It was his idea. His parents had talked for years about one big trip in a camper van, and every time they worked out the numbers the answer came back the same: not possible. Then Samuël asked why not do it on bikes, and the impossible turned into something worth trying.

He is aiming to become the youngest child ever to cycle the world on an electric bike. Along the way he visits animal shelters, because as he put it himself: "It's sad that they don't have a home."

Samuël Dirksen was born on 17 October 2014 in Belgium and holds Dutch nationality. He turns twelve just 29 days before he cycles away from Málaga with his parents. He speaks Dutch, English and Spanish fluently. His best friend José stays behind in Málaga, and that is the hardest part of all this.

They depart from Málaga on 15 November 2026. The planned return is 13 May 2028, which makes it 546 days and roughly eighteen months on the road.

The planned route covers roughly 26,720 km by electric bike across 25+ countries. The maximum is 80 km on the longer days, with shorter days and rest days built into the plan.

The route runs from Spain through Morocco, across Europe, through Turkey, into Asia and on to Indonesia, and from there onward. That is the shape of it. The exact daily route and some of the later borders are still being finalised, since visas and circumstances on the road can change what is possible.

Samuël learns better by doing than by sitting still, and for eighteen months the road becomes his classroom. Geography under his wheels, languages at the next shelter, maths in kilometres and budgets, history in the towns he sleeps in. The formal side of that, what is required and how it is arranged, is being worked out directly with the relevant authorities before departure.

Samuël cycles with his parents the entire way, every kilometre. The daily distance is capped at 80 km with rest days built in, and the route is planned with safety in mind rather than speed. Like any journey of this length, it carries real risk, and the family is not pretending otherwise. Preparations around insurance, communication and emergency planning are being finalised before departure, not left to chance.

Then it does not work out, and that is allowed. If Samuël gets sick, gets homesick, or simply wants to stop, the journey stops. Nobody has to finish something just because it was announced. The only real failure here would be not trying.

In every country Samuël cycles through he visits a local animal shelter, and in some cities more than one. He films one dog, learns their name and shares their story. Each film carries the shelter's own QR code, or a link to their page if they do not have one.

No money ever passes through us. Whatever anyone gives goes straight to the people looking after that dog, in their own country and currency.

Each shelter film carries their own QR code or a link to their page. Scan or click it and you give directly to that shelter, not to us. There is no account or signup involved on our side.

The plan is 77 shelters across 25+ countries. The first is in Málaga, before the journey even starts.

Yes. Use the shelter's code or link on the film to reach them directly. Samuël does not arrange adoptions and never handles the paperwork, everything after that first contact happens between you and the shelter.

If you adopt a dog you first saw in one of these films, send us a photo at [email protected] and it goes straight onto their page on The Dogs, right next to the shelter photo.

We would rather be invited. Email [email protected] with where you are and what you need. Not the biggest shelters get priority here, the ones nobody films do. If we can reach you on the route, we will come.

This is a family trip, not a company, so there are no sponsorship packages or contracts. What is missing is equipment: bikes, panniers, a tent, a camera, spare parts, insurance. If you make any of it, that is worth more to us than a cheque. See the Sponsors page for the full list, or email [email protected].

Bikes, above everything else. Samuël currently trains on his father's old electric bike, which is too big for him. The bikes that have to survive 26,720 km do not exist yet, and neither does most of the rest of the gear.

Yes. Ferries, visas, food and a safe place to sleep are costs that never stop, and this family does not cover all of it alone. You can give on the Sponsors page. This is a private family journey, not a registered charity, and donations are managed by Wendy Dirksen Hermans on behalf of Samuel Cycles the World.

Instagram (@samuelcyclestheworld), YouTube (Samuel Cycles the World) and TikTok (@samuelcyclesthewo). Instagram is the most active, with stories most days. YouTube carries weekly films. TikTok gets a few clips a week.

Most days on Instagram, because that part is quick and fits around the riding. Some stretches have no signal at all, and then it simply waits until the next town. Nobody is going to sit in a tent chasing a posting schedule.

Yes, on The Journey page. It fills in from 15 November 2026 onward, one stretch at a time.