Dutch titanium bicycle brand Van Nicholas gets a new home with Italian Velo-Ce S.R.L. - a move that removes the Numansdorp-based titanium specialist from the broad Accell portfolio and places it with a manufacturer with a sharp focus on premium bike building and precise manufacturing.
New course for a classic
As of January 2026, Accell Group, which Van Nicholas had been part of since 2011, transferred full responsibility for the brand to Velo-Ce, a fast-growing Italian bicycle manufacturer near Milan. With this, after more than a decade and a half, Van Nicholas is leaving the group of which it was once a part and taking up another strategic position in the cycling world.
According to the press release, this transaction reflects the two parties' shared vision of high-quality bicycle construction, durable materials and attention to detail - core values that typified Van Nicholas since the beginning.
Why this acquisition is interesting
- Van Nicholas is internationally renowned for its titanium expertise, with frames that excel in lightweight strength, durability and a timeless riding experience.
- Velo-Ce brings manufacturing expertise and a modern European manufacturing platform, including frame welding, finishing and wheel building under one roof. That verticalisation should help Van Nicholas perform better in segments such as adventure, touring and custom bikes.
- Current orders, dealer contracts and service agreements will be taken over without interruption, according to the Italian manufacturer.
In practice, this means that Van Nicholas has both its brand identity as technical philosophy retains, but will henceforth be combined with Velo-Ce's artisanal production approach and scalable infrastructure.
Changed context within Accell
Accell had acquired Van Nicholas in 2011 to broaden its portfolio and bring in titanium expertise; the brand name and identity were deliberately left intact within the group at the time.
However, the bicycle industry faces ongoing challenges around scale, margin and supply-chain pressures. Within that context, it is fitting that Accell is making choices to focus on brands with broader category coverage and global scale - a direction in which titanium niche brands such as Van Nicholas are less central.
What does this mean for you as a consumer?
For riders and dealers, the direct impact is limited:
- Orders keep running,
- Service and support remain available,
- Titanium frames remain customised and premium positioning.
But in the medium term, the brand may Respond faster to niche segments, customised demand and adventure market trends thanks to the more focused Italian production context.
