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About us
A family garage with a big mouth and a soft heart
Since 1979 we’ve been working on the neighbourhood’s cars in Voorbeeldstad. First Harm, now his son Chiel, with a team you know by name.
Just honest. That’s the whole secret.
Harm always said it: “Cheat someone and you’ll never see them again. Be honest and they’ll come back with their kids.” He was right. Some of our customers were already coming to Harm when their car still had a choke.
We’re not a showroom with shiny floors. We are a tidy workshop with four lifts, an approved inspector and mechanics who keep learning. For hybrid and electric cars too.
We talk the way we are: straight to the point. Is your car really done for? You’ll hear it. Can it go on for years? You’ll hear that from us too.
Since 1979
From one lift to four
- 1979
Harm opens De Ooievaar in an old storage barn, with one lift and a second-hand compressor.
- 1986
A second lift. Harm becomes an approved APK inspector.
- 1999
After his automotive training, Chiel joins his father in the workshop.
- 2011
The coffee corner becomes a proper waiting room, with a view of the lifts.
- 2018
Chiel takes over the business. Harm stays for the coffee.
- 2024
A charging point and a trained team for electric cars.
Who you’ll meet
The crew behind the lifts
- Harm
Harm
Founder
Started in 1979 with one lift. Still pops in every morning for coffee and unasked-for advice.
- Chiel
Chiel
Owner and inspector
Harm’s son. Does the APKs and drives Gerrit himself, a yellow 1967 Beetle.
- Kai
Kai
Senior mechanic
Finds every fault. Certified for electric cars and hybrids.
- Tamara
Tamara
Mechanic
Brakes, clutches and exhausts. Can tell which part it is from a single tick.
- Naomi
Naomi
Front desk and planning
Keeps an eye on the diary, the courtesy cars and the coffee pot. Especially the coffee pot.
How it works
From your call to the keys back
- 1
Get in touch
Tell us what’s up. Or what you think is up. We book you in, often the same week.
- 2
Coffee and a chat
Park your car out front. Wait in the coffee corner or take the courtesy car.
- 3
The price first
If we find something, you hear the price on the phone. Say yes and we get to work.
- 4
Keys back
We explain what we’ve done. You can see the old parts. Off you go.
House rules
- Coffee is free. Always.
- The price first, then the key.
- No extra work without your yes.
- What can wait, may wait.
- Complain about Gerrit and you get the Beetle speech.
Pop in some time. There’s always a cuppa.
The door is open. For an appointment, call or fill in the form.