Those with a weakness for classic cars should visit ‘The Gallery’ at least once, as our British photographer Stephen Hall will tell you. He recorded his impressions of the Dutch classic car shopping centre with his camera…
A fitting location
The grand, neo-classical brick palace has been luring customers to Brummen every day since its opening in 2000, according to owner Nico Aaldering, who has fulfilled a dream in the process. But the likeable playboy remains modest, insisting that the cars are the real stars. “For many people, the acquisition of such cars comes after years of desire. So it's important that there's a suitable and professional framework for the purchase.”
Like father, like son
Aaldering has spent over 30 years in the classic car business and much of his experience has been passed on to his son, Nick, with whom he jointly manages The Gallery today. Besides buying and selling, there is also an in-house professional workshop, where eight experienced mechanics not only inspect and repair, but also carry out full restorations. The dedicated auto-parts section of the workshop provides the mechanics with a vast stock of spare parts to rely on and potentially to speed up repairs.
Some 500 classic cars and motorcycles
The entire range of vehicles at The Gallery is hard to quantify, though it’s thought to be somewhere in the region of 500. Of these, emphasis is placed on European brands such as Alfa Romeo, Jaguarand Porsche, and many of the classics offered are in the middle price segment. Of course, if you look hard enough, you’ll find some truly special cars – take the sensational Citroën Chapron Le Dandy, for example. There are currently over 20 motorcycles, too, including famous marques such as BSA and Norton. Other facilities include a shop offering automobilia and accessories, and a restaurant. The Gallery Brummen is situated on the N348 between Arnhem and Zutphen. Whether you are planning on buying a car or simply want to go and walk among the countless classics, we’d strongly encourage you to visit at least once.
Photos: © Steve Hall for Classic Driver
Classic cars and motorcycles for sale at The Gallery Brummen can be found in the Classic Driver Market.
