door Between 1941 and 1945, identity cards (persoonsbewijzen) were issued which everyone aged 15 and over was required to carry. The identity card was provided with a passport photograph, a fingerprint, and an identity card stamp. There were five different identity card stamps: free of charge, 25 cents, 50 cents, 1 guilder, and 2 guilders.
The identity card bears a letter (the first letter of the place of issue), a serial number within that letter, and a six-digit document number.
In addition to the identity card stamp, from 1944 onwards a control stamp may also have been affixed for the second distribution registration card.
In rare cases, a fire brigade stamp (Netherlands Fire Brigade) was also affixed. This served to demonstrate that the holder was permitted to be outdoors during curfew hours. The fire brigade stamp exists in three colours: blue for municipal and forest fire brigades, green for industrial fire brigades, and light brown for professional fire brigades and the state fire brigade police.
The stamps were announced in the Nederlandsch Algemeen Politieblad of 24 April 1943. The notice was also published in the journal De Nederlandsche Politie, issued by the Kameradschapsbond der Nederlandsche Politie, The Hague, on 15 May 1943. In the same publication of 1 October 1943, it is further stated that the fire brigade stamp also entitled the holder to be outdoors during air-raid warnings, provided this was in the execution of fire brigade duties.
In the Sheraton & Peel auction of 25 April, an example is offered (lot 6009) from Warffum (W14), with an identity card stamp of 1 guilder and a blue fire brigade stamp.
