Citroen wedding car hire

A Citroën with a smile

Citroën is a French brand that has always been known for quirky solutions. Where other brands chose the conventional, Citroën built cars that looked different and drove differently. The best known of them is the 2CV, affectionately called the Lelijke Eend (Ugly Duck) in the Netherlands. It was presented in the late 1940s and built until 1990.

An Eend as a wedding car is not a status symbol and has no wish to be one. It is a choice for a relaxed, personal wedding: a garden party, a farm, a village wedding or a ceremony on a campsite or beach. Guests smile when you arrive, and that is exactly the idea. It works for a city wedding too: the Eend is narrow and nimble, and fits into streets where a large classic car would have to turn back.

Why the 2CV works so well as a wedding car

The 2CV was designed as a simple, affordable car for the French countryside. The story goes that it had to be able to carry a basket of eggs across a ploughed field without breaking a single one. You can still feel that soft suspension: the car sways over speed bumps and leans well over in the corners. You can read more about the model on the page about the Citroën 2CV as a wedding car.

The roll-back roof

Its best-known feature is the canvas roof that you can roll right back. This makes the Eend a kind of convertible with four doors. With the roof open, the bride can sit comfortably even with a tall hairstyle or a veil, and guests see you straight away. If it rains, you simply roll the roof back up.

An Eend with four doors

Despite its small size, the 2CV has four doors and a simple bench seat at the back. The seats are narrow and soft, and the car is taller than you might expect. With a slim dress, getting in is easy. A large ball gown fits as well, but it will fill the whole back seat. With the roof open, the fabric can rise a little without creasing. The front has room for the driver and one passenger, so a witness or photographer can ride along.

Hiring an Eend: what to look out for

The 2CV has a small air-cooled twin-cylinder engine. It is economical and simple, but not fast. It does not feel at home on the motorway, but on a dyke road, polder road or village street it is in its element. So choose a route along quiet roads and allow plenty of time, because overtaking is out of the question and the car slows down on a hill.

There is no air conditioning, but with the roof open and the flap windows up, it is perfectly bearable on a warm day. In cold or wet weather the heating is modest, so a shawl or jacket is far from a luxury.

Self-drive in an Eend takes a little getting used to: the gear lever sticks out of the dashboard and shifts with a push-and-pull movement. Ask the rental company to explain it calmly, and take a trial run beforehand if possible. If you are looking for more cars with the same relaxed character, you will find them among the classic wedding cars and the classic cars as wedding cars.

Decorating is almost a must with an Eend. Flowers along the rolled-up roof, ribbons on the headlights or a sign on the back all suit its cheerful character. Ask the rental company what it allows, and preferably use fixings that leave no marks on the paintwork.