Bicycle lights

Safe and visible on the road

The best bicycle lights are more than just a legal requirement: they are essential to your personal safety. In a true cycling country like the Netherlands, visibility on the road is especially important. Fortunately, responsible cycling is easy with bicycle lights from Hollandbikeshop. Discover the best headlights, rear lights, and everything to do with bicycle lighting in our wide range of products!
 

Bicycle lighting essentials

The use of bicycle lighting is mandatory for cycling in the dark and with poor visibility, to make sure other road users can see you properly. Proper bicycle lighting benefits everyone and prevents accidents from happening. 

Now, don’t think that you have to turn your bicycle into a traveling light show for this purpose. The main thing is that you have the bicycle lights legally required in the Netherlands: a white or yellow headlight, a red rear light, and reflectors on the wheels or tires, as well as on the pedals and back of the bicycle.

Don’t have the required bicycle lights? That could cost you. You risk being fined if your headlight and/or rear light are not on when you’re cycling in the dark, at dusk or in poor weather/visibility. Even if you are cycling without the mandatory reflectors or if your bicycle light has the wrong color, you run the risk of being fined. The same thing goes for using flashing lights, as well as bike lights installed in the wrong place. 

Fines for the lack of (the right) bicycle lights range from 40€ to 60€. You can get a great set of bicycle lights for much less!
 

Discover the different types of bicycle lighting

In the past, everyone had a bicycle with dynamo-powered lights. Nowadays, there are many different options available. These options include:
 

LED safety lights

LED lights emit a bright and clearly visible light, have a longer lifespan and may actually be the most energy-efficient option out of all bicycle lights. Popular brands that generally use LED include Kryptonite, Sigma and Spanninga.
 

Dynamo

Dynamo-powered lighting generates power while you’re cycling. A ribbed drive wheel is pressed to the tire, generating power while the wheel is rotating (usually 3 Watts/6 Volts). 
 

Hub dynamo

The hub dynamo is integrated into the bicycle’s design. It is low maintenance, lighter than a regular dynamo and noiseless. One disadvantage to hub dynamos is the low frequency of the current generated, which can cause the light to flicker. 

Most modern bicycles fortunately have an integrated battery that prevents flickering lights, which provides a buffer and continues to provide light even when the bicycle is stationary.
 

Battery-powered bicycle lights

For battery-powered lights, you can use disposable batteries as well as rechargeable batteries. If you’re looking for truly environmentally-friendly bicycle lights, try lights that you can charge at home or on the road using a USB cable, or lights that you can hook up to your e-bike battery.
 

What bike lighting do you need?

When choosing your bicycle lights, the number of lumen is very important. The higher the lumen count, the better the remote visibility is. Rear lights should be 10 to 40 lumen on well-lit terrain, while ± 50 lumen is required in headlights for clear visibility. In dark and densely wooded areas, 500 to 1000 lumen is required, especially at higher speeds.

Also keep in mind factors like user comfort (for instance, how easy is the bicycle light to use, and how many mounting options are there) and durability. In other words, make sure your lights have a long lifespan with long-lasting performance, especially for varying weather conditions. This lets you enjoy your lights longer and put less of a strain on the environment. 

Finally, make sure to check how long the battery lasts and whether the bicycle light has additional features like waterproofing, to make an informed decision and get the best bicycle lights for your situation.
 

Mounting and maintenance

Check your bicycle lights for wear and damage on a regular basis so you can replace a damaged part in time, before accidents happen! Hollandbikeshop has the replacements parts you need, regardless of the type of bicycle or bicycle lighting.

We offer various parts and mounting options for bicycle lights, from mounting screws to headlight holders and mounting parts for helmet lamps. Keep your bicycle lights in top condition by replacing damaged or missing parts with parts by top brands like Gazelle, Simson, B&M and Batavus.
 

Find the perfect bicycle light

See and be seen while you are on the road, illuminating all your bike rides with the best bike lights in our collection. Discover our wide range today and find the perfect lights to improve your cycling experience. Shop now and light your way with Hollandbikeshop!