War troubles in Schiedam

On November 30, 1938, the city post agency on Beijerlandschestraat in Schiedam, which had existed since February 16, 1931, was closed. A new post agency was opened on Wilhelminaplein on December 1, 1938. On December 1, 1938, the postal agent was provided with a date stamp, an office name stamp, and a wax seal. During the war years, the following newspaper report appeared in the Schiedam daily newspapers on May 16, 1942: 'In connection with a directive from higher authorities to change the names of several streets, the Mayor has determined that the Wilhelminahaven shall henceforth be called Admiraal de Ruyterhaven; Wilhelminaplein becomes Rockanjeplein; Wilhelminastraat becomes Rockanjestraat; Julianapark becomes Emmapark and Julianalaan becomes Emmalaan'. The German occupiers prohibited the use of names of living members of the Royal Family. For Schiedam, the measure meant that the post office on Wilhelminaplein was renamed Rockanjeplein. A month later, the postal agent received a new date stamp and a new office name stamp. The name 'Wilhelminaplein' was, however, restored, as stated in the stamp book. The old stamps were put back into use, according to the letter from the director of the Schiedam post office dated May 16, 1945. The 1938 date stamp remained in service until 1969, when it was replaced by a new one. On December 31, 1979, the Schiedam-Wilhelminaplein city post agency was closed and replaced by a branch post office with a forward-facing counter. Do you perhaps also know of street names that were changed by order of the German occupier, requiring the stamps of a post agency or branch post office to be adjusted?

3 comments

  1. Another nice piece, Cees.

    I found the following via kranten.kb.nl:

    In *Het Vaderland* of February 27, 1942, it is stated that the mayor of Den Bosch ordered the name of Julianaplein to be changed to Prins Mauritsplein and Prins Bernhardtstraat to Maire Verheyenstraat.

  2. I took another look at what was in the newspaper in 1942 (kranten.kb.nl) regarding the changing of Julianastraat to another name.

    I came across:
    Zwijndrecht, Haarlem, Halfweg, Rijswijk, The Hague, Voorburg, Eindhoven and Tegelen.

    There must undoubtedly have been more.

  3. Dear Mr. Jansen.
    I would like to take the liberty of asking you something: is the list of Long Bar Stamps in the latest Netherlands catalogue complete? And is the file specifically available for download or purchase somewhere?
    Thank you very much in advance for your efforts.
    With best regards
    Bernardus Tabbernee Rotterdam Zevenkamp

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