Weapons, stamps with Hitler on it, uniforms, first aid boxes and diaries. It is just a small selection of the things in the museum ‘Somewhere in the Netherlands 1939-1945’ by Erik Zwiggelaar from Emmen. From an early age, Zwiggelaar has been collecting things from the Second World War and he always had the dream of opening his own museum. That dream came true exactly ten years ago.
“I am very happy and proud,” says Zwiggelaar radiantly. He gets flowers, a drink package in a helmet and other gifts. Visitors can not only take a look at the museum, but also search for coins with a metal detector and ride in vehicles from the Second World War.
As a small child, Zwiggelaar was already working on the Second World War. “My parents already took me to places where, for example, bullets were still in the wall or we went to flea markets. My mother loves collecting. My father loved old things. So yes, I am gathering old things now.”
The collection has grown considerably in the last ten years, but of course there are always wishes. “I would really like to add a Dutch uniform of the men to my collection. That is a short wool jacket with woolen pants. Very rare. It is actually impossible to get that.”
Curious about one of the masterpieces from the museum? Then watch the video below: