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PW Akkerman Pen shop in The Hague, Netherlands is located in The Passage. The Passage is a street made into a mall and covered with a high glass roof. The Passage was created in 1885 and PW Akkerman opened his pen shop in 1910. Another PW Akkerman shop located in Amsterdam was sold off and is not connected with the original shop. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PW%20Akkerman%20The%20Passage_zpscfvl3eek.jpg http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PW%20Akkerman%20Storefront_zpswd3p71qf.jpg The front windows at PW Akkerman would fascinate anyone with an interest in fountain pens. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PW%20Akkerman%20display%202_zpsbmynyfah.jpg http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PW%20Akkerman%20display%201_zpstibnej8s.jpg Inside, the shop offers fountain pens, a variety of inks, and a small collection of notepads, note books and quality paper. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PK%20Akkerman%20Shop%20scene%202_zpsos1tcdnf.jpg There is a display of old fountain pen inks and bottles. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKA%20Ink%20Shelves_zpszskg5v5c.jpg http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKA%20Vintage%20Ink%20Display_zpsc2fh32mg.jpg Of special interest are the proprietary PW Akkerman inks. The inks come in a special bottle with two chambers and a glass ball stopper. One can invert the bottle to pour ink into the upper chamber then return the bottle to an upright position. The glass marble drops into place and retains ink in the small upper chamber of the bottle to facilitate drawing the ink into a fountain pen. The inks come in a variety of colors. Purchasers are cautioned that the house brand ink is well saturated and inclined to dry if stored in a fountain pen for long. So, use of the ink in an easily rinsed pen, such as a fountain pen with a removable converter, is recommended. The Akkerman ink costs 15 Euros (currently $16.71 USD). Purchased from the store in quantities of 5 bottles, the per bottle cost with shipping is a bit over $21. The same ink is available from US Internet pen shops for $30. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PK%20Akkerman%20Ink%20Display_zpstysde4cd.jpg The shop deals exclusively in new pens and offers a wide variety of Monte Blanc, Pelikan, Waterman, Cross, and Visconte pens including specimens from current and some past special editions. There are smaller collections of other fountain pen brands. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PW%20Akkerman%20sales%20counter_zpsmdch9wdy.jpg Photos of the store owners 1910 to 2010 hang over the Monte Blanc Display. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PK%20Akkerman%20Shop%20scene%201_zpssabl9ddx.jpg There are also some beautiful lacquered pens on display. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKW%20Painted%20Pens_zps8ptgw0an.jpg My favorite among the lacquered pens were these Romanov pens. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKA%20Rominoffs%201_zpsx5rowgcd.jpg The most interesting pen I saw was this Dupont “Shoot the Moon” fountain pen that looks like a cannon. With the available pen stand it would be impressive on one’s desk. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKA%20Cannon%20Pen_zpsez5m4c7r.jpg One needs souvenirs from a vacation. Mine from this trip are a special edition Vibrant Blue Pelikan M805 with silver trim and bottles of PW Akkerman ink in Shocking Blue and Bekakt Haags, a dark brown. http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m326/PatientType/Pen%20Shops/PKA%20What%20I%20Bought_zpszcggaccz.jpg