SANTOS

Overview

Santos Bikes is a Dutch independent bicycle manufacturer founded in 1997 that specializes in custom-built bicycles tailored to individual customer specifications. The company operates as a small specialist workshop with approximately 15 employees and focuses on hand-built bikes across multiple categories including travel bikes, gravel bikes, e-bikes, and patrol bikes. Santos positions itself on quality craftsmanship and personalized service rather than mass production, with an emphasis on understanding customer needs before building each bicycle.

History

Santos was founded in 1997 by Robbert Rutgrink, an avid mountainbiker who began building his own bikes at a young age. The company originated in a small shed in Lisse, Netherlands, with Rutgrink's core insight that bicycles should be custom-built to individual specifications rather than rebuilt after purchase. Over more than 20 years, Santos has grown from a single-person operation into a specialist workshop with a dedicated team of cycling enthusiasts. The company maintains its independent status and continues to operate from its facility near Amsterdam airport in Nieuw-Vennep.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Santos manufactures bicycles in-house at its facility in Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands, near Amsterdam airport. The company employs a hand-built, made-to-order production model where each bicycle is assembled by skilled technicians according to customer specifications. This approach prioritizes quality and customization over volume production.

Notable Products

• Custom Travel Bikes - Hand-built bicycles designed for long-distance touring with customer-specified components and geometry
• Power Serie GS E-Bikes - Electric-assisted bicycles combining Santos' custom-build approach with electric drivetrain technology
• Gravel Bikes - Durable off-road bicycles built to individual specifications for mixed-terrain riding

Reputation

Santos is respected within cycling enthusiast communities for its commitment to quality craftsmanship and personalized service. The brand is known for taking time to understand customer needs before building each bicycle, differentiating it from mass-produced competitors. Professionals and serious cyclists appreciate the durability and reliability of Santos bikes, though the custom-build model and small production scale limit its market reach compared to larger manufacturers. The company's independent status and focus on quality over volume have established it as a specialist brand rather than a mainstream player.