Heritage
The story of Morpheus Bicycles starts in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.
Around the year 1820, the first bicycles made their appearance in The Netherlands. These bicycles were balance bikes and had no drivetrain. Cycling was an eccentric hobby of a few wealthy individuals that loved innovative ideas.
One of these very early bicycles is still displayed in the Royal Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn, birthplace of Morpheus Bicycles.
After the invention of the bicycle with drivetrain in 1867, they were quickly adopted by the Dutch. Soon clubs of early adopters were formed to share the passion for cycling. One of these clubs was located in Apeldoorn.
In 1869 the first Dutch international bicycle race was organised in the southern city of Maastricht.
With the introduction of the safety bicycle in the 1880’s, cycling quickly became more popular as a means of transport.
The bicycle industry grew quickly because of the typical flat landscape of The Netherlands. Bicycles developed from a toy for the wealthy, into the preferred transportation method of the common people. In the first half of the 20th century cycling morphed into a proud part of the Dutch national identity.
With this growth of cycling, racing also gained popularity. The first time in history that the Tour the France started outside of France was in Amsterdam in 1954.
Until today, cycling for health, leisure and racing has been an integral part of Dutch culture.