !!
The colors are well composed and gives a interesting touch to the compo (B & W for the main purpose vs yellow, green and blue in the background).
Stéphane

naxius (16685) 2005-05-08 5:29

Very funny photograph with all that bikes!
Amazing to see how they are!
Alexandre

ps: thank you for your last comment on my photograph but why did you copy the exact comment gave by a previous member? ;o

Guenther (10915) 2005-05-11 11:55

Hi Lars, this is quite symbolic for Amsterdam, which is famous for the bike as a mean of transportation, we also use the bike a lot but I have never seen so many bikes! I hope they have been removed in time ... :)
Thanks for sharing!

ropetko (0) 2005-05-15 17:45

Jesus!!! I think that there are less bikes in whole Croatia than on this picture! :)))))
Nice humorous moment. Even the composition is OK, with lots of different lines. Nice moment.

sylvie (1183) 2005-05-19 6:26

Where's my bike?
Waouh, Holland and bicycle a very old history. An humoristic photo with a very great capture, nice POV. Good work Lars
Sylvie

capthaddock (28790) 2005-06-18 14:04

Hi Lars -what a mess!! in ordely Holland no less, excellent shot of this chaos of bikes. I was there on Queens Day in 1992 in Leiden and Utrecht, non-stop party!

sayzey (2358) 2005-07-14 12:12

Wow I always read that the Dutch use cycles a lot! This photo is the proof! I can imagine it would take an awfully long time to actualy find your bike if it was amongst all these!

Well captured, good photo!

apazevedo (5469) 2005-07-17 12:16

I never saw so many bicycles together, Lars! Really amazing! I imagine what they had to work to take all of them from that place in just 1 day :-)
A very nice work here, I liked it, Lars!

rajhema (1873) 2005-08-19 15:05

loads and loads of bikes and the opposite sign. A funny picture and nice timing. Good one.

AiresSantos (56155) 2005-10-22 6:56

Hi Lars,
The quantity of bicycles in this park is impressive.
Good composition, color and contrast.
Well see, very well done.
Best wishes.
Aires dos Santos

jbweasle (9393) 2005-11-02 14:06

Hello Lars. It's incredible to see so many bikes all in one place. How does anyone find their cycle? A bizarre and fascinating photo.

jafadabret (56501) 2006-04-05 3:01

C'est un sourire pour la journée. Merci !
J'aime le titre et la composition qui nous montre cette accumulation de vélos qu'on ne peut voir qu'aux Pays-Bas. Cela fait penser à un grand rassemblement d'animaux en vue de la reproduction de l'espèce !

riclopes (35577) 2007-04-01 5:09

Which one? :))))))
Hej Lars, I remember well this sea of bikes, all right. I think I have never seen so many bikes together...not even in China!
This is a very successful capture, so well composed in the vertical with a very good inclusion of the yellow/orange sign and the trees filling the burned white part of the sky. Really good shot and idea!
Hilsen,
Ricardo
p.s.- interesting theme of Alana...

ikeharel (114435) 2015-08-10 7:38

Helo Lars,
Must say I once saw what happenes in rush-hour on such a place. There was a very polite tumult, like those biker knew that if they would not be leaving in an orderly manner, they would be stuck for long...
Just can't imagine this goe's in our place !
Fine shot, real problem for an outsider like myself to comprehend this abundance of bikes.
Good evening,
Ike

jmdias (116307) 2019-04-09 9:21

lars

amazing collection of bikes, I presume in this image there are much more bikes than in my entire town. nice view of the repetition of bikes and a personage lost inside.

take care

jorge

mcmtanyel (69063) 2019-12-01 21:11

Hello Lars,
I wonder what they did with the bikes that were not removed. I love this sea of handlebars. 👍🏻👍🏻
Regards,
MT

pajaran (116915) 2020-08-23 11:49

Pozdrav.
Interesantno mesto sa biciklima i motorciklima, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i dobrim tekstom.
Dobre table sa obavestenjem i zeleno drvece.
Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja.