Spyker was a Dutch car manufacturer, started in 1880 by coach builders Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker, but to be able to market the brand better in foreign countries, the 'ij' was changed in 1903 into 'y'. They were originally based in Hilversum but in 1898 moved to Trompenburg, Amsterdam.

In 1898 Spyker manufactured the Golden Coach, still in use by the Dutch Queen today.

It was also in 1898 that they started building automobiles and in 1900 put their first models on display, two cylinder 3hp and 5hp similar to the Benz. Four cylinder models were introduced in 1903. In 1907 an 18hp model successfully competed in the Peking to Paris race. Hendrik-Jan Spijker died in 1907 when the ferry he was on when returning from England sank and this loss led to the bankruptcy of the original company. A group of investors bought the company and restarted production but Jacobus Spijker was no longer involved.

Later they also manufactured World War 1 airplanes and aircraft engines. In 1903 the Spyker 60 HP became the world's first ever four-wheel driven car and racer. The 60 HP was also the first ever automobile equipped with a six-cylinder engine and brakes for all four wheels. The 1905 cars featured a round radiator grille which became a feature of many of the pre war cars. In 1913 the company was having financial problems again and in 1915 was taken over by new owners and renamed to Nederlandsche Automobiel en Vliegtuigfabriek Trompenburg (Dutch Car and Aircraft company). Under the new owners the previous complex model range was simplified and a new car, the 13/30 C1 introduced but sales were disappointing.

In 1922 the company was bankrupt again and was acquired by Spyker's distributor in Britain who renamed the company Spyker Automobielfabriek. Production continued and prices dropped but the company continued to decline. Final production was of the C2 two ton truck and the C4 car which lasted until 1926 when funds finally ran out.

It is estimated that total Spyker car production was at most 2000 cars.

In 1999, a new company, Spyker Cars was founded, unrelated to the original company but for the brand name.

September 10, 2006 Spyker Cars announced they are going into F1, after buying the Midland F1 Racing team. The new team was called Spyker MF1 Team for the rest of the 2006 season and will be named simply Spyker F1 from the 2007 onwards.