Several automobile brands in the Netherlands have filled a market niche left empty after World War II. The most famous automaker is DAF Trucks, which replaced the bankrupt DAF company. It pioneered the Dutch car industry by producing the first passenger car in the mid-twentieth century. Now, MINI has taken its place, and DAF produces only trucks under the DAF brand. Spyker supercars are also widely known. They became popular after a successful debut in “Formula 1”.
Spyker
The modern Spyker company was founded in 2000. It has nothing in common with the old Spyker brand, which started developing the automobile industry in 1898 and went bankrupt at the beginning of the 20th century. The only things they share are a name and an identity. However, hints of the firm’s aviation past appear in the new cars. For example, one of the lines sounds like an Aileron, and the cars’ details reflect the experience of producing aircraft engines.
Spyker’s main products are exclusive sports cars of several types. They assemble them by hand in their factories. The industrial sites are concentrated in Seewolde.
Vencer
Vencer was founded in 2010 in the Netherlands but became widely known only in 2013, when it unveiled its debut car. The Sovereign Prince of Monaco attended the presentation. The powerful and expensive supercar turned Vencer into a niche brand. The first sample was hand-assembled in 2015, making the automaker’s owner, Robert Cobben, famous. True, popularity came only in Europe, since the model was not exported to other markets.
Donkervoort
More than twenty years have passed since the company Donkervoort moved from a small shed to a building in Lelystad. At that time, it developed and produced many new cars with Audi engines. The automaker released its first car in 1978. It utilized parts from Ford. In the next model, Donkervoort engineers ensured safety by equipping the car with dual brakes.
The company was named after its founder, Joop Donkervoort. The car’s appearance was borrowed from the compact two-seater sports car Lotus Seven. At the same time, the modern concept allows for no power steering, dynamic stabilization systems, or electronic braking systems.
DAF
DAF’s founder was a former brewery director. He loved repairing cars, so in 1928 he opened a small workshop to produce trailers. He found success in the post-war period, when the automobile market faced a severe shortage of trucks and cars. With his first buses and trucks, the manufacturer filled the empty niche. For a long time, he borrowed imported engines until he developed his own engine. Now, DAF produces only trucks, since it sold its car and bus brands in the last century. The enterprise’s current owner is the American corporation PACCAR.
Vandenbrink
Vandenbrink specializes in car design and has been working in the field since 2006. His first project was an interpretation of a Ferrari. Mihil van den Brink, one of the company’s co-founders and the person who gave it his name, played a huge role in the creative process. However, in 2010, he left the business and became a “free artist.” The company continued to provide bodybuilding and custom design services under co-founder Robert Koemans.
VDL Nedcar
The VDL Nedcar automobile factory has changed many owners, from the van Doorn brothers, who founded it in 1967, to the Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation. It also belonged to the Swedish concern Volvo and was even named in its honor, Volvo Car B.V. The Dutch government then bought out the stake in VDL Nedcar. The model range also changed constantly. Now, the manufacturer is producing BMW X1 and Mini Hatch cars.
Waaijenberg
The Dutch company Waaijenberg produces compact cars that cannot be developed quickly or driven on highways. The slow microcars are designed for disabled drivers and wheelchair users. The first specialized vehicle appeared in Waaijenberg’s lineup in 1978, 12 years after the automaker’s founding.
LandFighter
LandFighter parts are manufactured in the Republic of China and then shipped to the Netherlands for final assembly. The lineup is limited to ATVs that are tested on mud and snow trails before going on sale. The vehicles are authorized for use in EU countries. The main markets for LandFighter ATVs are Portugal, Spain, Luxembourg, and Belgium.
Ruska
Ruska was founded in 1968 and operated for 13 years, producing various beach buggy models. It had to close down after the introduction of the BVB tax in Holland, which required it to pay a tax on trading in its machines. Before the financial difficulties, Ruska was one of the most promising and successful car manufacturers, and its open cars on Volkswagen chassis were in demand both at home and abroad.