To buy a bike or not to buy a bike?

Good question... the Netherlands has a reputation for being the land of bikes and so it is. I have been thinking about this dilemma since the beginning of my stay, but I still haven't made the final decision.


No doubts that it is very fast and convenient means of transportation (especially taking into account the flat countryside, wide-spread cities in general and many other aspects), but on the other hand, if you are going somewhere in a group and most of people don't have a bike, it creates kind of a social gap.
Moreover you need to keep your eye on it all the time, because bikes are the most commonly stolen commodity in the country:)


Maybe it was these pictures that made me hesitate:)



My question for wise guys... which of these pictures wasn't taken in the Netherlands and why? ;-)


Last picture is from Montmartre in Paris and it speaks for itself:)