Amsterdam school pick-ups – Photo by James Schwartz / The Urban Country

While strolling around Amsterdam on Friday afternoon shortly after arriving in the Dutch capital, I happened upon a school just as the kids were being let out for the weekend. The scene was nothing short of fascinating for a Canadian who is accustomed to seeing cars lined up for several blocks when school is out.

In the school yard, parents had parked their bicycles and were socializing with other parents and teachers as they waited for their children. Nobody seemed to be in a rush to “beat the traffic”; the scene was serene and accurately symbolized the laid back European culture.

Some parents had bakfietsen (cargo bikes), child seats, or their children would ride their own bikes if they were old enough.

I couldn’t find a single parent picking up their children by car. If they were there, their car must not have been parked near the school yard.

As these families pedaled away from the school, the social interactions continued, with parents talking to other parents along the cycle path, and the children telling their parents about their day.