the Netherlands
Date of Issue: 9th May 2025
one stamp (International 1 value = 1.90 €)
this stamp is issued in a mini-sheet of 6 stamps
One of the most famous archaeological finds in our country is the 8.5 cm fibula of Dorestad. The cloak pin was made around 800 AD. In 1969, the fibula was found in a well from the time of Dorestad, where Wijk bij Duurstede is now located. During the reign of Charlemagne of the Franks (768-814), Dorestad was the largest and richest trading city in the Netherlands. The golden fibula is inlaid with various colours of glass, gemstones of almandine, pearls, and enamel. Over time, some stones have disappeared, as has the pin on the back. Various shapes can be recognised in the inlay work, such as crosses, volutes, and a small tree with leaves and fruits. The crosses of the gemstones and pearls probably indicate that the brooch was worn as subtle propaganda for the increasingly popular Christianity in the Netherlands. Round fibulae were mainly worn by ladies, and especially high-ranking ladies promoted the new faith. The style of the fibula of Dorestad is that of ecclesiastical goldsmithing, made in Burgundian workshops from the time of Charlemagne. The fibula, one of the masterpieces of the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, is included in the Canon of the Netherlands under the theme Charlemagne.
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