Lommel (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Housekeepers of Het Poetsbureau in Lommel got e-bike lessons from Sven Nys. The Glow Cycling Academy’s 4th session trains staff for safer mobility, ending in Ostend on September 19, 2025.
As VRT News reported, housekeepers of Het Poetsbureau in Lommel followed cycling lessons today, Sep 5, 2025, from former cyclocross world champion Sven Nys. The training was organized in the parking area of De Soeverein, where staff members learned how to ride electric bicycles in a safe way.
“We noticed that housekeepers sometimes had difficulty getting to their clients,”
says co-CEO Jo Mellemans.
“That’s why we’re now also offering cycling training. I think we’re one of the few employers who give their employees a free e-bike.”
What does Het Poetsbureau’s e-bike training in Lommel achieve?
Nys explained that an e-bike requires different handling compared to a regular bicycle and that proper training is essential.
“This is not a sports lesson but one that can increase safety in everyday situations,”
he said.
By combining sustainable transport with training support, Het Poetsbureau mentioned its plan to invest in both ecological solutions and its workers.
“Especially those who have never cycled before: they leave here with a smile on their face.”
Sven Nys
In Lommel, housekeepers of Het Poetsbureau received cycling lessons from former cyclocross champion Sven Nys. Some participants had never used a bicycle before and began with basic balance training.
Nys lowered the saddle so their feet could touch the ground and asked them to scoot forward until they could control. According to Nys, the program is especially meaningful for first-time riders, who leave the sessions with confidence and a positive experience.
Among the participants was Sabine, a cleaning lady with almost 15 years of service in the sector. She joined the session with enthusiasm and practiced cycling alongside her colleagues. After the edition in Lommel, the Glow Cycling Academy will travel to Ostend, where the closing training will take place on September 19, 2025.
“I already knew how to ride a bike, but an e-bike requires a bit more skill. I wanted to practice my skills. I’m really surprised by what I learned today and very glad I came,”
Sabina said.
Het Poetsbureau started the Glow Cycling Academy in 2023 as part of a broader plan to improve mobility and wellbeing for its staff. The company, which has thousands of housekeepers on payroll in Flanders and Limburg, have provided their workers with free electric bicycles, and will give them professional training, to ensure that their employees can cycle safely in traffic. Cycling lessons have been organised in Mechelen, Aalst, and Heverlee in 2023 and 2024, and it is the 4th edition, which took place in Lommel.
