In the Netherlands, classic two-stroke Vespas are disappearing. Not because nobody wants them anymore, but because environmental regulations tighten year after year and a 1960s engine struggles to keep up. Some people sell them, some leave them under a cover in the garage. And some decided to do exactly the opposite.
Charles and Rens Overgaag are father and son. Through Vespini, their family business, they restore classic Vespas and electrify them with Retrokit. The look stays original, so does the charm. The only thing that changes is what sits under the saddle.
Preserve, don’t transform
“We don’t want to change classic Vespas, we want to preserve them” says Charles Overgaag. “By giving them a second life, people can keep enjoying everything that makes a classic Vespa special, for years to come. We understand that sustainability matters, but we simply cannot let this piece of Italian heritage disappear”.
It’s a position we share word for word. At the Vespini workshop the Vespas are fully restored first, then converted while keeping their authenticity intact. No cutting, no irreversible changes to the frame.
Yesterday’s charm with today’s convenience
Anyone who has ridden a classic Vespa knows the ritual. Mixing the fuel, topping up the oil, the dirty hands, the smoke. On an electric one none of that exists anymore: it charges from a standard household socket, it costs next to nothing to run, emissions are zero.
Then there’s the gearbox. On a classic Vespa the manual shift is a problem above all for the younger generations, who never grew up with a clutch. But with Retrokit, with no gears to shift, even someone who has never ridden a Vespa can hop on. Twist the throttle and go.
From a day out to the photo set
Vespini wants to introduce as many people as possible to the classic Vespa, so the scooters aren’t only for sale: they’re for rent too. A day out, a weekend away, a sightseeing ride on your own.
Then there’s a second channel, and it’s growing: events. Weddings, corporate dinners, parties, fashion shows, product launches, photo shoots, brand activations. A classic Vespa parked in a courtyard does what no set design can do, it brings in an Italian atmosphere you recognise at first glance.
And it can be customised: decals, flowers, branding, colour accents. Every scooter becomes a one-off built around the style of the event.
Those who’d rather keep one can buy a fully restored classic Vespa, with or without the electric drivetrain. Or bring in their own and have it restored and converted.
A family business with a mission
What started as a shared passion between father and son became a profession with a stated goal: keeping a piece of Italian heritage alive.
“You don’t buy or rent a classic Vespa just to get from A to B” says Charles. “It’s about the experience, the look, the feeling the scooter gives you. We make sure that feeling will still be there twenty years from now.”
What it means to us
Vespini (vespini.nl) is one of Retrokit’s official representatives in the Netherlands. It brings our type-approved electric kit into the Dutch community of classic Vespa enthusiasts, alongside its own restoration and rental services.
For us it counts for two reasons.
First, because rental is a test as tough as a tour: machines handed every day to different people, many of whom have never ridden a Vespa, that have to go out and come back without surprises.
Second, because it shows that the value of a Retrokit experience is universal. Anyone who rides a restored classic Vespa comes back excited about it, whether they’re in Italy, in the Netherlands or anywhere else in the world.
