Den Oudsten

An example of a standard production model by Den Oudsten; the MB-200

Den Oudsten Bussen B.V. was a Dutch manufacturer of parts and bodyworks for buses. The company was founded in 1926 by a local carriagebuilder Marinus den Oudsten. The company's headquarters was based just outside the city of Woerden. It eventually ceased all activities after it's bankruptcy was declared in 2002.

Ownership of the company was family-based. The company had a profound influence in Holland's public transport from the 1960's up untill the late 1990's. Many older models of Den Oudsten buses that are no longer used in Holland were shipped to other countries, where they can be seen servicing local public transport. They are spotted in as far as Poland, Nigeria, Vietnam, Trinidad and Cuba. Sometimes repainted, while others still wearing the original Dutch advertisement, numberplates or transportemblems

In 1986 the company bought a Canadian busmanufacturer and renamed it into New Flyer Industries Ltd, which later became a leading manufacturer. It also cooperated with Nova Bus Ltd. for the introduction and manufacturing of the low-floor type bus.

The bankruptcy was believed to have been caused by the increasingly competitive market over the years. In the Netherlands, many bus enthusiasts are trying to preserve several of the old models for heritage.