Frequently asked questions
Here you will find answers to the frequently asked questions.
Type in part of your question. Then the question and answer will appear. Most likely, this will answer your question.
Are you sure your question is not listed here?
Then contact the Helpdesk. Scroll to the bottom of this page.
Algemeen
Where can I find the ground rules?
Click here for the Ground rules - this is how it works.
Who is Vrienden op de Fiets for?
Friends are usually bikers or hikers who, at the end of a sporty day, would like to relax in a homely environment. Both Friends and Guest Addresses enjoy the friendly contact during these occasions. For most Friends, not knowing exactly where you’ll end up is part of the adventure as well.
After a good night’s sleep and an energizing breakfast, Friends go on their way again refreshed.
Friends are guests, who become part of the lives of their hosts for one night. They do not look for luxury, but are mostly interested in a good bed and a relaxed evening with like-minded people.
Did you know that Vrienden op de Fiets is also designed for solo travelers, and you pay the same price as any other member?
What remains the same for every stay are the ground rules. They form our shared foundation for a pleasant stay. Read more about our ground rules.
To avoid any misunderstandings:
- Vrienden op de Fiets is not a cheap hotel or B&B.
- There are no reviews, star ratings, or luxury amenities.
- There is no booking system.
- We keep things simple. That is our strength.
How do I keep up to date with your news?
To preserve the environment and reduce our costs, Vrienden op de Fiets sends as little paper mail as possible. In principal, we only send you post upon your registration and for special occasions. Other than that, we only send you emails. We try to limit the frequency of our mailings to thrice a year. These digital messages only contain information that is relevant for Friends and are not commercial.
The most up-to-date information and our latest news can also be found after logging in to your personal page.
TIP
Would you like to make sure that our newsletter reach you? Please add our emails to your contacts: administratie@vriendenopdefiets.nl
Do our newsletters fail to reach your inbox? Please check the other folders in your mailbox. For example: Spam or Promotions.
How do I contact you?
Vrienden op de Fiets is a not-for-profit foundation. We work with a small team of professionals to provide our Guest Addresses and Friends the best possible service and, at the same time, control costs. That is one of the reasons why you can’t reach the Help Desk by telephone 24/7.
You can find most answers to your questions here, in the FAQ.
Please enter your search term and you will be directed to the right questions.
Can’t find the answer to your question? You can always contact the Help Desk.
I no longer want to be Friend. How do I unsubscribe?
Do you live in the Netherlands?
Then you will remain a Friend until you have cancelled. Your Friendship (‘membership’) runs per calendar year and is renewed automatically. You can cancel until 1 December of the current calendar year.
Click here to unsubscribe. (Note: this form only works if you are logged in as a Friend.)
Alternatively, log in as a Friend and go to 'My Profile'; the link 'I want to stop being a Friend' is at the bottom of the page.
You can also e-mail us to cancel, quoting your Friend number.
You will receive an email confirming you have unsubscribed.
Do you live outside the Netherlands?
Your Friendship ends automatically after December 31 of the current year.
When will I receive the address guide? And what if I want to set out tomorrow?
Friends have 24/7 access to the website to find Lodging Addresses along their route.
Some sports enthusiasts prefer to plan their multi-day trip with the Address Guide (booklet) and or the Route map. The guide contains a large part of our Guest Addresses. As a Friend, you can order and pay for this booklet separately. The same goes for the Road map of the Netherlands, with a piece of Belgium and Germany.
Want to know how this ordering procedure works? Then click here.
If you order in November or December, you will receive your order at the end of January of the following year.
If you order in the other months of the year, all orders of 1-2 weeks are collected and shipped.
So it may take a while before your order is in the mail, but you can find everything through the site, including your Friends pass.
I have a complaint about the behaviour of a Friend or Guest Address
The foundation Vrienden op de Fiets cannot and does not wish to monitor Guest Addresses and Friends. We rely on everyone’s goodwill and good intentions. The interaction between Guest Address and Friend is primarily a matter of trust, and, generally speaking, this works very well.
However, there may be times when Friend does not behave as expected, or perhaps the stay falls short of your expectations.
Naturally, you are always free to address these issues with one another. In fact, this often proves to be the best solution. Calmly voice what is bothering you; the solution is usually closer than you think. So, try to resolve the problem through mutual discussion; the foundation generally cannot intervene in such disputes. Do you believe there is a serious issue? Then please contact the Help Desk.
To learn more about what Friends and Guest Addresses can expect from each other, click here.
More information about the way in which we handle complaints can be found here.
I travel alone, can I also stay at a Guest Address?
Yes, of course! Indeed, the founder of Vrienden op de Fiets started her initiative partly for this reason. Nel de Blécourt often undertook multi-day trips without her husband. She discovered that is was (more) difficult to find a place to stay as a single traveller, besides which it was also quite pricey. That was one of the reasons she placed this ad in a local Dutch newspaper: “Do you have a room to spare? And would you like to make it available for one night against a small fee?”
She received more than 80 enthusiastic responses to this ad. The rest is history...
So, in short the answer is: Yes! Vrienden op de Fiets is precisely (also) meant for single travellers and you pay the same price as any other Friend.
TIP
Filter your search for ‘single bed’ when looking for a suitable Guest Address online.
How do you fix the price for an overnight stay?
Good question! The answer is a bit complicated. We fix the overnight price after carefully considering many factors. Interested parties can find an explanation of the factors that we weigh here.
Logeerpartij
Can I arrive by car?
The rule is that you shouldn’t arrive at a Guest Address by car, unless it’s the starting point of your multi-day trip.
