Trip to Ypres (Ieper)

[Mikey25]

I visited the town of Ypres (Ieper) today. Been reading about some small souvenir shops selling WWI ordnance.

It was pretty disappointing. Only 3 stores sold ordnance.

One store was closed. Another sold WWI memorabilia at "normal collector" prices. The last one sold mostly relics and had some really cheap stuff, which I guess was ok (friendly shop owner BTW).

Wasn't really worth the 200 mile drive. If you plan to visit Belgium and hope to see some ordnance, visit a big fair instead of these shops.

 

[Mikey25]

Some more.

 

[dano1917]

nice stuff

Oh man, I would drive 200 miles in a heartbeat to find a shop selling relic WW1 grenades and fuzes. Great pictures, thanks for sharing...Dano

 

[staples57]

Mikey25... Thanks for the photos!

Fantastic shops! Like Dan, I also would drive 200+ miles to visit shops like that. Relics and artifacts that "were there" are a weakness of mine!!!

Our best Military Show wouldn't have a tenth of what you saw in those shops.

Ypres (Ieper) is definitely on my list of places to visit.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[Mikey25]

That friendly shop owner told me he had different stuff every week.
fi He just sold out all his German egg grenades. Wanted to get one.

There's stuff being found every day (!) in that area: Relics that end up at the dump, in the shops, or on the internet.



To give you an idea: On picture 7 you see a box with fuzes. That's where I found that German Dopp. Z. 92.n.F. Fuze.
Any item in that box was 7 euros - 9,51 usd.

 

[MissingSomething]

Oh man, I would drive 200 miles in a heartbeat to find a shop selling relic WW1 grenades and fuzes. Great pictures, thanks for sharing...Dano

+1.. so would I... I guess being in North America...we dont see that much stuff.... Thats a gold mine.... I would be there for days :tinysmile_eyebrow_t

Thanks for the pictures (wipes drool)...

 

[dano1917]

+1.. so would I... I guess being in North America...we dont see that much stuff.... Thats a gold mine.... I would be there for days :tinysmile_eyebrow_t

Thanks for the pictures (wipes drool)...

Having never had the opportunity to rummage through boxes like that I could only imagine. Craig, I think I would go up north, pick you up plus drive the 200 miles. I want to relocate to Belgium or somewhere in Europe...Dano

 

[US-Subs]

Be aware that a lot of live stuff sneaks in and is commonly sold at both these shops and especially at the shows. Buying and transporting is technically illegal, both in Belgium and its neighboring countries. It has happened several times where a show takes place and foreign license plates are recorded, the cars are then pulled over and searched at the borders. A couple of years ago a major licensed collector in the NL had his vehicle and materials seized at the border and held for many months, even though he was vindicated as licensed and fully legal in the end. He was never reimbursed for the loss of his vehicle for that time, nor for the damage when they ripped out the interior searching. Many collectors were caught in the same sting, even one government official.

 

[Millsman]

I thought the selection in those shops was excellent and well worth the drive. When you consider the costs of running a shop in a busy tourist and commercial town I thought the price quoted was excellent and lower than you get at many military fairs.

Last time I visited Ypres there didn't seem to be any shops selling relics like that apart from one half bookshop half trench art shop. Looks like the locals have moved with the times.

Regarding US Subs comments I've never heard of such surveillance taking place and at all the Bourse aux Armes I've visited parking is often dispersed around side streets, and in big exhibition centres like Amiens other events take place at the same time (last time a circus was on as well) and parking is all mixed up. I'm sure the Police would be taken to task if they ripped apart a car for someone who have visited a Cheese tasting.

I have of course heard of people being stopped and cars searched but these have mainly been dealers who have come back with highly loaded estate cars where large amounts of ordnance and relics have been clearly visible.

John

 

[US-Subs]

I'm sure some of the Dutch collectors can inform you of their experiences. It has happened numerous times, and I know several folks that were affected. Do as you will, but be aware of which laws you are breaking in each of the countries you pass through. Make your decisions based on solid information.

