door On 28 April 1912, the international football match between the Netherlands and Belgium was played in Dordrecht, at the D.F.C. ground. The Netherlands won 4–3.
The well-known Rotterdam chocolate manufacturer A. Driessen, who was renowned for his innovative marketing campaigns, had the idea of arranging a demonstration flight from Dordrecht to Rotterdam after the match.
Postmark Rotterdam, 29-4-1913
Mail could also be carried on the flight, provided it was sufficiently franked and bore a special – free-of-charge – airmail stamp, after which it would be posted in Rotterdam.
Zutphensche Courant 26-4-1912
It was made clear from the outset that the flight would only take place if the weather conditions were favourable. Unfortunately, the weather was not good enough.
The flight was to be piloted by Jan, also known as Joseph, van Bussel. He was a German who was actually named Joseph Maurer, but used the name Van Bussel in the Netherlands.
In September 1910, three Rotterdammers purchased a Blériot aeroplane and Joseph van Bussel was engaged as the pilot. At that time he did not yet hold a pilot’s licence, but this did not concern the three financial backers. He eventually obtained his Dutch pilot’s licence in 1911. In November 1911, the Rotterdamsche Vliegmaatschappij went bankrupt. The company was relaunched, and in January 1912 demonstration flights with Van Bussel resumed. In September 1912, the Blériot was destroyed by fire.
The flight therefore did not take place because of the weather conditions. The mail, bearing A. Driessen’s special airmail stamp, was taken to Rotterdam, where it was posted, cancelled and sent on to the addressee. The words “NIET / kunnen doorgaan” (“Unable to take place”) were overprinted in red on the cards.
