No athletes in the Hoogeveen sports hall this weekend, but about two thousand collectors’ card enthusiasts. At Drenthe’s first card fair, collectors, players and fans of all ages come together to buy, sell and exchange cards.
Pokémon is one of the best-known card games for the layman, but it is more than that.
According to organizer Michael Steenbergen, there has been a demand for a special card fair in the north for some time. “There are these types of fairs throughout the Netherlands, but for people from the north it is often a long journey,” he says. “And many fairs mainly focus on Pokémon. Here we show that there are many more card games.”
Yet Pokémon remains the big crowd puller. That is not surprising, because the popular card game has existed for thirty years this year.
Visitors walk between the dozens of stands with folders full of maps under their arms. One of them is Marion from Leeuwarden. She has been collecting Pokémon cards for years and is currently looking for older copies.
“I have a folder full of Pokémon cards, some of them are more than twenty years old. I like to complete things and collect entire series together.”
That search yields results. “I have already spent more than 300 euros today,” she laughs. “But I also found a card from a rare set. That is really my favorite, you will find treasures here.”
For visitor Dennie from Dedemsvaart, a fair is the ideal place to view maps and have a chat with people who have the same hobby. “You’ll be surprised, but Pokémon players are quite social,” he jokes. He is not a fan of ordering these types of tickets online, which is why this fair is a solution. “Here you can clearly see what a card is worth and whether there is damage, something you don’t know online.”
Dennie plays at major Pokémon tournaments himself, but also collects cards that he likes. Older cards in particular are becoming increasingly popular. “These cards are becoming scarcer and therefore more expensive.”
Yet he also sees a downside to those rising prices. “I am not a trader myself, but if people only start trading, cards will become increasingly expensive. It must also remain accessible to children. Ultimately, it is a child’s play.”
According to Jos Smeins from a card shop in Groningen, the fair attracts a remarkably broad audience. “You see children who are just starting to collect, but also older children like me who have taken up their hobby again.”
This is also evident at the stock exchange. Some families make a complete day out of it, while other visitors walk in purposefully, buy a few tickets and leave again.
“You have collectors who spend hours looking around,” says Steenbergen. “But also people who know exactly which card they are looking for.”