Cigars for Ed van Thijn

A special gift

In diplomacy, visits are always well prepared. The staff always asks what the person in question likes to do. When it came to their attention that mayor Van Thijn liked to smoke a cigar, the choice was made. A box was made of heavy teak wood, artfully carved in a kerf-cutting technique. The mayor's name was engraved in the lid. The contents consist of cigars in various lengths, made in Yogyakarta in the factory that was originally founded in 1919 by a cigar factory from Eindhoven. Each cigar is engraved with the text Especially Blended and Handrolled for Ed van Thijn. You can't imagine it being more personal!

Unfortunately, the cigars were not entirely to Ed's taste; he preferred to stick to his own brand. That is why the box is still complete with all the cigars in it, except for one. A beautiful memory of a characterful Amsterdam mayor!

Ed's widow recently donated the cigar box to the pipe museum.

The chest will be on display at the Amsterdam Pipe Museum from June 2 to August 3 as part of the city's 750th anniversary.