. WORKING IN HRLM

60 . Haarlem city glossy


It all started

11 years ago

with
De Fietsfabriek...

Free Wheely

No two bikes in this bicycle shop are the same — diversity is key at Free Wheely. We already spoke with store manager Peter Krukkert in edition 7 about his passion for bikes and the cargo bike craze. How is he doing now?

Text: Victoria van der Werff. Photography: Rob Eversen.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
ESTABLISHED IN HAARLEM? “We
have two stores, one of which has been in Haarlem for eleven years. Our other store has been in Amsterdam for about four years now. It all started with De Fietsfabriek. Owner Artur began there as a franchisee. Six or seven years later, we took over Free Wheely. Originally, this was a scooter shop, but we combined everything: scooters, cargo bikes, and city bikes are all available here.”

WHY HAARLEM? “Haarlem is a great cycling city. I think because it’s a city with potential and charm. It’s a bit more village-like than Amsterdam but still feels urban. In terms of transport, it’s also very practical. Many people cycle here and you don’t have to deal with trams. There are plenty of beautiful routes for cycling. You can ride to the dunes or the beach, and for that, a good bike is very handy.”

AND THE ‘CARGO BIKE GENERATION’?

“We see that the ‘cargo bike generation’ has settled in Haarlem. These are often people who moved from Amsterdam to Haarlem two or three years ago. They were looking for more greenery, space, and a quieter place to raise their children. Haarlem has more to offer in that regard. So besides regular bikes, we also have cargo bikes — they are our specialty and we sell a lot of them. They are perfect for transporting children but also groceries, yoga mats, or beach gear. Plus, they’re easy to park anywhere. Our cargo bikes are very user-friendly and anyone can ride them. A cargo bike costs more than a regular bike but is cheaper than a car. You can’t park a car easily in the city, and it always costs money. A cargo bike is healthier too, and you enjoy the fresh air.”

WHAT MAKES YOUR BIKES SO UNIQUE? “No bike we sell here is exactly the same. They have different colors, more or fewer gears, or sometimes no chain at all. A bike is more than just transport — it should look good too. It also has to be durable, which is why we don’t sell cheap bikes. On the streets, you see that people invest in quality bikes. Many families start with a cargo bike and as the kids grow older, they invest in good city bikes. Our bikes are rustproof, which is essential because in a city like Haarlem, bikes are parked outside a lot.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART?
“We sell bikes and cargo bikes but also scooters. Plus, we offer exclusive brands like Achielle from Belgium. These are sporty bikes with a retro look — they’re truly unique. This shows that we also respond to trends. You won’t easily find a grandma bike in plain black here, but you will in emerald green. We stand out with our customers too. People come from Texel and Den Helder, and sometimes we even ship bikes to Italy and France.”





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60 ✶ Haarlem city glossy ✶ WORKING IN HRLM
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ESTABLISHED IN HAARLEM? “We have two stores, one of which has been in Haarlem for eleven years. Our other store has been in Amsterdam for about four years now. It all started with De Fietsfabriek. Owner Artur began there as a franchisee. Six or seven years later, we took over Free Wheely. Originally, this was a scooter shop, but we combined everything: scooters, cargo bikes, and city bikes are all available here.”
WHY HAARLEM? “Haarlem is a great cycling city. I think because it’s a city with potential and charm. It’s a bit more village-like than Amsterdam but still feels urban. In terms of transport, it’s also very practical. Many people cycle here and you don’t have to deal with trams. There are plenty of beautiful routes for cycling. You can ride to the dunes or the beach, and for that, a good bike is very handy.”
AND THE ‘CARGO BIKE GENERATION’? “We see that the ‘cargo bike generation’ has settled in Haarlem. These are often people who moved from Amsterdam to Haarlem two or three years ago. They were looking for more greenery, space, and a quieter place to raise their children. Haarlem has more to offer in that regard. So besides regular bikes, we also have cargo bikes — they are our specialty and we sell a lot of them. They are perfect for transporting children but also groceries, yoga mats, or beach gear. Plus, they’re easy to park anywhere. Our cargo bikes are very user-friendly and anyone can ride them. A cargo bike costs more than a regular bike but is cheaper than a car. You can’t park a car easily in the city, and it always costs money. A cargo bike is healthier too, and you enjoy the fresh air.”
WHAT MAKES YOUR BIKES SO UNIQUE? “No bike we sell here is exactly the same. They have different colors, more or fewer gears, or sometimes no chain at all. A bike is more than just transport — it should look good too. It also has to be durable, which is why we don’t sell cheap bikes. On the streets, you see that people invest in quality bikes. Many families start with a cargo bike and as the kids grow older, they invest in good city bikes. Our bikes are rustproof, which is essential because in a city like Haarlem, bikes are parked outside a lot.”
WHAT SETS YOU APART? “We sell bikes and cargo bikes but also scooters. Plus, we offer exclusive brands like Achielle from Belgium. These are sporty bikes with a retro look — they’re truly unique. This shows that we also respond to trends. You won’t easily find a grandma bike in plain black here, but you will in emerald green. We stand out with our customers too. People come from Texel and Den Helder, and sometimes we even ship bikes to Italy and France.”