The bicycle in Dutch Philately
In the past, I collected every stamp I came across. As you get older, you give everything away because you think it’s no longer fun. But then the time comes when you start collecting again. Only differently than before. Because my sport is touring cycling, I chose the bicycle theme. That is why I call myself a bicycle philatelist rather than a bicycle philatelist. Today, I am taking you into my collection and showing you the officially issued stamps featuring bicycles.
1958. First Dutch “Bicycle Stamp”, from the series “For the Child” (stamp next to introduction).
1962. Children cycling, from the Children's Stamps series.
1965. In the Summer Stamps series, Cycling through THORN.
1974. Bicycle as scenery for modern ballet. From the Summer Stamps series.
1980. Cycling across the heath. From the Summer Stamps series.
1983. Poststaking
The ANWB was founded on July 1, 1883, by Edo Bergsma and Dirk ter Haar under the name Nederlandsche Vélocipèdisten-Bond on the Maliebaan in Utrecht. At that time, the club had 200 members. Two years later, the name was changed to Algemene Nederlandsche Wielrijders-Bond, from which the abbreviation ANWB originates. Since the association has formally been called a 'tourist association' (1905), the letters ANWB no longer have any meaning. The Royal Dutch Touring Association ANWB is a Dutch traffic, transport, and assistance organization.
1983 – 100 years of ANWB
1988. Bicycles are good for nature and the environment from the Europazegels series.
1991. From the Summer Stamp series: The bicycle of the farm owner's daughter against the fence.
1991. Playing outside. From the Children's Stamps series
1993. 100 years of the RAI Association
1993. 2nd European Youth Olympic Games. In the center of both stamps, in mirror image, the symbol/logo of a cyclist.
ANWB Bewegwijzering manages an extensive database containing information on road signs and intersections. In total, data on approximately 100.000 road signs has been included. Road authorities can now consult this database online for their own management area. At the ANWB, about 70 people work on road signage day in and day out.
1994. 100 years of ANWB signage.
1996. Cycling in nature from the Summer Stamps series
1996. Sports stamps: On the occasion of the start of the Tour de France in 's-Hertogenbosch.
2006. From the series: Children's Stamps. Theme: “Playing children”. Boy in red sweater on a bicycle 4 times.
2008 (75ct) and 2009 (77ct) Priority Europe
Now let’s just hope that the bicycle, so characteristic of the Netherlands, may have a long life on postage stamps. Next week I will show you part 2: the stamps and cancellations from city and regional mail.
See also: fietsminiatuur.punt.nl
'@Jan, what a beautiful overview! I am the daughter of a bicycle wholesaler, so I do have a soft spot for this!
What also strikes me is that there are a great many bicycles on Summer stamps and Children's stamps compared to regular issues.
Jan, what a nice collection. I really didn't know there were so many bicycles on Dutch stamps. And your website at punt.nl is impressive too. Excellent!
Our appreciation for this great overview. We are considering featuring it on our website – the largest cycling website in the Benelux.
Perhaps we can briefly be in touch via email? However, we were unable to find your email address.
Dear Mr. Van Tellingen,
First of all, my compliments on this fine overview. A small addition: Edo Bergsma was very important to the ANWB for a very long time. However, he was not involved in the founding. In fact, he was registered as the association's 92nd member in January 1884. At the time of the founding, Charles Bingham was the leading figure. Nine months after registering as a member, Bergsma was elected chairman – at that time, a chairman was called a 'president'. He would subsequently hold that position for 53 years.
Jan, you are forgetting the “Leiden bicycle”. On the Mooi Leiden sheet (NVPH 2413) we see the leader of the Pilgrim Fathers, Reverend John Robinson, cycling westward towards America. The Pilgrim Fathers were in Leiden from 1609 to 1620 and then left for the USA. Although there were no bicycles at that time, he is sitting on a bike nonetheless. I believe that is called designer's license.
PS: you will also find bicycles on other Mooi Nederland sheets.
