The Netherlands is a lovely place to visit and cycle, Matt, and to see a whole society's infrastructure dedicated to the bike (and a nightmare to drive in for the same reasons!). I've done it south-to-north, north-to south, and several times each way across, catching the Green Heart/Hoge Veluwe, Zeeland to the south, and Friesland to the north and all along the North Sea.
There's only a few hills to speak of, but Vaalserberg/Mt. Vaals in the SE is the major one and not to sneeze at; the thing has some slopes that are really steep as you steam over the top to Drielandenpunt ("Three-Country Point") and on to Aachen in Germany. You won't need to worry about such things in Amsterdam, but wind can be an issue. When I toured there it was sometimes in winds gusting to Beaufort 8 where it was hard make any forward progress. Not so much fun with panniers, but their added weight was welcome ballast. For an example, see:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMWk0i9scjgThe Dutch national and junior teams welcome such days as a training aid.
Look starting at the 45-second time mark:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8qgjyqibwYA few notes of caution:
1) For the foreign visitor, there can be such a thing as "too many bikes" in the bike path. Use some care for this reason. If you park your bike, be sure to mark it in some way so you can refind it. The number parked in/at/near Amsterdam is really beyond what words can describe.
2) If your rental bike has a bell (it will), be sure to use it when overtaking.
3) Small motorbikes are now ply many of the bike paths, and they cut a wide swath through cycle-traffic at speeds that are often higher than what a cyclist can pedal, so use caution there as well. You may also see the occasional microcar on the fietspad (see attached...the photo is blurry 'cos Belgium's cobbles shook my camera apart to a fair degree), so be watchful.
4) Canalside paths in the City may have no ropes or guards in a few places, and it is possible to end up in the drink.
I could write a guide based on my time there, but I don't have to because framebuilder, shop owner, and all -'round nice guy Martin Gerritsen wrote a very useful treatise for those visiting the NL by bike for the first time. I found it to be good, accurate, and useful. Available here:
http://www.m-gineering.nl/techdexg.htmMost shops deal more with the ubiquitous utility bikes rather than trekking options, but there is still much to see. A friend just dropped 7,000 Euro on a velomobile for his long commute to Hook of Holland and doesn't regret it. You may see a few while there.
Though I was based more out of Rotterdam as a central hub, you might well enjoy seeing one of the three Bever(Beaver)Sports outlets in the Amsterdam area. They are expedition and outdoors outfitters and carry the usual array of bike-trekking supplies in addition to a full range of tents, sleeping bags, and other camping gear. Here's the links to their main Amsterdam store:
In Dutch:
http://www.bever.nl/index.cfm/fuseaction/main.shopdetail/id_shop/113While there, treat yourself to some delicious pickled herring with onions on a little red-plaid paper tray. You can choose head on or off, but the taste is really good as they are pickled in their own stomach acids. I liked them so much I sought them out at every opportunity. Friets (what we call "French Fries" here in the US) are served with mayonnaise, and if you can get yourself a big, hot bowl of snert (erwtensoep) or pea soup, it will warm you to your core. Really good stuff. Don't forget to sample the stroopwaffels (caramel syrup waffle-cookies) and bitterballen (gravy filled meatballs), cheeses, licorice, and chocolates of every variety. I've made myself hungry, so must pen off here and find the kitchen 'fridge for lunch.
You'll have a lot of fun, Matt. Our valued Dutch forum member Jawine is about to tour in her homeland once again, or I'm sure she'd have even more suggestions for you.
All the best,
Dan.
