It’s been lots of fun again. For the 18th time Wilbert Slooijer on Saturday organized the yearly “Royals Verzamelbeurs” in Nijverdal. Being the only collectors fair within reach of Groningen – just 1 1/2 hours by train – it is the one I try to attend yearly. I think I have been to at least half of the 18 fairs. Had to skip last year’s, but I made it this year.
What to find? Honestly it is a lovely gathering of collectors of royal ephemera, mostly Dutch, but there are always items from other royal houses. You just have to search. I had sold a few royal tins online via the Koninklijke Verkoophoek on Facebook, as I am trying to downsize my collection a bit – my house is just far too small – and took them with me for their new owners. It is always great meeting other collectors, talk about royalty and buy stuff.
I wasn’t planning to buy much, but as usually I didn’t fully succeed. I had pre-bought a fridge magnet of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and two CDs featuring Pieter van Vollenhoven, the husband of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands. Furthermore I picked up the postcards from photographer Albert Nieboer that I subscribe to. And a lovely magazine with photos of Palace Huis ten Bosch and this year’s photo session too. He also sells them online at his Royal Webshop. So if you’re a collector, I’d say: have a look.
The local tv-channel RTV Oost made a nice report that was put online on Saturday evening. Somewhere in the beginning I can be seen in the background in a bright blue coat.
Other collectors fair websites: