Sommelsdijk, center for the stamp and postmark collector

On April 27, 28, and 29, Sommelsdijk will be the stamp center of the Netherlands. For that is when the National Stamp Exhibition will be held in De Staver. With much to see, much to do, and many dealers offering their stamps and postal items. But is Sommelsdijk itself so interesting for the collector? Certainly for collectors of postmarks! A brief history of the Sommelsdijk postmarks. In 1850, an auxiliary post office was established in Sommelsdijk, which was upgraded to a post office on February 16, 1910. At that time, the post office received two beautiful new stamps of the so-called long bar model. However, they did not enjoy them for long, as on October 1, 1922, the office was downgraded to an auxiliary office. And then one of those stamps, numbered 2, had to be surrendered.    Due to budget cuts, the branch office was closed on November 1, 1928, and replaced by a post agency, which continued to use the stamp from 1910 with number 1 until it was worn out. A new stamp was ordered from the Royal Mint in Utrecht in 1940, and that stamp was delivered on May 8, 1940. Then the war broke out, and the stamp remained unused until things had calmed down somewhat; the stamp was sent to Sommelsdijk on May 15, 1940.   Because the stamp wore out quickly, a new stamp was ordered and put into use on December 31, 1954. The old stamp was destroyed. But the new stamp was stolen on January 13, 1965! The post office was left without a stamp. Temporarily, a Middelharnis date stamp with serial number 3 was used for the missing stamp. As a replacement for the stolen stamp, a new copy with serial number 2 was ordered. This was to enable the rapid identification of any potential misuse of the stolen stamp. The new stamp was received on May 31, 1965, and the Middelharnis stamp was returned. The stamp with number 2 remained in use until June 1, 1977, when the postal agency was closed. In this way, almost every city or village has a piece of history to tell. Stamp collectors can indulge themselves, as there is much to discover in a stamp collection. Curious about the history of 'the post' in your own village or city? Then head to Sommelsdijk, browse through the stamp dealers' boxes, and take a look at those stamps with fresh eyes.