The World's First

Sustainable Bicycle Wash

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021
Marineterrein Amsterdam recently opened the world's first
completely sustainable bicycle wash. In this collaboration
between pop-up cycling café Het Verzetje and Marineterrein
community member La Bolleur, everyone can combine
bicycle maintenance with some fun, a snack and a drink.

Giving cycling culture a new destination is the idea of Thomas

Spronk of Het Verzetje. He travels around Amsterdam’s
terraces with his pop-up cycling café, giving enthusiasts the
opportunity to watch their favorite sport together in the open
air. 'Because why are we all sitting at home on the couch in the
middle of summer watching cycling?,” he wonders aloud. "Isn't it
much more fun to talk about the race together and have a
beer?" 

Cycling paradise
In the summer of 2020, Het Verzetje was based
at Clubhouse during the Tour de France in order to do just
that. At the request of fellow cycling enthusiast Bram Burger
from La Bolleur, the lunchroom was transformed into a paradise
for cycling enthusiasts. Bram: “In the morning we organised a
ride from the Marineterrein and then when we came back, the
big screen was ready at Clubhouse for that day's stage. Getting
to know new people, chatting about the race with a well-
deserved beer, in short: a wonderful cycling day for all.” 

Easy bike maintenance

But while Mont Ventoux was looming on the screen, the
bicycles of the amateur riders in the bike rack were dirty from
the earlier ride. That got Bram and Thomas thinking. 'Cycle
maintenance is a necessary evil for many city dwellers,' says
Thomas. ‘Carry the bike to the third floor and then clean your
rims on your balcony with a sponge. Moreover, many people do
not have the right equipment for repairs. We wanted to come up
with a solution for that and combine it with the cosiness of Het
Verzetje.'  

And this is how the idea for the bicycle wash was born. Bram
started drawing and welding in the workshop of La Bolleur, and
the end result is that now anyone can do the necessary
maintenance on the bicycle next to the terrace of Clubhouse
using professional equipment. And all of that is completely
sustainable.

Green bicycle workshop

“Sustainability was the starting point of our plan,” says
Bram. “Because the car wash is outside, the cleaning agents
run straight into the ground. So we use biodegradable products
from Dynamic instead of the chemical agents that are more
usually used. To rinse the bicycle, we use rainwater stored in
large tanks on the roof of building 027. So no drinking water is
wasted. There is currently no other permanent place to work on
your bicycle, and certainly not one that’s completely 'green', so
this is the first sustainable bicycle wash in the world.”

More prospective cycle mechanics

So Thomas gets his wish to start a new cycling culture place
organised at the Marine Land. But, he says. it doesn't stop
there. “We also want to spread cycling culture to people who
might otherwise not come into contact with it. That is why we
are aiming to involve young people from the neighbourhood in
this project and teach them the intricacies of making and
maintaining bicycles under the guidance of professionals. In
exchange for some pocket money, they can then carry out
repairs on a bicycle while the owner is sitting on the terrace of
Clubhouse. And hopefully we will also enthuse them about
cycling itself, because the more people there are on bikes, the
better.”

How does it work?

The bicycle wash is still in the test phase and can therefore be
used free of charge. After the test phase, the cleaning supplies
will be available at the Clubhouse bar during opening hours for
a small fee. Also a range of tools can be borrowed for free. At
the end of September, the official opening of the bicycle wash
will take place during the World Cycling Championships, with a
large screen and clinics covering cycling and bicycle
repair. From August 28, Bram and Thomas will again be
organising rides with Clubhouse acting as the start and end
point. Keep an eye on the social media of Het Verzetje and
Clubhouse for dates and registration. 

Partners of the bicycle wash are Dynamic Bike Care, Killat and
BBB Cycling.