Some thoughts on the Dutch Pen Show 2026
Dear Reader
I cannot believe it has been 6 months since the last blog entry! Time has flown and life outside pens has been busy. Hopefully the excellent post by Thomas of his pen show tour in January has sustained you thus far. The excellent DPS 26 has finally got me the energy and motivation to put my fingers on the keyboard and get writing!
There are many excellent Facebook and instagram posts with videos of the show and pictures of pens. This blog does not seek to replicate those but rather to offer some reflections on my personal experience which might be helpful should anyone decide to make the trip to visit the show in Utrecht (and I wholeheartedly recommend you do).
I really like to travel. Utrecht is an easy show to reach from the UK via Amsterdam. Take a train to Utrecht Centraal from the station at Schiphol Airport, and then a number 20 or 21 tram to the Kanaleneiland Zuid stop, leaving a 2 minute walk to the show hotel. If you are travelling from the U.K. most of the low cost airlines operate flights from regional airports. Bonus! The additional biometric checks I had to do on arrival and departure ran smoothly and quickly.
The pen community is international and shows outside the U.K. are where I get to meet up with pen enthusiasts who reside in Europe and further afield. These are valued friends and fonts of wisdom, including Tom, accompanied by Carla, of Goldfink, Miro of Penkala Pens (watch his pen show videos on YT!) Letizia of Ten Pen, Bluetastic_pens on IG, Nikos Syrigonakis (authority on Japanese vintage pens), Marco Tagliani (original OMAS vendor extraordinaire!), Max of Max Pens, Marco of MS Pens and many more. I also saw a number of the fabulous group of U.K. pen people including one man pen show Sarj , Ray of Vintage and Modern pens, John of Yakida Custom Pens, members the FPUK Facebook group and Thomas Ang, the nib expert who I collaborate with. Always a pleasure, and shows are really about people as well as pens.
The Dutch Pen Show is a large show. There is a huge breadth and depth of everything pen related on show, from the cheapest and newest to the oldest and most expensive. Even if you don’t buy at the show (you really should if you can to support vendors for whom costs can be significant) you get to see, handle (having respectfully asked permission) and discuss pens that may only be available to you via an online vender. The show is enthusiastically run by Joost of Appelboom and a team all of whom are very helpful. My appreciation goes to them all!
Workshops - I did 2 workshops this year and whilst not cheap, I felt they were good value with excellent workshop leaders and loads of stuff included in the price. Everyone attending was friendly and helpful, and I learned a lot. My observation would be that preparation is key to getting the most out of these workshops, so read instructions carefully. Also bear in mind you have to get your haul home and you may have inks and tools to carry…
And a couple of things to be aware of…
One of the big rooms this year was very hot. Shirtsleeves hot even though it was chilly/windy/raining outside. Don’t depend on a jacket with pockets to carry stuff like I did!
Make use of the water pumps. I definitely got a bit dehydrated before I realised I could get glasses of water for free.
Patience - you need a lot of it. On Saturday there was a queue to get in at 11am for the non-VIP ticket (which I had). It was fairly crowded in the rooms and accidental jostling occurred around busy tables for a while, although it was much better Saturday afternoon. Workshops were occasionally slow to start while things got organised. No criticism here, just be aware.
Take breaks - the show can be a bit overwhelming and intense especially if it’s your first time. Having a chat with acquaintances over coffee or grabbing 5 minutes of peace in the fresh air will help you make better pen purchase decisions!
Accept that you are going to have expenses on top of any purchases. The hotel is a little isolated from bars, restaurants and coffee shops so you are likely to spend money at the hotel on refreshments and a room if you are attending both days of the show. Very careful planning is required to mitigate this. To be clear though, the venue is excellent- nicely laid out with table plans available, well lit big pen rooms, nice food and drink, brilliant staff and luxurious bedrooms if you stay. This good stuff does come at a price though.
Be respectful to vendors. There are a few articles around already on pen show etiquette but I’ll add a couple of my personal thoughts. First, if the vendor is busy and you want to look but not buy, come back when it is quieter. Second, ask before you touch and /or dip a pen. Most vendors are fine with this, but It’s just polite to ask first. Remember if you damage a pen or dip a mint unlinked 1950s Montblanc without getting permission first, my view is you have bought it! Third, if the price is a bargain dont haggle - everyone has to make a living. If you think a gentle, polite and respectful negotiation is appropriate then do not offer a silly amount. I have every sympathy with the vendor responding in a fairly curt manner to that approach. Remember especially the used dealers are not big shops, and they probably don’t actually have to sell that pen to hit a sales target! Fourth not everyone wants to be on social media. Ask permission before taking videos or pictures to post. Finally, if you are focussed on used pens, then cash is king!
In conclusion, I throughly enjoyed the show. Fantastic people, brilliant pens, great venue, happy times! Next year I will give more thought to preparation and planning to enhance my experience. Special thanks to John, Sam and Helen for your wonderful and kind company.
Whew! I think that’s it! I hope this blog has been helpful and I look forward to meeting you at a pen show soon!
The line to get in 11am Saturday - it was longer by the time I joined. I am told that the line to get in at 10am was even longer. great to see so many enthusiasts gather together!
You get to see interesting pens in real life….!
Workshops are a great way to learn and meet new people - a lot of fun!