My name is Bram Simons, an art historian with a broad interest ranging from medieval altarpieces to twentieth-century sculptures. I am particularly fascinated by Dutch wooden toys from the period 1915-1940. As an avid collector of ado toys — the most attractive wooden toys of that era — I encountered a problem a few years ago – space. What started as a modest collection of cars from a 2014 auction in Utrecht has now grown into a sizable collection that occupies three showcases in a GP practice in Amsterdam. To overcome the limitations of physical space, I decided to create an online overview.

Three key factors greatly influenced the development of this website. Firstly, the sad passing of Herman uit de Bosch, the creator of www.adospeelgoed.eu, resulted in the halt of updates on his valuable website. Secondly, I had the pleasure of connecting with Jaap Goslings, a fellow ado toy collector, who was immediately enthusiastic about my idea for this website and generously offered to contribute photographs from his own collection. Lastly, through extensive research, archival work, and interviews, I came across new information about ado and other toy manufacturers. Naturally, I am eager to share this knowledge, and this website serves as an ideal platform for that!