Netherlands Airmail Society ‘De Vliegende Hollander’ (The Flying Dutchman)

For everyone

Who is interested in philately by collecting covers flown with first or special (airmail) flights, or in airmail research (aerophilately)?

Are you looking for airmail covers, airmail stamps or cinderellas related to airmail?

 

‘De Vliegende Hollander’ is the society for collectors of airmail, airmail stamps, special cancellations of airmail, logos, semi-official stamps, postal documents, etc.

 

Founded on 1 January 1936, it is the largest Dutch society specializing in airmail. It is a founding member of the FISA, the International Federation of Aero-philatelic Societies, and a member of the KNBF, the Netherlands federation of philatelic societies.

• ‘De Vliegende Hollander’ promotes the interests of airmail collectors through activities such as:

• the publication of ‘De Aero-Philatelist’, issued 4 x per year, 

• the annual Day of Aerophilately with an aerophilatelic exhibition

• regional meetings in Kudelstaart, Hilversum, Vlissingen and Eindhoven, three to five times a year

• a news service where new airmail covers can be purchased at cost price

• a circulation service: airmail items sent to you at home which can be purchased

• auction sales during the annual general meeting, the Day of Aerophilately, the regional meetings and also auctions offered in our journal

• the publication of our airmail catalogue of The Netherlands and Overseas Territories

• publications on airmail and aviation in general

• the library, being integrated in the library of the KNBF at Baarn

• website: www.devliegendehollander.online

 

What is aerophilately?

First of all, it is a hobby – pleasant, interesting and instructive.

Aerophilately is a branch of philately. Aerophilatelists collect covers, postcards etc., which have been conveyed by air through the Post, most often by plane but also by airships (zeppelins). Collecting airmail stamps is also part of the hobby. A well-organised collection can present a clear view of the development of certain aspects of air mail. Most aerophilatelists specialise in particular subjects: selected routes or carriers, zeppelin mail, mail from the pioneering days, or – on the contrary – air mail from our own time.

In our catalogue one can find the official definition and description of what we consider to be aerophilately. Whatever subject you choose, you will be sure that you will find the development of your hobby very enjoyable and interesting. Our society, with about 350 members, will be pleased to assist you. It is a member of the worldwide organisation for airmail, the FISA. The collecting of airmail from other countries is also a hobby of many of our members. We can offer suggestions for contacts abroad in the form of correspondence, excursions and participation in exhibitions abroad.

 

Membership

Membership fees are € 25,00 a year (for The Netherlands), and € 30,00 for other countries. To become a member and join the society you just have to fill in the application form and send it to the address on the form.

 

Our quarterly magazine ‘De Aero-Philatelist’ (A4, full color)

This magazine is published four times a year. It has articles on airmail, information about the news service, auctions (membership required), the (regional) meetings of the society, and much more. The subscription fee is included in the membership.

 

National and regional meetings

The Annual General meeting will be held in April or May. There is a formal meeting with agenda, a lunch for members and their partners, and always an auction. A highlight every year is the autumn meeting in October/November, on a Saturday and Sunday, with an official exhibition. Members and colleagues from sister societies can exhibit their airmail collection(s). Traders are present and there is always an interesting auction.

The Netherlands Society has regional branches: Kudelstaart (Amsterdam), Hilversum, Vlissingen and Eindhoven. The bigger ones meet five times a year, the smaller ones two or three times. Every member of the Society may attend all meetings. There are always meetings or presentations by members and auctions. Information about the meetings can be found in our journal.

 

Auctions

Each year we have three general auctions during the annual general meeting and the autumn weekend with auctions as published in our journal. There is an auction at every regional meeting. Participation in the auctions is reserved for our members. Bids in writing (by post or e-mail) can be sent by members who are not able to attend in person. The Auction Commissioner judges all handed-in items, decides about the quality of the material and sets the opening bid. He has the authority to refuse unsuitable items. All auctions are published on the internet.

 

The airmail catalogue

Our new, fully revised, A5 sized, full color, 688 pages thick catalogue has just been issued in March 2012. It has chapters on airmail in/from/to The Netherlands, in/from/to the former Netherlands East Indies and Dutch New Guinea, in/from/to the West Indies and Surinam, crash mail, emergency mail (ice and snow mails), helicopter mails, catapult mails, zeppelin mails, balloon mails and special covers of all Days of Aerophilately.

The catalogue price is  € 25. For postal delivery within The Netherlands we charge € 4.