Flowerbikeman leaves Amsterdam after 22 years

Artist Warren Gregory, known across Amsterdam as Flowerbikeman, is leaving the Netherlands on 6 October to return to his home state of Florida. The 55-year-old was told by the immigration service IND that he can no longer remain in the country after 22 years.

Gregory gained local fame for creating bicycles covered entirely in flowers and riding them along the canals. He described his departure alongside his wife Michelle as inevitable after authorities confirmed they must leave next month.

Immigration detention and residency issues

Police detained Gregory in early August, which led to the discovery that he lacked a valid residence permit. The IND stated that he could not demonstrate sufficient means of support and had failed to meet a previous reporting requirement.

Gregory explained that his legal difficulties stemmed largely from never having an official residential registration address.

Although he held a citizen service number, maintained a bank account, and paid taxes on all his work, he could not afford a registered address while living on a houseboat in Noord.

The combination of no official address, the absence of a residence permit, and the missed reporting requirement led authorities to place him in immigration detention. He was subsequently released, but his departure from the Netherlands remains mandatory.

Healthcare concerns ahead of departure

Gregory expressed deep concern about what moving back to the United States will mean for his wife, who suffers from epilepsy. He also deals with back issues, noting that medical care is far better organized in the Netherlands than in America.

Despite the outcome, Gregory acknowledged that officials gave him multiple chances over time to put his paperwork in order. Even so, having to pack up his life has left him feeling saddened, ashamed, and as though he failed to take care of himself.

Source: AT5