Steam bicycle from 1940 rebuilt: finally recognition for the invention of Ingrid’s father and grandfather

Father Hans Gordijn built the steam bicycle in 1940, after the German occupier rationed petrol. “He had just received a nice new motorcycle from his father Henri because he had passed his diploma as an assistant engineer in the merchant navy,” Ingrid tells NH reporter Sjoerd Hilarius. Hans could hardly use his new motorcycle due to the petrol shortage. “Father and son thought: ‘This is not going to happen, we are going to do something with this.'”

And so the two came up with the steam bicycle: a motorcycle powered by coal. “They were able to finish the steam bicycle, despite the war. The enthusiasm of the people and the press was enormous.” The Second World War ensured that nothing more was done with the steam bicycle.

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After moving from Zandvoort to ‘t Zand five years ago, Ingrid found the construction drawings and a scrapbook with photos and publications about the steam bicycle. Her father left it after his death. She became completely inspired by the project. “I thought: ‘It needs to be rebuilt again, where is that steam bicycle?’ That’s when the story started.”

Father Hans managed to keep the parts of the steam bicycle out of the hands of the Germans. He later decided to donate it to the Dutch Steam Engine Museum in Medemblik. During an event at that museum, Ingrid met a ‘steam genius’ named Theo van Wijchen. Together with him she took on the rebuilding project and after two years of hard work the rebuilt steam bicycle was completed.

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Ingrid says that she shed a tear when she saw the rebuilt steam bicycle. “It was a moving moment. At that time they did not really have the recognition they deserved. The recognition of this invention, that it was realized at that moment. As a daughter and granddaughter, that is great. So there was a small rolling out a tear, yes.”

She is sure that her father and grandfather would have been proud if they had been able to see the rebuilt steam bicycle. “They love this. But it’s just about the invention itself. They were really two tough steam pioneers.”

The steam bicycle will come to Medemblik next weekend during the Steam Fair. It is now still at Theo’s home, in Reek, North Brabant. Ingrid doesn’t think it’s a good idea for people to sit on it. “Everything is made by hand by Theo. It took him a thousand hours of work. He is also very proud and grateful that this was created. So it remains a matter of watching and asking. But on Sunday, when I present him in Medemblik, he’s going to get some steam.”