I have been in shops in France that were also selling ordnance. We were under French Government escort at the time, and they were explaining the laws to us, pointing out numerous violations and describing the penalties for each. Of course it is much easier for law enforcement to target out-of-country license plates for these offenses. It hasn't stopped me from collecting, but I try to understand the rules in advance, when you see the flashing colored lights its a little late.

 

[Mikey25]

I'm sure some of the Dutch collectors can inform you of their experiences. It has happened numerous times, and I know several folks that were affected. Do as you will, but be aware of which laws you are breaking in each of the countries you pass through. Make your decisions based on solid information.

Who are you talking to? And, I'm missing the point. What are you trying to say?

 

[CampX]

A 200 mile drive is not bad..I flew there last May from Toronto Ontario..about 5000 kms!!
One of the fellows that owns a shop is From Ontario..very friendly and he had some neat stuff.
I am looking forward to going again..perhaps next year.

Dean

 

[Mikey25]

A 200 mile drive is not bad..I flew there last May from Toronto Ontario..about 5000 kms!!
One of the fellows that owns a shop is From Ontario..very friendly and he had some neat stuff.
I am looking forward to going again..perhaps next year.

Dean

Is that the store with the Vickers in the window?

 

[Millsman]

I'm sure some of the Dutch collectors can inform you of their experiences. QUOTE]

Yes but the Netherlands are not the whole of Europe and in most cases the authorities will look kindly on collectors and traders but crack down on people with metal detectors or those caught with live ordnance and rightly so. I know many collectors in the UK who have never had a single problem moving stuff around Europe.

John

 

[jerseymic]

Hi Guys,
Being a newcomer to collecting, and this excellent forum, this thread is very helpful and informative.
Keep up the good work.

Best wishes,

Mike.

 

[Mikey25]

I'm sure some of the Dutch collectors can inform you of their experiences. QUOTE]

Yes but the Netherlands are not the whole of Europe and in most cases the authorities will look kindly on collectors and traders but crack down on people with metal detectors or those caught with live ordnance and rightly so. I know many collectors in the UK who have never had a single problem moving stuff around Europe.

John

I agree John. Couldn't agree more.

years ago a major licensed collector in the NL had his vehicle and materials seized at the border and held for many months, even though he was vindicated as licensed and fully legal in the end.

Everything he had and did was legal, yet "they" claimed it was not? You can't fight the government.. It's like that, deal with it. It can happen to all of us.

I'm tired and sick of people posting these messages. These things happen. It's like that when you collect ordnance. Some times you win, some times you lose.

 

[US-Subs]

All I'm saying is that the laws vary from country to country, be aware of what the law is, not what you got away with last time you visited. Then make your own decision. My point is not that sometimes you win or lose, its that you should know the rules before you decide to play the game. Just because you see something for sale in a roadside shop does not mean that it is legal, nor that you can cross borders with it without fear of penalties if you are caught.

Collecting in the NL (as only one example) is tightly regulated, posession of any inert ordnance items without license is considered serious and may be met with the full force of the law. There are procedures for persons who want to legally bring things in or out for shows etc, but law enforcement expects the procedures to be followed. There are rules in other countries as well, whether you know people that have gotten away with it or not. I'm not saying live in fear or preaching horror stories, I'm saying learn about what you are doing, then make educated decisions. There is a difference.

 

[millsbomber]

Hi every one, having done the Europe to England run for many years my advice is only buy in Belgium, make sure the item strips completly and transport that way and most of all dont go through France, come back via Ostend.

 

[paul the grenade]

well i think i would have gladly driven 200 miles for the 4 fairly rare Newton Pippin hand grenades in the blue box.
paul.

I visited the town of Ypres (Ieper) today. Been reading about some small souvenir shops selling WWI ordnance.

It was pretty disappointing. Only 3 stores sold ordnance.

One store was closed. Another sold WWI memorabilia at "normal collector" prices. The last one sold mostly relics and had some really cheap stuff, which I guess was ok (friendly shop owner BTW).

Wasn't really worth the 200 mile drive. If you plan to visit Belgium and hope to see some ordnance, visit a big fair instead of these shops.

 

[Mikey25]

well i think i would have gladly driven 200 miles for the 4 fairly rare Newton Pippin hand grenades in the blue box.
paul.

Had them in my hands. They were in not so good shape. I do think they were cheap.