“Then a person starts thinking about existence. This is where the world begins.”
2026-05-19
Endless Dreams 2026
2026-05-17
Faster and punctual
Anyone familiar with the transport system in the Netherlands also understands why public transport is often faster and punctual…
Dutch trains rank among the most punctual in Europe — often in first place. At first glance, this may seem like proof of perfect organization or a national mentality focused on efficiency, which certainly also plays a role. People sometimes even applaud at stations when a train to their distant hometown arrives exactly on time. But another reason is that the Dutch system simply cannot afford delays because of how the infrastructure is designed.The Netherlands has one of the densest railway networks in Europe. Trains operate at extremely short intervals, and a large part of the system relies on precisely synchronized connections. In many ways, the operation resembles a metro system more than a traditional railway, including the platforms and ticket gates controlling access to them. There is also noticeably less noise and high speeds. Dutch civilization itself is so interconnected between cities and countryside that the entire country feels urbanized, metropolitan.
Trains connect within intervals of just a few minutes, and key hubs must function with almost surgical precision.
This creates enormous efficiency:
* frequent connections,
* fast transfers,
* high capacity,
* simple travel without long waiting times.
Because the Dutch rail network is so dense, even a small disruption can create a domino effect.
A typical scenario looks simple:
* a delayed train blocks a track,
* another train waits for a free platform,
* the delay spreads into a transfer hub,
* connections fall apart,
* more trains begin slowing down,
* and when there is a serious issue on the line, the entire centralized network is often partially shut down, with trains stopping everywhere until the problem is resolved.
Especially sensitive is Utrecht, one of the most important railway hubs in Europe. Huge numbers of trains pass through it every day, and any disruption there quickly affects the entire network.
The high density and intensity of train operations make it possible to offer:
* frequent services,
* high capacity,
* comfortable transfers,
* fast travel without a car — often even faster than driving.
At the same time, it creates an environment where just a few minutes of delay can threaten the stability of the entire network, and effectively the whole country. Punctuality is a fundamental condition for the survival of the system itself.
2026-05-11
Fat is Fast
I have a few thoughts about fatbikes. People often ask me whether the bike is fast and whether it is physically difficult to ride…
First of all, I went through a period where I tested all kinds of MTBs, from the original standard 27.5 bikes to the rise and mainstream adoption of other wheel sizes like 29 and 27.5+.
Based on videos from the USA showing a group riding trails and rocks, jumping through forests, I discovered the fatbike. I also watched videos from Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) testing fatbikes, and I decided to try buying a good one myself. For damaged roads, dirt and forest paths, rough terrain, but also softer terrain like sand and pebbles, crossing streams, and easier climbing in off-road conditions, it seemed like a very universal solution for different environments. Surprisingly, a good fatbike is also great for jumping.After testing all kinds of terrain, including easier uphill riding on rough surfaces, I concluded that I personally prefer riding a 26x4 fatbike rather than struggling on a 27.5+ or 29. Not to mention snow. Even on a good 29er, riding through rough snowy terrain is terrible. MTB 26x4 tires are similarly tall to MTB 29-inch sizes, but they are four inches wide.
Secondly, I found it amusing that riding fatbikes is being restricted in Amsterdam. This topic is actually quite openly discussed in the Netherlands. Fatbikes are faster and, compared to normal bicycles, can be quite dangerous because of that. A nation where bicycles are the main form of transport understands this well.
In a way, I share the Dutch approach, and the bicycle is also my main means of transportation now, for example when commuting to work. However, compared to the Dutch cycling infrastructure, riding on damaged terrain with normal tires is uncomfortable, so using an MTB fatbike on rough surfaces makes more sense. In the Netherlands, I would mainly want to ride a fatbike along the beach by the sea, where it would be ideal because the tires do not sink into the sand. Fatbikes were originally designed for these kinds of soft terrains as well as harsh conditions.
Since I mentioned transport, like in the Netherlands I also prefer public transport. In the Netherlands, public transport is generally faster, more precise, and less noisy because the government itself wants people to use public transport instead of cars. The same applies to bicycles and cycling infrastructure. It is also connected to sustainability, which the Dutch government strongly promotes: fewer emissions, less pollution, and less use of natural resources. Recently, different train discounts have also been discussed for this reason. The Dutch government is actively trying to encourage people to use public transport more often.
In the Czech Republic, sustainability, including public comfort are often ignored and perceived as restrictions. In my opinion, what is truly limiting is outdated oil-based infrastructure that feels closer to the third world. Modern infrastructure in the Netherlands is far more modern, faster, and quieter.
2026-05-10
Huis van Oranje
For most of history, that simply was not the case. Carrots existed in many colors — purple, white, yellow, and red. The orange variety that dominates the world today only became popular in the early modern era, mainly thanks to Dutch agriculture, which I have mentioned several times already as highly inspiring.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, agriculture and trade developed rapidly in Netherlands. Dutch farmers experimented with cultivating different vegetable varieties and gradually bred more stable and tastier orange carrots.
And thanks to the strong Dutch trade and logistics network, which I have also mentioned before, orange carrots quickly spread across Europe and later to other parts of the world.
The orange color is also linked to a high content of beta-carotene, which the human body converts into vitamin A.
And just to add a bit more Dutch… who knows who is behind New York City? Today’s New York City was originally a Dutch colony called New Amsterdam. The Dutch founded it around 1624 on the island of Manhattan as part of the colony of New Netherland.2026-05-08
A world without human freedoms and rights
Human beings are not static creatures. They long for growth, self-overcoming, creation, knowledge, and progress. Yet progress means movement forward, and movement forward creates differences between people. Some think faster, some create more, some lead, while others follow. Absolute equality therefore could not tolerate true individualism, because individualism itself is the source of inequality.
If a society without any hierarchy were to exist, it would have to control not only the economy or social relations, but human thought itself. Intellect would become a problem, because differences in intellect create differences in influence. Ambition would become a problem, because it creates movement and progress. Individuality would become a problem, because it disrupts the uniformity of equality. Such a society would have to constantly ensure that no one “stands out.”
This is where the similarity to Nineteen Eighty-Four emerges. Not necessarily in the form of a traditional state, but in the principle of absolute control in the name of a higher idea. In Orwell’s world, that idea is power. In a vision of absolute equality, equality itself could become the new authority, total power over mind of all beings. The control of language, the restriction of thought, and the suppression of individuality would not serve to protect the state, but to preserve the uniformity of society.
The paradox of such a system is that the attempt to eliminate hierarchy creates a new and even deeper form of domination. Power would no longer exist only within institutions, but within the very principle of equality itself, which would define the limits of human expression. A person would cease to be a unique individual and instead become a function of the system. Individuality would be seen as a threat to the stability of the collective order.



