The Orange Bike Ride at the weekend was part of a national event supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands.
One of the organisers in Dunedin, Marco Kleinlangevelsoo, said the ride had a dual purpose.
One was the promotion of exercise, including commuter cycling, and the other was to acknowledge the 55th birthday of Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand, King of the Netherlands.
The king’s birthday was on April 27, which is a national holiday in the Netherlands.
On Saturday, a big bunch of riders in Dunedin and at least two rollerbladers travelled from Kitchener St Reserve to Macandrew Bay and back.
Another ride organiser, Mark Lokman, said he felt people in New Zealand were increasingly comfortable about embracing their Dutch heritage.
Not everybody at the ride had Dutch heritage, but almost everyone had orange attire.
Dunedin city councillor Steve Walker was there, on behalf of the mayor.
‘‘The range of orange-themed cycling gear was a pleasure to behold and I was delighted to be given the honour of handing out prizes to the best dressed among the large group of riders,’’ he said.
