Akkerman Inks From The Netherlands

[inky]

mac47, very pretty, gorgeous script!

[Scrawler]

Does Akkerman have a store in Amsterdam, also?

The Akkermanns in Amsterdam do not carry the inks. They are only available from the Hague. I sent my friend into Akkermans on a visit to Amsterdam and they looked at him as if he was crazy and claimed no knowledge of these inks. They actually had to do an internet search to find out about it. My friend in Rotterdam sent his daughter, who lives in the Hague to Akkermanns there, to buy some for me. It arrived yesterday. The violet is very wet ink that is suited to the person who writes cursive, quickly and fluently. It is not suited to the slow writer, who pauses over each letter.

 

That's pretty funny since they just had a big article in the current issue of Pen World, including images of that new bottle.

 

No, its not surprising at all, since the two businesses are entirely unrelated. In the mid-1900's, the original store owner opened branches in Utrecht and Amsterdam. The Utrecht branch was eventually sold and renamed, the Amsterdam branch was also sold, but retained the name, however, it is an entirely independent business, more into office supplies than FP's in particular. Today, there is no relationship between the original PW Akkerman Den Haag, and Akkerman office supplies in Amsterdam.

I passed this information on to my friend who has just returned from there and he insists that Akkerman in Amsterdam is not "office supplies". This is his description:

 

"The Akkermans in Amsterdam does not at all look like an office supply store. There are nothing but pens in the store, many of them fountain pens. "

[inky]

Order placed! Now to find a comfy chair for sitting by the mailbox and waiting for the mailman.

[mac47]

Here's the Diep Duinwaterblauw. I can't figure this ink out. Coming out of my Osmiroid italic, it seems neither too wet nor too dry, but just about right. But when loaded into my Parker Latitude (a pen I hate, but it was empty at the time), it writes so wet that I even had oversaturation and bleeding problems (see "θεοὶ" in the writing sample).

 

The color of the ink is also frankly mysterious. I was using a B3 Osmiroid italic nib in an old Esterbrook Dollar Pen, and the ink was looking almost grey. But when I switched to the medium-point Latitude, it appeared to be a much brighter blue. I was so taken aback by this that I went and flushed the first pen and reloaded it. But it looked the same the second time around. The only thing I can think of is that the Latitude is a much wetter writer than the Osmiroid/Estie combination.

 

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k408/mattcolvin47/DiepDuinwaterblauw.jpg

Edited April 2, 2011 by mac47

[Professor Plume]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! I'm now convinced that my vigil by the mailbox somehow slowed my delivery. But when those lovely inks arrived they did not disappoint. I'm now scrutinizing and considering their vibrant turquoise. Keep us posted when your inks arrive. Enjoy!

Order placed! Now to find a comfy chair for sitting by the mailbox and waiting for the mailman.

Edited April 2, 2011 by Professor Plume

[inky]

Nice scan, alas, I had to cut down to 3 and this is the one that I cut -- durn it! I am waiting on 13, 16 and 26. However, I know what will be on my next order.

 

So does it really take about 2 weeks?

[angushunter]

Between the terrific colors, the great Dutch names, and the gorgeous bottle, I'm definitely going to have to figure out how to order some of these inks! Thanks everyone for the scans and reviews.

[Professor Plume]

My order took exactly four weeks but I'm convinced it's because I was perched down in front of the mailbox in my chair. Others report that the delivery time was a speedy two weeks--and that's to the West Coast and the Pacific Northwest. The box was in impeccable order too.

[Professor Plume]

You are most welcome. It was fun!

Between the terrific colors, the great Dutch names, and the gorgeous bottle, I'm definitely going to have to figure out how to order some of these inks! Thanks everyone for the scans and reviews.

[rockspyder]

......I passed this information on to my friend who has just returned from there and he insists that Akkerman in Amsterdam is not "office supplies". This is his description:

 

"The Akkermans in Amsterdam does not at all look like an office supply store. There are nothing but pens in the store, many of them fountain pens. "

:embarrassed_smile: Apologies, then I stand corrected. I have only been to the shop in Den Haag, not to the one in Amsterdam. Someone who was there a few years ago, said, "they have a bigger store, with more office supplies"

Either way, good to know there is another FP store to visit next time in Holland!

 

Back to the inks - next shipment due soon...

