Though only a few Dutch vehicle makers are in operation today, in the early years of the motorcar around the turn of the 20th century, quite a number of automakers were at work designing and producing cars in the Netherlands. One such firm had its start when brothers Hendrik-Jan and Jacobus Spijker—blacksmiths by trade—founded Spijker (Spyker), a coach-building company, in Hilversum, in 1880. The business moved to Trompenburg, Amsterdam in 1886, establishing there the NV Rijtuigfabriek BV (“Coach Factory”). Spyker is renowned for producing the Golden Coach for Queen Wilhelmina, presented to her shortly after her inauguration in 1898.
Spyker and Benz
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