Flowerbikeman leaves Amsterdam after over two decades

Warren Gregory, the 55-year-old artist known across Amsterdam as Flowerbikeman, is leaving the Netherlands with his wife Michelle on 6 October. The immigration service IND ruled that he can no longer stay, forcing him to return to his home state of Florida after 22 years in the city.

Gregory became widely recognised for riding around Amsterdam on bicycles completely covered in flowers. He created the bikes to bring more colour to the canals, gradually becoming a familiar presence on the streets.

Immigration detention and residency issues

Police detained Gregory in early August, though the specific reason for the initial stop is not clear. Authorities discovered that he lacked a valid residence permit, and the IND stated that he could not demonstrate sufficient means of financial support.

The lack of an official residential address proved decisive in his case. Gregory lived with his wife on a boat in Amsterdam-Noord and explained that he could never afford to register a formal address, despite having a citizen service number, a bank account and documented work.

The IND placed Gregory in immigration detention due to the combination of having no registered address, no residence permit and a prior failure to comply with reporting requirements. He has since been released to prepare for his departure.

Concerns over healthcare

Gregory expressed concern about how the relocation will affect his wife, who has epilepsy. He also suffers from back problems and noted that healthcare is much better organised in the Netherlands than in the United States.

Despite the outcome, Gregory acknowledged that officials had repeatedly given him time to sort out his paperwork. He said he felt sad and ashamed that he was unable to secure his status and remain in the city.

Source: AT5