Rick Keijzer (middle) and Sven Broekhuizen (left) arrive in HCM City on February 16.
Rick Keijzer, 21, and Sven Broekhuizen, 25, arrived in HCM City on February 16. They were welcomed by more than 400 amateur cyclists from the Vietnamese and Dutch communities at a cycling event organised by the Consulate General of the Netherlands.
The event, which was also intended to promote green mobility and a healthy lifestyle, started at 7 am from the Opera House and passed by some iconic landmarks such as Ben Thanh Market, Independence Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, and Ba Son Bridge, and ended at the home of Dutch Consul General Daniel Stork in Thu Duc City.
Keijzer and Broekhuizen began their journey from the Netherlands in March 2024. Over the past 11 months, they have passed various places, from the modern cities of Europe and the vast steppes of Central Asia to the bustling streets of Southeast Asia.
Broekhuizen shared that they entered Vietnam through the Cambodian border and were finally happy to complete the challenge. They were also thrilled by the welcome of local people.
Keijzer also said he was so happy to receive a warm welcome and cycle through beautiful sites in HCM City. His time in Vietnam was even more memorable because he was reunited with his mother, who had flown in from the Netherlands the day before to see her son after nearly a year apart.
Keijzer's mother (middle) arrives in Vietnam to join the event.
Dutch Consul General Daniel Stork said he was proud of the two young Dutchmen.
Dutch Consul General Daniel Stork (middle) at the cycling event.
He emphasised the importance of bicycles as a green solution for environmental protection, reducing emissions, and an ideal means of last-mile transport, complementing the newly operational metro system in HCM City.
