At least in the UK, you can get decent enough bikes from Decathlon for about £300 (including our 20% tax). Double that and you'll open up a lot of options, including entry-level Dutch bikes.

I rode a £250 Triban in London for 7 years until I sold it recently for an e-bike. It's not handmade, but it's a solid bicycle. I did have to upgrade the tyres to Schwalbe Marathon Plus, though, to stop the punctures.