The most dedicated Tour de France fan is Dutch

Naturally, the French make up most of the crowd roadside along the Tour de France, but the craziest tend to be Dutch or Belgian. Both countries adore cycling, and neither is prohibitively far away nor so close that the trip doesn’t take some effort. You wouldn’t bat an eye at fans holding Dutch or Belgian flags, but their presence still says something about their love of the sport.

Then there are fans who are insane in any context. Meet Joeren.

Joeren is from the Netherlands. He went to half of the stages in 2011, and then decided he would go to every Tour de France stage thereafter. He missed this year’s three stages in England, though that was no loss because “who would want to go to England.” If a stage has taken place in France, however, he has found a way to plant himself somewhere along the route.

“Found a way” because Joeren doesn’t have a job, and he hasn’t in a long time. He doesn’t know exactly how long, “years, probably.” And that’s fine by him.

“People think that’s weird,” he says. “I don’t think that’s weird. I’m probably not much fit for work, to be honest.”

Joeren has car that is pushing 200,000 kilometers. He was travelling with two other Dutchmen driving camper vans when I met him. He had met them at a previous iteration of the Tour de France, but otherwise he rarely sees repeat visitors.

Joeren sleeps in a pup tent that he sets up by the side of the road. He eats cheap, something out of a can. For bathing he uses a stream or a 2-liter bottle of water if he can’t find a gas station that will let him use the shower for truckers.

“The bottle works well. You can get two liters for about a euro and 50 cents,” Joeren says. “But the showers are definitely the best. You have to give them something of yours so that they give you the key.”

Joeren has four different versions of the suit of polka-dot hats he wears to each stage. He has one that he has to step into like a jumpsuit, but he has more or less retired it do to its ill fit. The version he is wearing, essentially a mu-mu, gives him much more mobility.

Next year, the Grand Depart will be hosted by the Netherlands.

“I’m very excited, next year the race will be going right by my front door,” Joeren says. “The thing I live for every year is going right by me. I will still do the France stages, however.”