 During World War I three men in the neutral Netherlands founded what would become the biggest moped manufacturer of the Netherlands.The gentlemen Schakel, Verbeek and Krijgsman opened their wholesale named "Verbeek & Schakel" in the Hoofdstraat (Main street) of Apeldoorn.Later that same year they bought the brands "Sparta", "Romein (Roman)" and "Vaandel (Ensign)".