Dutch King cycles on Van Raam side-by-side tandem Fun2Go

Surprise visit at Fietsmaatjes Warmond

The Fietsmaatjes foundation (translated as bike buddies) is for people who like to go out by bike but because of a disability they are no longer able to go independently. The Fietsmaatjes foundation is part of a social programme from the Oranjefonds, a fund that is there for anyone who wants to do something for someone else. King Willem-Alexander is patron of this fund.

It was a big surprise for the Fietsmaatjes foundation in Warmond that the King came on a working visit. Jan Burgmeijer, initiator of the Fietsmaatjes foundation, picked up King Willem-Alexander in Warmond in the province of Zuid-Holland and drove with him on the side-by-side tandem to the location, a brasserie. At the location, the King talked to the founders, the volunteers and participants of the foundation. Here, they talked about the meaning of the foundation and the future dreams, among other things.

The director of the Oranjefonds, Peter Douwes, was also present. The Oranjefonds supports the Fietsmaatjes foundation because it is an accessible and sympathic way to combine two things: exercise for your health but also exercise to be active and involved.

King cycles with 95 year old bike buddy on a side-by-side tandem

At the end of the working visit, the King braved the rain to go for a ride on a side-by-side tandem together with a bike buddy. The blue Fietsmaatjes side-by-side tandem from Van Raam was brought out and the King and 95 year old Johan Waanders made a short ide on the three-wheel tandem.

Johan Waanders has been using the Fietsmaatjes foundation for some time now. Until he was 90 years old he still cycled independently, but then became nervous in the busy traffic. The Fietsmaatjes was the solution for him, because he could still continue to cycle.

As a guest, he and a volunteer occasionally cycle on the side-by-side tandem, for example for a shopping trip or a bike ride. He has even cycled 65 kilometres with the side-by-side tandem, his longest ride so far.

King on the side-by-side tandem in the news

In the national news of the Netherlands, a lot of attention has been paid to the King’s visit to Fietsmaatjes in Warmond (articles in Dutch).

• Algemeen Dagblad: Koning trapt rondje mee bij Fietsmaatjes project
• Reformatorisch Dagblad: Koning Willem-Alexander ruilt auto in voor duofiets
• Omroep West: Verrassing: koning Willem-Alexander voor één keer Fietsmaatje in Warmond
• De Gelderlander en de Stentor: Koning trapt stevig rondje mee tijdens bezoek aan project Fietsmaatjes
• Vorsten: Willem-Alexander blijft droog dankzij Fietsmaatje
• Leidsch Dagblad: Koning Willem-Alexander is in Warmond even een Fietsmaatje
• Blauw Bloed: Koning trotseert regen voor fietstocht

The Fietsmaatjes foundation

Fietsmaatjes started in 2012 under the leadership of the couple Tekla Zwinkels and Jan Burgmeijer. In Warmond, the first side-by-side tandem was brought into use. During her work as a nurse, Zwinkels saw the growing need for exercise and social contacts. Jan Burgmeijer: “People with a disability can’t get any further with a rollator than the shop on the corner. On their bicycles they see their city and the nature again and they tell fantastic stories.”

With the Fietsmaatjes foundation a volunteer and a guest cycle on the side-by-side tandem. This guest often has a disability, so that independent cycling is no longer possible. The volunteer can steer and brake the side-by-side tandem and the guest can pedal along. Together they make cycling trips and they enjoy the exercise and being in the nature. They also have a very nice social contact in this way.

The Fietsmaatjes are now active in eighteen municipalities and there are 888 guests with 678 volunteers. The goal is to be active with Fietsmaatjes at 60 locations by the end of 2022.

Read more about this foundation in the article: 'Fietsmaatjes on side by side tandem'