Orange cycle tour in Colombia

RNW, 18 April 2011, by María Isabel García

(Photo: RNW/Maria Isabel Garcia)

A long column of cyclists dressed in orange made its way through the centre of Colombia’s capital Bogotá. Last Sunday, the Dutch embassy in Colombia organised a Holland day.

The Dutch ambassador, Marion Kappeyne van de Coppello, explained that the idea was to draw attention to cycling as an environmentally-friendly mode of transport. The embassy is trying to promote two issues: the environment and, in particular, water. Hundreds of posters along the cycle route proclaimed: The Dutch, experts in water management.

The ambassador pointed out that Colombia has to make changes in the field of water management. The Netherlands has a lot of experience in this area, because a large proportion of the country is below sea level. To survive, the Dutch have build dikes and other constructions to hold water. The Netherlands is keen to share its know-how with Bogotá, as at the end of last year, thousands of Colombians lost their lives in heavy flooding.

A joint Dutch-Colombian water management covenant is currently being worked on.