I feel honored by these nice reactions, which also show appreciation. I never thought of that when I started my cycling website after retirement, as a new hobby. I am even nominated by fiets.123 as a cycling tip for the month of March. The ANWB was prompted by my response to their response, to improve Wikipedia. What a movement, huh? Lia already wrote to me about that!
On December 30, 2007, I drew the blog readers' attention to the publication of the thematic world catalogue 'Cyclisme & philatelie' (compiled by Piet Hein Hilarides from Leeuwarden), in which 39 Dutch stamps are cited featuring a (partial) image of a bicycle.
This blog article can be easily retrieved via the 'archive' by clicking on 'December 2007'. We wish you much cycling enjoyment while reading the information and viewing the images.
The blog article of July 29, 2007 contains extensive (corrective) information about the bicycle on the 1991 summer stamp (nvph 1468).
Many thanks for this addition 🙂
We are definitely going to supplement this source. As I have told you before
indicated was Edo Bergsma
in 1883 not even a member of the ANWB yet, and also of the name Dirk ter Haar
I have in that regard
never heard of it.
I am sending you the new text, after coordinating with Hans Buiter,
our Association historian.
Kind regards and have a nice weekend!
Herman Hiemstra
ANWB Online
>>> “Jan van Tellingen” 30-01-10 15:52 >>>
Hello Herman,
Here I am again. I asked myself how I acquired the knowledge.
came regarding the founders of the ANWB…… I had to “dig” a bit, but I have it
Found again. See:
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANWB#Geschiedenis
[edit] History
The ANWB was founded on July 1, 1883, by Edo Johannes Bergsma and Dirk
ter Haar under the name Nederlandsche Vélocipèdisten-Bond on the Maliebaan at
Utrecht. The club had 200 members at the time. Two years later, the name became
changed to Algemene Nederlandsche Wielrijders-Bond, where the abbreviation ANWB
where it comes from. Since the association has been formally called the 'Tourist Association' (1905), the letters ANWB no longer have any meaning.
Who is wrong now?? Wikipedia? Probably, I guess! After all, you are from the ANWB, and now there is a trigger with you to update Wikipedia.
Hello Bate,
I have read your corrective information regarding the chain guard on the article with the yellow/ochre seal featuring the two boys on bicycles. However, it is not my article. In my article, I do not intend to point out any potential errors in seals.
I have also heard of the thematic world catalogue 'Cyclisme & philatelie'. In 1982, I even printed the very first typed list of bicycle stamps by Piet Hein and took it to Leeuwarden in an edition (which is no longer known to me).
Thanks, Herman.
Replace the first two sentences of the text for ANWB 100 years. New text:
After a brief preparation, which began on April 22 with a chance meeting between the Haarlemsche Vélocipède-Club and the Haagsche Fietsclub 'De Ooievaar', 25 representatives of 9 velocipedist clubs founded the Nederlandsch Vélocipèdisten-Bond (NVB) on July 1, 1883, at Buitenlust on the Maliebaan in Utrecht.
At that time, people said 'the' Bond because 'Bond' was still seen as a derivation of 'Verbond'. CH Bingham was elected president.
Jan, a nice article, we would like to use this in our association magazine.
“Eemvizier” from the Eemland Stamp Association in Soest; we are doing this with attribution, of course. Hopefully, this is not a problem.
Hello Abbel,
No, that's not a problem! It's actually nice. It was written a while ago.
I would appreciate it if a copy of the “Eemvizier” were sent to me on:
JN van Tellingen, Appelgaard 63, 3962 Wijk bij Duurstede.
Nice, thanks in advance and friendly cycling regards, Jan
I also collected stamps in the past. I still have them.
My first hobby is cycling.
I am also retired and want to start collecting stamps again, with bicycles as the subject.
Could you give me a plan of action on how to get started with this??????????????
Martien van Dooren, I would be happy to share my ideas with you. I suggest you send your email to me: jannora@live.nl . I will then respond.
Kind regards, Jan van Tellingen