[Scrawler]

......I passed this information on to my friend who has just returned from there and he insists that Akkerman in Amsterdam is not "office supplies". This is his description:

 

"The Akkermans in Amsterdam does not at all look like an office supply store. There are nothing but pens in the store, many of them fountain pens. "

:embarrassed_smile: Apologies, then I stand corrected. I have only been to the shop in Den Haag, not to the one in Amsterdam. Someone who was there a few years ago, said, "they have a bigger store, with more office supplies"

Either way, good to know there is another FP store to visit next time in Holland!

 

Back to the inks - next shipment due soon...

If you know any generous millionaires, please ask them to send me one of each bottle.

[Lovesink]

If you know any generous millionaires, please ask them to send me one of each bottle.

:roflmho:

 

I know.... need some fund raising huh?....

 

Edit: forgot to say: wonderful scans, thank you all.

Edited April 2, 2011 by Lovesink

[Scrawler]

If you know any generous millionaires, please ask them to send me one of each bottle.

:roflmho:

 

I know.... need some fund raising huh?....

 

Edit: forgot to say: wonderful scans, thank you all.

Being underemployed really sucks when such an array of liquid jewelry is set out to tease the eye.

[geoduc]

Here's a scan of an ink from my last order, #17 Staten-Generaal Rood. It's a nice red with a just a tinge of pink. This ink actually belongs to my sister - thanks to her for the sample. Written with a Lamy Al-Star, 1.1mm italic nib. Writing excerpt from "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" by Robert Crichton.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5582793501_1f9ac5406d_z.jpg

 

The order that's on the way will have the following inks if anyone is waiting to see scans of them:

 

#11 - Treves-Turquoise

#16 - Oranje Boven

#21 - China Town Red

#25 - Denneweg Groen

#26 - Groenmarkt Smaragd

#28 - Hofkwartier Groen

[Professor Plume]

Lovely color and writing! Thanks and keep us Akkerman fans "posted." You'll really enjoy the Holfkwartier Groen--such a great Spring color.

[Lovesink]

Here's a scan of an ink from my last order, #17 Staten-Generaal Rood. It's a nice red with a just a tinge of pink. This ink actually belongs to my sister - thanks to her for the sample. Written with a Lamy Al-Star, 1.1mm italic nib. Writing excerpt from "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" by Robert Crichton.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5582793501_1f9ac5406d_z.jpg

 

The order that's on the way will have the following inks if anyone is waiting to see scans of them:

 

#11 - Treves-Turquoise

#16 - Oranje Boven

#21 - China Town Red

#25 - Denneweg Groen

#26 - Groenmarkt Smaragd

#28 - Hofkwartier Groen

Thank you Geoduc for the scan. Did you notice that the color matches your avatar??? (At least, on my monitor.....)

[geoduc]

Lovely color and writing! Thanks and keep us Akkerman fans "posted." You'll really enjoy the Holfkwartier Groen--such a great Spring color.

 

Thanks, Professor Plume. I ordered the Holfkwartier Groen because of your scan. My favorite dark green is Sailor tokiwa matsu which has a yellow undertone, so I'm hoping that the Akkerman in will be a lighter complement to it .

 

Thank you Geoduc for the scan. Did you notice that the color matches your avatar??? (At least, on my monitor.....)

 

I did notice that

[THREELETTERS]

oops! double-posted! (see below for actual post)

Edited April 3, 2011 by THREELETTERS

[THREELETTERS]

Anyone about to order #27 Bezuidemwoudgroen?

 

I'd love to see a writing sample of that color! such lovely green!

 

 

 

And I have to echo what Aimsport said about #6 Binnenhof Blues-- how does it compare to BsB?? can somebody do a comparison scan please?

 

My bottles showed up today. It took ten days to ship from the Netherlands to the west coast of the U.S.

 

Here's a scan of the first one loaded; I'll add the others as I get a chance.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5538098233_b934f9f57d_b.jpg

 

Initial impressions are that it is beautiful color with good lubrication and a nice flow on good paper. On cheap paper, it feathers and bleeds (at least with this pen). I'll gain some experience with different pens and a variety of papers, and then will post a full review.

 

How does it look compared to Baystate Blue... because Baystate Blue looks kinda purplish until it dries... hmmmm.

[geoduc]

Anyone about to order #27 Bezuidemwoudgroen?

 

I'd love to see a writing sample of that color! such lovely green!

 

 

 

And I have to echo what Aimsport said about #6 Binnenhof Blues-- how does it compare to BsB?? can somebody do a comparison scan please?

 

Sorry, I don't have any Baystate Blue. If anyone wants a sample of Binnenhof Blues to do a comparison, PM me and I'll send you one (or you can send me a sample of BSB - I'm flexible).