About us

Sometimes we make beautiful plans in life. Some unfold just as we hoped, while others take an unexpected turn. The real art lies in not getting stuck in what goes wrong, but in finding a new way forward — learning to row with the oars you have, no matter how challenging that feels.

Below you’ll find the story behind the collection: about ambition, resilience, and how quickly life can change.

Freek
Learn from yesterday, plan for tomorrow, but act today.

Scroll down to discover the story behind the collection.

Where does the love for the stones come from?

The love for stones is something that has always been in my blood. With Swiss roots, the mountains were a part of my childhood. Every year, during family trips, I would roam the slopes and riverbeds, searching for what I proudly called “the most beautiful stones.” Of course, they all had to come back with us to the Netherlands. My father wasn’t thrilled — the car was already overflowing — but after some grumbling, he would eventually give in.

Those early adventures sparked something deeper. As the years passed, collecting turned into a true passion. I started exploring further, searching on a larger scale, following that same fascination that began in the Alps. By the time I met Carla, my house was already filled with treasures — stones from the rugged landscapes of Europe to the warm deserts of the Middle East.

Somewhere along the way, I found myself in Idar-Oberstein — then the beating heart of the gemstone world — learning how to cut and polish stones by hand. It was there that my love for minerals transformed from a hobby into a lifelong journey. What began as a mountain adventure had grown into a lasting devotion to the hidden beauty of the earth.

So how did the collection grow to what it is today?

It really took off after I met Carla. Not because she shared my fascination with rough stones, but because we both had restless souls. Carla chased the perfect photograph, while I hunted for the perfect crystal. Together, we turned curiosity into a way of life.

We crossed almost every corner of Europe and kept going — to Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Tibet, Iceland, Thailand, Israel, Egypt, Morocco, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil — and often more than once. Sometimes we were gone for months, even a full year, traveling in our camper or on a roaring motorcycle, chasing new horizons.

Can you search in mines worldwide then?

Well, you cannot search everywhere yourself. In Europe, we went to many quarries. In the USA there are U-DIGS. In those quarries, you pay an entrance fee and can keep what you find. The nicest is Diamond Crater State Park, where you can still find real diamonds yourself. And you can keep them if you found them yourself. It’s less easy in developing countries. The mines there are often managed by the local people who rightly do not welcome a Westerner rummaging in their quarries. There you have to buy neatly from the miners and pay a fair price. Fair and proper. That has gained us many good friends. Often we were invited for a tour in the mine, tea, food, and sometimes we could stay overnight. Not that we always wanted that last part because luxury and privacy are a bit different in those countries.

How much and what have you collected then?

A lot, very much. The estimate is at least 50,000 pieces in 50 years. So about 1000 a year. In those years, all the material was never really unpacked after arrival but stored in a large shed. The reason was very simple: too busy with other things like work, family, and acquaintances.

What do I have exactly?
Well honestly, I roughly know. Here is a list I can remember now: Agate, Amethyst, Aventurine, Azurite, Rock Crystal, Sodalite, Carnelian, Calcite, Amber, Tiger’s Eye, Rose Quartz, Jet, Tourmaline, Witch’s Agate, Barite, Fluorite, Topaz, Smoky Quartz, Gold, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Double Terminated Crystals, Lemurian Crystals, Chalcedony, Labradorite, Beryl, Aquamarine, Grit, Rhodochrosite, Rhodonite, Las Vigas Amethyst, Lemon Quartz, Sulfur, Cobalt, Malachite, Vanadinite, Spessartine, Galena, Chromite, etc., etc. Big and sometimes very small in the form of micromounts. A page could fill up with that. It’s more that my memory sometimes fails me. But well, that comes with age.

But what were you going to do with it?

Yes, that was a long question. What to do with that enormous collection collecting dust in storage? For a long time, I had no idea. First just keep expanding, the idea would come by itself, I thought. And indeed, one fine summer day, Carla and I knew. When I retired, we would start a kind of Experience museum (small). Carla with her love for beads and my collection would then get their own world in which everyone could get to know two wonderful hobbies. Focused on adults, but especially also on the upcoming generations. Soon there were ideas and dreams more than enough. Not only showing the collection but also giving cutting lessons, identification courses, jewelry courses, and all those fun things everyone can enjoy.

Retirement seemed far away. But that’s not going to happen?

No, unfortunately, it’s not going to happen. A few years ago I was urgently admitted to the hospital. Could hardly speak anymore and saw double. A bizarre experience, and no one knew what was wrong. Many tests followed, each more curious than the last. It was a strange period with many uncertainties. Years before, I was already very tired and often slept. But I also worked a lot and traveled a lot. So maybe a bit overworked was the idea. The neurologist’s diagnosis was different. Eventually, it turned out I have Myasthenia Gravis. A difficult muscle disease that is also incurable. The first year was mainly about trying which medication could control the symptoms. Prednisone proved a harsh experience, even reversing my day and night rhythm. The second year was one of rehabilitation. Now, several years later, it is going a lot better. I have learned to live with it, as they say. But I still often hit limits. Because yes, it is and remains an unpredictable, difficult condition.

And now what next?

Well, that was a difficult one. Carla and I thought for a long time whether it was still wise to set up this Experience museum. Eventually, the decision was made not to do it. Because none of the children have the ambition to further build the collection, a difficult decision was made.

Now selling such a huge collection sounds easier than it is because ideally, you want those “kids” collected with so much love to find a good new home. To do that, this site was created, and during the Corona year we worked hard to set up the mineral inspiration center. A kind of Experience center where you are warmly welcome to get to know the minerals and crystals. And the prices, well, we will figure that out.