Jaap Veerman, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for South India
the envoy stated that a change in the active mobility scene should be brought in phases While addressing the Mobility Symposium 2026 organised by Move In Sync Thursday. Sharing a personal anecdote, Veerman revealed that he carries bicycles with him across countries during diplomatic postings: “This is actually the start of my fourth week living and working here in Bengaluru……my container is not even here (yet). Jaap Veerman, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for South India Bengaluru: Hailing from a nation where bicycles are an everyday mode of transport, Jaap Veerman, the Consul-General of the Netherlands for South India, suggested that Bengaluru needs to start with smaller plans to build a cycling culture. The diplomat added a child reaching school or a commuter reaching a station on bicycles can be identified as a scenario to be solved initially. “Identify the obstacle, a difficult junction, a disconnected route or an uncontrollable street, or missing parking. Choose improvements that connect into a wider network and serve everyday destinations,” Veerman advised. In the container, there is my bicycle and my electric Vespa.”
During his keynote address, Veerman also revealed that Netherlands has 24 million bicycles which is in fact more than the number of private motor vehicles in Bengaluru. He also pointed out that Netherlands post-World War 2 had faced a similar crisis and had worked in unison to solve the traffic problem. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news.
“I believe that’s why Church street is so popular here,” Veerman added. “I used my bicycle and Vespa in all the cities where I lived and worked. When we arrived here, my wife asked if I’d cycle here. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m not sure yet. I will let you know later,” he remarked with a soft chuckle. Calling on the city to move the Dutch way, the envoy emphasised that the shift to bicycles should take into consideration local conditions including climate, street use and transport habits, while learning from how people use the system. He stressed that the Dutch experience shows the importance of sustained improvement stating: Mobility planning influences how much street space is available for movement, greenery and everyday social life. Download the TOI App.