Smoking became common in The Netherlands as a result of trade with the West Indies. The Jan Steen illustrations of typical chaotic households were well known and eventually came to be used to poke fun at excessive tidiness.A round pewter ashtray with a scene from a Jan Steen interior in the centre bowl section. 4 cigarette resting places are round the outside edge.The outside edge is decorated with scroll type engravings. A pewter manufacturer's mark is impressed on the reverse side of the bowl.

Pewter spoon on wooden frame. Saint Peter figure top of handle, crossed keys below. Spoon bowl shows market scene with dentist.

Handknitted multicoloured woollen mittens with Scandinavian pattern.

The Schimmelpenninck factory stood in Wageningen until it finally closed in 2000. The Schimmelpenninck brand started in 1924 when two brothers and an uncle merged their cigar factories into one company. It was called after Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck, raadspensionaris (kind of a prime minister) of the Batavian Republic in 1805-1806. The tobacco industry has a long history in this town; in the 17th century one fifth of all arable land around the town was used for tobacco. Originally used in pipes and as snuff, the popularity of cigars in the 19th century led to a large expansion of the Dutch tobacco industry. The Schimmelpenninck factory was at its largest just before World war II, 700 employees produced 32 million cigars. Wageningen was heavily damaged during operation Market Garden in 1944, the whole population was evacuated and most of the machines of the Schimmelpenninck factory were stolen or destroyed. After the war, consumption of cigars was much reduced and the firm slowly merged with others. Eventually they became part of Rothmans.This box and the brand name Schimmelpenninck represent several periods of Dutch history between the time of the Republic and the post WWII years. Cigar smoking was very popular in the Netherlands pre-war but less so in the second half of the 20th century partly due to a growing awareness of tobacco's carciogenic properties.Large flat wooden box designed to hold 78 cigars. The lid is attached with brass hinges and two brass clasps enable it to be closed. A large red label with silver script and illustrations is attached to both the outside and the inside of the lid.Schimmelpenninck. Hollands Finest Cigars

Yellow-painted wooden clogs.

These white clogs were worn by women in the Dutch dance group De Tukkers.

2 circular embroidered badges each depicting a male and female member of the Dutch folk dancing group The Tukkers.

The book commemorates the opening of the Afsluitdijk in 1932. Shutting off the North Sea created the IJsselmeer and connected the provinces of North Holland and Friesland. It has remained an essential traffic artery every since.The book records the cultural, economic and social impact of the Afsluitdijk on the Netherlands. A 56page rectanguar book commemorating the opening of the Afsluitdijk. The cover is of thick card while within the pages of text are illustrated with black and white photographs.Originally owned and eventually deregistered by "De Utrechtse Openbare Bibliotheek" (Utrecht Public Library). Another stamp. "Filiaal Elinkwijk" shows it was used by the library branch in Elinkwijk. Full title is "Vijfentwintig Jaar Afsluitdijk". Authors and illustrators are B. Den Oudsten en P.Terpstra with an introduction by the Queen's representative in Friesland, Mr.H.P.Linthorst Homan. Publisher is Algmeen Publiciteit Kantoor, Oosterkade 20b, Leeuwarden.

Historical Study of the development of regional clothing for men, women and children in the Bunschoten area from the 18th century onwards. With the many illustrations it forms a valuable record of a slowly dying local custom.A hard cover well-illustrated book containing details of the regional dress of three villages on the one-time IJsselmeer.Historie en ontwikkeling van de klederdracht van Bunschoten, Spakenburg en Eemdijk.

Although this publication has no date it is obviously from the 2nd half of the 20th century and put together by the local historic society in an effort to record certain traditions and promote the local area. It is aimed at visiting tourists and includes maps with walk and cycle routes.A colourful 32pp booklet published as extra-edition of the historic Bunschoten periodical 'Bunscote'.Names of the editing team, co-ordinator, graphic artist and printer are all recorded.

84pp booklet; regular publication of the Bunschoten Historic Society. It has a coloured cover; photos inside are in black and whitel20e jaargang nr.2, april 1999. (20th edition, no.2, Aprill 1999).