Flowerbikeman returns to Florida after 20 years in Amsterdam: "Sad, ashamed and failed"
Warren Gregory, known as the Flowerbikeman, is leaving the Netherlands after twenty years to return to Florida following issues with his residence status. The artist, who became a well-known figure for his floral-decorated bicycles in Amsterdam, was forced to depart after failing to meet immigration requirements including the lack of a registered address.
Warren Gregory, the 55-year-old artist widely recognized as the Flowerbikeman for his floral-adorned bicycles, is set to leave the Netherlands on October 6. After two decades of living in Amsterdam, the American native is returning to Florida following an immigration dispute. Gregory was detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) in August, primarily due to his lack of a valid residence permit and the absence of a registered home address. Although he has lived and worked legally in the city, he could not meet the formal requirements to stay.
Gregory, who currently resides on a houseboat in Amsterdam-Noord with his wife Michelle, expressed deep sadness and a sense of personal failure regarding his departure. He is particularly concerned about the transition to the United States, citing superior healthcare services in the Netherlands as vital for his wife, who suffers from epilepsy, and for his own ongoing back issues. Despite his disappointment, the artist acknowledged that the authorities granted him several opportunities to rectify his situation before ultimately ordering his departure.
Based on reporting by rss. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
