Over ons
On the banks of the old Rhine in Leiden lies an industrial warehouse from the 1950s. In this hall, Mark Kneppers (Wipneus & Pim, Kraak en Smaak) began selling second-hand records. Not for commercial reasons, but because his own collection had simply become too large to keep himself. However, collecting collections is Mark's specialty, so the sales increased, and more people joined in. In the beginning, the warehouse was known as De Overrijn, open to other enthusiasts, but due to the growth of the company, the focus is now entirely on shipping the records. The records are all thoroughly inspected, cleaned, and cataloged. A craft that not just anyone can perform.
In De Overrijn, other creatives also reside, making music, repairing pianos, working with wood, and creating visual art. For example, Kraak & Smaak also have their studio there. One of them was Bas van der Krogt, who, besides his job as a marketing manager for companies like Intersport, also makes music in a studio at De Overrijn. 25 years ago, Bas started The Music Safe, an online store for CDs. When Bas saw the work Mark was doing with his second-hand records, he thought time had stood still. He offered Mark his help to bring it into the 21st century.
Lianne Desmet was asked to get the financial administration in order and to think about how the activities could be further expanded. Separating the wheat from the chaff in record collections, cataloging properly, and being able to answer questions about them is a kind of craft, and the term Vinyleer was coined for the craftsman.
A Vinyleer helps you discover the story of the record itself by indicating what the record has been through and where it comes from. The Vinyleer also ensures that the record reaches you in its best condition by cleaning it and packaging it well.
Vinyleers consists of a team of people who are crazy about records and are always busy with them. They like to explain what makes a record special and can help you make the right choice. The current offer is a little more than 130,000 albums, and daily record enthusiasts around the world try to reduce this collection. However, it is a Sisyphean task because many collectors know where to find Mark to sell their own collection. In those collections, there are regularly very special records that the Vinyleers recognize through their experience. Not only rare records that are so coveted that they fetch hundreds of euros but also records that 'just' tell a unique story and are interesting in themselves. For instance, there is a record of a Leiden opera company that was made in a very small edition but also a black metal record that changed hands for €1,300. Other items are also regularly found, such as old magazines and occasionally a love letter, because that's what a lot of music is ultimately about. Every record at Vinyleers already has its own story, and they invite you to search the shop for the record with which you can create your own story or revive old stories.
