Dossche Sport is one of the symbols of Ghent’s rich cycling heritage — a business rooted in professional racing history, family tradition, and nearly a century of dedication to the bicycle culture of the city.

Date: 2015 & 2025
Info: Founded in 1932, Dossche Sport Bicycles has been part of Ghent’s cycling culture for more than 90 years. What is now known as a trusted independent bicycle shop began with the story of former professional cyclist Aimé Dossche, whose passion for racing evolved into a lifelong dedication to bicycles and the local cycling community.

Before opening the shop near the Dampoort district, Aimé Dossche (1902–1985) built a career as a Belgian professional cyclist. Between 1924 and 1932, he competed at the highest level of the sport, including appearances in the Tour de France, where he claimed two stage victories. After retiring from competitive racing, he turned his experience and love for cycling into a family business that would span generations.

In a modest terraced house located on the “little island” between Antwerpsesteenweg and Pilorijnstraat, Dossche established his bicycle shop, which quickly became a familiar name among cyclists in Ghent. Over the decades, the business expanded beyond retail and repairs. During the 1950s and 1960s, Dossche Sport also became known as a Belgian bicycle marque and as the sponsor of a professional cycling team that carried the family name from 1932 until 1966.

Aimé Dossche with his wife and three daughters, who began working in the family business as teenagers *— © FVV*

The company remained a true family business throughout its history. In the 1950s, Aimé’s daughters took over daily operations, and later the third generation continued the tradition through grandson Karel Verlinden. Through changing times and evolving cycling trends, the shop maintained its reputation for bicycle expertise, repairs, and quality cycling equipment.

Around 2022, coinciding with the shop’s 90th anniversary, the historic corner property underwent a major redevelopment. The original building was replaced by a modern mixed-use project featuring a renewed bicycle shop at street level, eleven apartments above, and an underground parking garage. Although the Dossche Sport name continues to live on, some historic elements disappeared during the renovation, including the iconic original façade logo, which was replaced by a more contemporary window sticker.