About me

Hi there, welcome to my website!

I’m the little fella on the right in this picture. Well, I was. This picture was taken in 1953, so I’m somewhat older now 😉. I’m sitting in the train next to my brother, reading a freshly issued Donald Duck. I grew up with him in The Hague, just behind the infamous prison where the Germans had locked up members of the local resistance. Our parental home was located just behind the dunes of the North Sea.

I spent my youth playing outside in the dunes, where just a few years earlier, the Germans had built a military defense line. The area was still littered with remnants from those days—helmets, grenades, clothing, cutlery, and other items the soldiers used. I remember even throwing rocks at a sea mine that had washed ashore until the local police furiously pulled us away (and probably saved our lives). We spent our years and played our games in the bunkers. There was no television, internet, or mobile phones.

This experience has impacted my whole life. I started collecting original items from the Second World War, wanting to understand what had happened just before I was born, as the shadow of the war was still all around us.

Fast forward to now. I have spent 60 years collecting items and learning about the war. Each item opened up a new piece of history, and I kept learning. I spoke to people who had played an active part in the war, either on the ‘wrong’ or ‘good’ side.

Now the time has come to sell my collection and recover my investment. So this is not a website who will stay around for a long time ;). In the mean time, enjoy scrolling through my collection to complete yours. There are truely unique items that I could only buy because I have done it throughout all my life. And reach out to me if you are searching for something in particular.

* I would like to emphasize that I have no affinity for National Socialism or other extremist political ideologies in any way *

contact@originalww2collectibles.com
Amsterdam, the Netherlands