{"id":3130,"date":"2021-02-17T13:37:35","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T13:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vintagefiets.be\/?p=3130"},"modified":"2023-07-25T10:52:50","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T10:52:50","slug":"de-geschiedenis-van-flandria-fietsen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vintagefiets.be\/en\/de-geschiedenis-van-flandria-fietsen\/","title":{"rendered":"The history of Flandria bicycles"},"content":{"rendered":"

You cannot ignore cycling history in the 1960s and 1970s without mentioning the red brigade of the popular Flandria team who rode on the red and white bicycles. Flandria bicycles have been made since 1940 and after bankruptcy in 1981 the brand is back on the market.<\/p>\n

All the more reason to provide an overview of the history of Flandria cycling.<\/p>\n

Bicycle brand De Westvlaamsche Leeuw<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The history of Flandria starts at the beginning of the 19th century when Alexander Claeys marries someone from the Dombrecht family, who had a blacksmith shop in Zedelgem<\/a>. Louis Claeys was born in 1846, who started in his early twenties with the production of small rolling toys and prams, but also saw a great future in the bicycle industry, resulting in the launch of his first bicycle in 1896.<\/p>\n

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a young Aim\u00e9 Claeys in 1912 \u2013 photo Flandria bikes<\/p><\/div>\n

These bicycles were given the brand name Westvlaamsche Leeuw and in 1910 the number of bicycles sold had already risen to 150. After WWI, the demand for bicycles increased with the result that Aim\u00e9, son of Louis and the driving force behind the Westvlaamsche Leeuw, together with his brothers Alidor, R\u00e9mi and Jerome, founded the workhouses Gebroeders Claeys in 1924, which, in addition to bicycles, also produce agricultural machines. In 1927 the magic figure of 25,000 bicycles is exceeded.<\/p>\n

Origin of the Flandria brand<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In 1940, Aim\u00e9 Claeys decides to modernize his factory, changing the name Westvlaamsche Leeuw to Flandria. After WWII, the demand for bicycles continues to rise and by 1952 about 250,000 bicycles are being produced annually. A new factory is also being built in Zwevezele and mopeds are also being added to the range.<\/p>\n

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The logo of Flandria<\/p><\/div>\n

Although things are going well, things have not worked out between Aim\u00e9 and Remi for years and in 1957 this escalates into a serious quarrel in which a wall is literally built in the factory of Zedelgem. Some heavy, stationary machines stand in the place of the wall through which these machines are built.<\/p>\n

From then on, Aim\u00e9 will continue with the Flandria brand, which is now A. Claeys \u2013 Flandria, and Remi establishes the Remi Claeys \u2013 Superia brand.<\/p>\n

Both brothers continue to compete fiercely during this period, resulting in high production. In the 1970s, Flandria produced no fewer than 450,000 bicycles a year, in addition to mopeds, heating appliances and lawn mowers, in 4 factories: Zedelgem, Zwevegem, Agueda in Portugal and Warneton in northern France.<\/p>\n

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Flandria catalog from the 1970s<\/p><\/div>\n

Both Flandria and Superia also sponsor a professional cycling team in which Flandria has the most success, winning no fewer than 70 classics, 2 Grand Tours and 2 World Championships between 1959 and 1979. In its 20th anniversary, the following clappers have been part of the Flandria team:<\/p>\n