White Bicycles from Hoge Veluwe National Park, a nature reserve in the Dutch province of Gelderland, are finding a second life in Morocco. Over 500 of these iconic bikes, previously offered free to park visitors, have been donated to support schoolchildren and triathlon events in the country. «We used to send them to Central and Southern Africa, but this time we chose Morocco», said Baron Seger van Voorst tot Voorst, the park's director, in an interview with the regional public broadcaster. «There are 400,000 Moroccans living in the Netherlands, and we wanted to contribute to strengthening ties». The project aims to reduce the long hours children spend walking to school, thereby improving attendance and academic performance. Lightweight and gearless, the bikes are loaned out and fully refurbished every five years by the park's dedicated repair shop. In Morocco, the bikes are also used in triathlons, despite the challenges posed by hilly terrain. As part of the project's long-term vision, local youth are being trained as bicycle mechanics to staff new repair workshops and ensure sustainability. Originally designed to promote eco-friendly tourism, these simple white bikes are now empowering communities far beyond the Netherlands.
