Karel Paap
Karel Paap | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 18 March 1960 |
| Occupations | Used-car dealer, garage owner, business owner |
| Known for | Owner of Paaprijk |
| Criminal charges | Reckless driving, excessive speeding |
| Criminal penalty | Driving licence confiscated |
| Spouse | Married |
| Children | 4 |
Karel Paap (born 18 March 1960) is a Dutch used-car dealer, garage owner and business owner from Spijkenisse, Netherlands. He is the owner of Paaprijk, which became the largest used-car dealership in Vriendendam by 2026. The company is located in the north of the city at Vriendstraat 32A, near the Schroeter Museum.
Early life
[edit | edit source]Karel Paap was born in Spijkenisse on 18 March 1960. He grew up around illegal street racing and became known in local racing circles for driving modified second-hand cars on public roads. In 1998, he was stopped by police after driving 130 km/h through a residential area in Spijkenisse. His driving licence was confiscated after the offence, ending his regular involvement in illegal street racing. He retrieved his licence in 1999 after the driving ban connected to the case ended.
Career
[edit | edit source]In 2000, Paap moved to Vriendendam and opened Paaprijk at Vriendstraat 32A in the northern part of the city, close to the Schroeter Museum. He created the name Paaprijk when the business was still a garage for servicing and repairing cars.
Paaprijk first handled maintenance, repairs, tyre changes, brake work and vehicle inspections for local car owners. Paap also bought damaged and neglected second-hand cars, repaired them through the garage and kept some of them for later resale.
In 2009, Paaprijk began selling used cars as a regular part of the business. The company sold trade-in vehicles, repaired cars from the garage and second-hand cars bought from outside Vriendendam. Paap handled the buying and sales himself, while the garage continued to service vehicles for customers.
During the 2010s, Paaprijk became one of the main places in Vriendendam for used family cars, vans and older luxury cars. By 2026, it was the largest used-car dealership in Vriendendam and still operated from Vriendstraat 32A with both vehicle sales and garage services.
Personal life
[edit | edit source]Karel Paap lives in a house on the outskirts of Vriendendam. He is married and has four children.