Netherlands
Playing cards have been known in the Low Countries since the 14th century
Playing cards have been known in the Low Countries since the 14th century, mostly imported from France or Belgium, but until the 17th century there were few Dutch card makers. An edict from Lyons in 1583 caused many French playing card makers to emigrate so some of them may have arrived in Holland more →
There is also the period of the Spanish Netherlands under King Philip II of Spain when the histories of Spain and the Netherlands were connected more →
During the 17th century, Holland’s so-called Golden Age, Amsterdam witnessed a great blossoming in the manufacture of playing cards and thanks to their steadily increasing production, they were able to capture a significant portion of the European market. In 1662 card makers joined a new guild, together with booksellers, printers and binders. This meant that their interests could be better protected against plagiarism and unfair competition.
Early manufacturers based in Amsterdam at that time include Jean Fouquet, P. Mortier, who also imitated French educational, geographical or satirical packs, J. Gole, Gerard Valk, Carel de Wagenaer and A. de Winter. A number of French card-makers had emigrated to Holland because of the duties imposed at home.
A two-volume “Traité du Jeu” concerning the morality of gaming was published in Amsterdam in 1709 and editions of “Maison des Jeux” (1702) and “Académie des Jeux” (1728) were also published. In the 18th century non-standard pictorial cards were exported to England.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
75: Early American cards
An overview of some of the early cards made in the United States.
Een Kaartspel
Minimalist playing cards from The Netherlands
Specsavers playing cards
to help you see better when playing cards
De Tarot in de herstelde orde
“De Tarot in de herstelde orde” (The Tarot in the restored order) a re-ordered Rider-Waite tarot dec...
Marcel Ruijters Tarots
Two very remarkable tarots by the award winning Dutch cartoonist Marcel Ruijters.
Early German playing cards
Some early examples of popular German playing cards from the XV and XVI centuries.
The Parisian Tarot
The “Parisian Tarot”, early 1600s, with imagery and design synthesizing several influences.
Non-Standard playing cards from The Netherlands
by an unknown maker
Theatre of Pain / Teatr Boli
Theatre of Pain / Teatr boli playing cards depicting politicians and leaders in the Caucasus territo...
Rembrandt playing cards
Rembrandt playing cards published by the Rembrandthuis (The Rembrandt House Museum) in Amsterdam. ...
Lidia Schöffer art-deco playing cards
A prize winning design from The Netherlands
73: Fakes, Forgeries and Tax Evasion
When there are official taxes to pay, people will find a way to avoid paying them - often illegally....
Oude Kunst (Old Art) playing cards with Wüst courts
made for export to the Netherlands.
Dietsche Playing Cards for the Dutch Shipping Company
A beautiful early pack from The Dutch Playing Card factory.
Anonymous pack of Dutch playing cards
produced just after the end of the Second World War.
H.P. Doebele
Artist-designed playing cards produced to demonstrate the quality of a printing technique.
Art Nouveau Whist playing cards from a small Dutch factory
The factory probably only produced playing cards for a few years in the 1920's
Foragers playing cards
Playing cards to help to identify the edible and inedible gifts of nature.
Russian Playing Card History - From the Beginnings to 1917
An in-depth review of the history of card-playing, gambling, legislation, manufacture and taxation o...
Russian Playing Card Monopoly
The Russian Playing Card Monopoly was established in March 1798 with all revenue going to support th...
Trappola cards from Prague
15 Trappola playing cards possibly made by Johann Ziser of Prague, c1760.
Lost Boys
Designs created on the occasion of a chess tournament in Antwerp, 1997.
Dutch Historical playing cards
Advertising for Mopenco, the Dutch Fountain Pen King
Lattmann No.9 playing cards
with illustrated views of Dutch cities on the aces. This pack is for sale or exchange.
Languedoc pattern
The old Languedoc pattern was known at the beginning of the seventeenth century, if not before.
Pierre Roiné Aluette
Archaic form of Aluette published by Pierre Roiné, Nantes, c.1785.
Rapalje
Promotional pack for a Dutch Celtic folk band which performs Irish, Scottish and Dutch folk music, c...
Dutch costume playing cards from an unknown maker
Another pack of Dutch costume playing cards c.1880.
Portuguese-suited cards
Portuguese-suited cards with dragon aces, made in Italy, 1613.
Antoine de Logiriera
Archaic Spanish-suited playing cards published in Toulouse by Antoine de Logiriera (1495-1518).
Dutch costume playing cards
Dutch costume playing cards made for the Dutch market in the second half of the 19th century.
Royal Cards Reign of Queen Anne
“Royal Cards Reign of Queen Anne” cover historical events, both honourable and treacherous, during t...
72: The Ace of Spades
In standard English packs the Ace of Spades is associated with decorative designs. This is a histori...
Dubois
Dubois card makers from Liège in the Walloon Region of Belgium.
Playing Cards: A Secret History
Playing Cards: A Secret History
A. Camoin & Cie
This deck was inherited from ancestors, it has has a family history surrounding it. Details of the l...
History of Playing Cards explained in 5 Minutes
Video by Art of Impossible. In this video you will get a short overview of the most important histor...
Netherlands Kostuum Kwartet
Dutch costumes quartet game designed by Gerard Huijg, 1983.
Nederlands Stedenkwartet
Nederlands Stedenkwartet with heraldic needlepoint patterns by Permin, c.1970.
Toledo, 1584
Archaic Spanish-suited deck with 48 cards made in Toledo in 1584.