Dice

by Hans Konijn

04873b Dice

Over the years, countless souvenirs have been created for tourists. Often kitschy, useless objects, but fun to take home and/or give away. However, as these objects grow older, the interest in acquiring them increases. Many people collect these trinkets, and sometimes a significant amount must be paid for them—often many times the original purchase price. The museum also possesses a collection of souvenirs. One of these is this box of dice, presumably from the 1930s. People could pass the time by playing dice, a pastime that, given the wear and tear on the interior, was used passionately and undoubtedly with much pleasure. The background is a beach scene that also appears on postcards. Actually, the box is very relevant today. People are (out of necessity) playing games again, and dice is one of them. But even more so, it has something nostalgic about it. Zandvoort is not Zandvoort. We miss the bustle, the conviviality, and the tourists. The sun is shining brightly, but the beaches are empty. Will it ever be like it was then? No one knows. Fortunately, we still have the souvenirs.