THE DUCH CLAY PIJP

Welcome!

From the early 17th century to the early 20th century, clay pipes were smoked in the Netherlands. Being such a fragile product, we can consider the clay pipe as a disposable item from previous centuries. If you're lucky, you can find them in various places, such as plowed fields, dredged sludge from ditches, land prepared for new construction, old cesspits, excavated earth for sound barriers – in short, anywhere digging takes place, you should keep your eyes peeled. Clay pipes were made in various cities, with Gouda being the most important, but also in places like Gorinchem, Schoonhoven, and Utrecht, large quantities of pipes were produced. Collecting clay pipes is a fun hobby because it allows for research. Based on markings, you can find out who the pipe maker was, or if there is a depiction on the pipe bowl, you can investigate what the meaning of it is. Furthermore, it's an art to accurately date the pipe bowl: when it was made and in which place it was made. I created this site so that everyone can enjoy the beauty of this disposable item from previous centuries. 

This site was launched on 27-04-2004.

Webmaster: Aad Kleijweg