FEATURE
Top left: The Factory today - Top Right: Part of the painting process. Bottom left: A brand with a lot of history - Bottom Right: Bikes ready to be packed.
clinical assembly plant. The processes were clearly defined, with everyone focused on their specific tasks, a tangible sense of pride in the process.
Where it All Began The story of Gazelle began with a trade. In 1892, Willem Kölling, a local post office agent, resigned to start a bicycle business alongside his partner, Rudolf Arentsen. During my visit, I was told that in those very early days, the company wasn’t a manufacturer, but started as an importer known as Arentsen & Kölling. It wasn’t until 1907 that the brand was officially registered as Gazelle. Erik van Houweling, Product Manager at Gazelle, mentioned that the first bikes and parts arrived from the UK (Birmingham), which was then the global epicentre of the trade. It was a time when the bicycle was still a mystery to many. In fact, the brand’s first customers were given cycling lessons as part of their purchase because the market had to be created from scratch.
I was curious if any of that early British influence remained in the bikes today. The team explained that while they value those historical beginnings, Gazelle now focuses on sourcing the highest quality components globally. And while some of those partners are based in the UK (such as Brooks England),
8 | May 2026
the choice to use them is driven by a commitment to excellence rather than a reliance on tradition. This mindset eventually led to the ‘Koninklijk’ (Royal) designation, awarded in 1992 on the brand’s 100th anniversary. The title is a strictly regulated honour granted by the Dutch Monarch, requiring a company to pass rigorous audits of its financial stability, ethical conduct, and national reputation. “This translates directly to the bike’s quality,” the team noted, “as the title demands a ‘gold standard’ of engineering that exceeds standard market requirements. We back this with ISO-9001 certification, ensuring every frame and assembly meets a level of precision worthy of our heritage.”
The Pon Era To understand Gazelle today, we need to go back to 2011. Before its acquisition by Pon Holdings, Gazelle was a respected but somewhat struggling national icon, a company with deep roots in need of a global platform. The team described the acquisition as a vital turning point where Pon provided the resources and the global stage to perfect their DNA. Following the acquisition, Gazelle refocused entirely on building premium bicycles around their consumer’s needs. This investment culminated in the 2014/2015 factory
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