Minerva scooters and mopeds: a piece of Belgian mobility history
Minerva, founded in 1897, was a Belgian brand that produced motorbikes, bicycles and cars. Praised worldwide for its innovative engineering, the brand remains iconic in automotive history.
Minerva
Belgium
1953
Minerva was a Belgian motorbike, bicycle and car brand in the early 20th century. It was founded in 1897.
Founder Sylvain de Jong (1868-1928) was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and moved to Antwerp, Belgium, where he started making bicycles in 1895 with his two brothers Henri and Jacques and with three Antwerp merchants under the name "Mercury Cycle Co". In 1897, Sylvain started his own company (S. de Jong & Co), and the brand name became Minerva. The name came from the Roman goddess Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and the arts.
Innovative motorbikes
As early as 1902, engines became more powerful, with single-cylinders soon reaching 211cc and above, and later even V-twins up to 855cc and 8hp. This technology was celebrated worldwide, with engine blocks used in more than a hundred other makes. Even under the name "Romania", they found their way into other applications to circumvent patent restrictions.
A fresh start in the 1950s
In the mid-1950s, Minerva built scooters under licence from MV Agusta for a while, with a 150cc MV Agusta CGT engine but its own Belgian bodywork. The company also tried to stay in the market with scooters, but ultimately could not stay afloat.
Minerva's heritage
The scooters and mopeds of this period testify to Minerva's versatility and commitment to keep innovating, even in difficult times. Today, they are considered unique pieces of Belgian mobility history, loved by collectors, until today only a few scooters are known any more.