Enjoying the sun, pancakes and spinning pedals, The Hague celebrated a special Cycling Festival recently at the Herweijerhoeve city farm in the Zuiderpark. Children, parents and partners, including Stichting Leren Doen, came together to celebrate that you can hand in old children’s bikes all year round at all city farms in The Hague.
Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Mobility) emphasizes the importance of the collection campaign: “A bicycle means freedom and fun for a child. By collecting, refurbishing and passing on old children’s bicycles, we help children on their way. Together we give our youngest residents the chance to have their own bicycle.”
A special guest drew a lot of attention: Storky, the beloved mascot of ADO Den Haag, personally accepted bicycles. “Coming to the stadium by bike is not only healthy, but also fun and good for the city,” says Toine Slobbe, project leader sustainability at ADO Den Haag, “We want to teach children at a young age that sustainable transport is the future.”
Cycling for everyone
The festive afternoon was all about cycling fun for young and old. Children from 3 to 12 years old followed cycling lessons from the WheelieWeken, made key rings from old bicycle tires, pedaled their own smoothie together and enjoyed mini pancakes. The day ended with a cheerful cycling parade through the park, with the bicycle bells ringing loudly.
Donations can be made all year round
The bikes can be donated to all city farms throughout the year. They are then refurbished by Stichting Leren Doen, in collaboration with students from the practical education of the ROC Mondriaan and the Esloo College. This way, the campaign is not only good for children, it also gives students the opportunity to gain practical experience such as repairing and maintaining bikes.