Name: Paul de Jong
Hometown: Aarle-Rixtel
Started riding BMX in: 1971 but real BMX Bike in 1979
Number of bikes in the collection: Don’t have a clue, at least 15 nice ones
Do you have any bikes from the '50-s when the first people started racing BMX in The Netherlands?
Paul de Jong: Yes I have a 1950 Schwinn girls beachcruiser from Mom, who was jumping doubles in the 50’s when BMX was popular in the Netherlands. Before you “Americans” are going to reply on this: Ignaz Schwinn is from Europe fyi.
What makes you decide to start a certain bike building project?
Shop name: Paul’s Boutique BMX Hardware Store
Location: Dorpsstraat 66a, Aarle-Rixtel, the Netherlands
Years in business: 25
Best year yet: 2012
Worst year yet: 2017
2020 has been, well, different. When did Covid-19 turn up and start influencing your business?
Paul de Jong: I closed the shop on March 14 when the first Covid-19 Lockdown was announced in the Netherlands and haven’t been open on regular times since then.
Did you take any action from the start or were you thinking this would be over in a few weeks?
Paul de Jong: I already knew it was for the long haul so in the beginning I didn’t order any new parts in Taiwan but for the rest it was business like usual.
Now, being in this situation for many months, how did you manage to keep your business rolling?
Bensink End of Era jam. Niels Bensink organised an awesome “last” jam at the Bensink Gates compound. Niels is moving to Canada with his girlfriend Drew Mechielsen beginning next year and Albert Bensink is ready for his retirement so this could be the last serious jam. But you never know what will happen to the trails now Stefan Groothuis the former World and Olympic speed skater found his way to the dirt jumping scene with his sons so he might be the next Bensink trail caretaker.
Many superstars were riding the trails today with MTB’s and BMX bikes like Frank Heijne, Desmond Tessemakers, Bart Mol, Jeremy Struik, Sem Kok, Jordy van de Heijde, Denzel Vakkers, Bas Fokkinga etc and many Belgian and German rippers. Niels Bensink rode his MTB today and you could see he is at
Name shop: Paul's Boutique BMX
Location: Dorpsstraat 66A, 5735EE Aarle-Rixtel The Netherlands (Europe)
Years in business: 23 years (April 1st 1995)
Employees: 1
What was the reason for you to start a BMX shop?
Paul's Boutique BMX: With only 10 Dutch riders remaining in 1995 and no BMX Shop in the country I decided it was a good idea to start a BMX Shop to keep those 10 riders on their bikes.
What was your first location like?
Paul's Boutique BMX: In my backyard I built a small shed to put the bikes on display, a small shed for Parts/Maintenance/hangout where I had to get my motorcycle out first before a customer could see the parts etc. hahaha. Then first floor in the house was for clothing en the second floor was the
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.