Our tip: Always check with the Guest Address in advance so they aren’t caught off guard if you suddenly show up by car. After all, there are Guest Addresses that really only want to welcome people passing through, and we understand that. Still, as a Friend, it’s quite possible that your starting point is somewhere else.
The most important rule: you’re cycling or hiking and aren’t stopping for the night because you’re planning to do something fun near the Guest Address. The key is always to coordinate with the Guest Address - then things usually work out just fine.
Can I charge my e-bike battery at a Guest Address?
At most Guest Addresses, you can charge your e-bike. There is often a secure spot available, such as a shed or garage. For safety reasons, many Guest Addresses prefer that you do not charge the battery in your bedroom. No matter how small the risk, there is a possibility of fire during charging.
Therefore... Please check with your Guest Address about where you can safely charge your e-bike battery.
And finally: hosts may charge a small additional fee for this service. Our recommended rate is €0.50 per bike.
Can I also have dinner at a Guest Address?
At some Guest Addresses you can join them for a hot meal in the evening. Your hosts like it when people not only come to sleep and have breakfast, but also spend more time with their temporary Friends.
If you search for a Guest Address online, it will usually state whether you can join them for dinner.
TIP: if you want to join, ask at the first contact.
Host addresses decide for themselves what they charge for a dinner. Vrienden op de Fiets has set guide prices for this, but also for making packed lunches or charging electric bikes.
These are the guide prices:
- Hot meal: €12,50 per person
- Packed lunch: € 5 per person
- Charging an electric bicycle: € 0.50 per bicycle
Just to be sure...
So you are not supposed to turn the available breakfast into a packed lunch and then put it in your luggage without asking.... Yes, that happens regularly and is not really Friends on a Bike, is it?
Should I bring a towel?
Good question. Simple answer: no.
Our Guest Addresses are kind enough to provide a clean towel for every Friend.
Isn't that nice?
Thank you Guest Addresses!
Should Friends make reservations beforehand?
The short answer? Yes.
To Friends who ask whether they need to make a reservation, we answer:
'For you and the Guest Address, it is nice to get to know each other a bit beforehand. To check the availability of the Guest Address and to discuss your expectations. Real adventurers can of course take a chance and just see where they’ll end up en route. But the chances of finding a Guest Address on the day itself are few, of course.'
In short, both sides benefit from an advance reservation. It’s a way to get to know each other a bit beforehand.
Have a nice stay!
Can I bring my dog?
Certainly not to all Guest Addresses, but some hosts do welcome dogs. You can check this in the features listed by the Guest Address.
Our advice? To be sure, check whether dogs are welcome when you and your host discuss the date for an overnight stay.
In searching for a Guest Address, it is also possible to enable the filter ‘Pets welcome’.
What does an overnight stay cost?
An overnight stay at a Vrienden op de Fiets Guest Address costs 27,50 euro* per person, provided that you can show a valid Friend card. For this price, you can expect a good and clean bed and an energizing breakfast.
Tourist tax is often added to this price. The amount may vary per municipality. For children up to and including 12 years of age, you pay 15 euro* per child.
Guest Addresses may request a deposit of 50% of the accommodation price per person.
If a Friend cancels within 24 hours of the agreed arrival time, the Guest Addresses may charge 50% of the accommodation price per person.
Some Guest Addresses offer extras.
For this we use the following guideline prices:
- Charging an electric bike: €0,50 (per bike)
- Packed lunch: €5,- per person (make it yourself)
- Hot meal: €12,50 per person
* All prices for an overnight stay are fixed by the foundation Vrienden op de Fiets and are subject to change.
How long can a Friend stay?
A stay at a Guest Address of Vrienden op de Fiets is just for one night. A Friend arrives at the end of the afternoon and continues his/her trip the next morning after an energizing breakfast.
This is one of our basic principles; Vrienden op de Fiets is meant for sporty Friends who undertake multi-day biking and hiking trips and each day search out a new Guest Address for an overnight stay.
Can I cancel my reservation?
You can cancel your stay up to 24 hours before the agreed upon time of arrival by contacting the Guest Address. If you cancel later, the Guest Address can charge 50% of the price of an overnight stay per person, since they did prepare for your stay and they will not be able to offer an overnight stay to anyone else on that particular day.
More ground rules for Friends can be found here.
Do I need (supplementary) insurance in case of damage?
Both Friends and Guest Addresses might cause damages. A Friend could, for example, unintentionally damage or drop something at a Guest Address. Conversely, a Friend might have an accident at a Guest Address as well, for instance because of an unstable handrail on the stairs at the Guest Address. What possibilities are there to recover such damages?
First of all, let us state that the foundation Vrienden op de Fiets can never be held liable for damages suffered. A private liability insurance and/or a good travel insurance may cover the costs. This very much depends on the kind of insurance policy you took out. Every insurance policy has different provisions, so you should check your policies before you register as Guest Address or Friend.
How do I find a Guest Address?
Once you have logged in, you will see a ‘tile’ with the text: ‘Search for a place to stay’.
If you have specific wishes, like bringing your dog along, then you can refine your search query by activating the relevant filters. How? That will become clear all by itself. Really!
Are you looking for a Guest Address near to where you are now? Click on Show all nearby addresses
Every flag represents a Guest Address.
Click on the flag to access the Guest Address details.
It is, of course, also possible to search a Guest Address by using the Vrienden op de Fiets paper guide and route map.
Do Friends need to pay tourist tax?
Most Dutch municipalities require our Guest Addresses to collect and pay tourist tax. This tourist tax is added to the price of 27,50 euro per person for an overnight stay. The tax amounts vary per municipality and range between two to ten euro per person. The big cities levy the highest tourist tax amounts.