From ancient cave paintings to contemporary art, humans have always chased beauty. Science says our brains love symmetry, contrast, and clarity, but let’s be honest, we didn’t even need a study to figure that out. A well-trained eye can tell when something just looks right. This article takes a closer look at an ink bottle design born in 1930, one that has become something of a cult classic among writing aficionados. I’ve always valued practicality when it comes to ink, but this bottle offered something different — a design detail, a silhouette, a function — that quietly drew me in.
Born in The Hague
P.W. Akkerman opened its doors in 1910 in The Hague, and over the decades, became a beloved institution among lovers of fine writing instruments. But in 1930, the shop unveiled something quietly revolutionary. At a time when most ink bottles followed the same basic form, Akkerman introduced a design that was anything but ordinary: a long-necked bottle with a clever internal reservoir. It was elegant, efficient, and unmistakably Dutch: a design that combined form with function, solving the problem of filling pens with minimal waste or mess. What began as a practical invention soon became a design icon, celebrated not just for how it worked, but for how it looked and how long it lasted.
The unique bottle design was patented in the early 1930s, a time when practicality was not just appreciated, it was essential. The world was recovering from a financial crisis, and households across Europe, including in the Netherlands, were finding clever ways to stretch resources and minimize waste.
Dutch Design, Down to the Last Drop
The genius of the Akkerman bottle lies in its marble reservoir system. A glass marble sits inside the neck of the bottle, allowing you to invert it and trap ink in the narrow upper chamber. This makes it easy to refill even the shortest nibs, no matter how low the ink level gets. It’s a small detail, but one of a genius.
More than a clever quirk, this bottle taps into something unmistakably Dutch: a deep, almost compulsive need to make things work smarter— and waste nothing. This is a country that stole land back from the sea, designed flood defenses that put most nations to shame, and made cycling look cooler than driving. Efficiency isn’t just a virtue in the Netherlands, it’s pretty much a national identity, I’d say. So it’s no surprise that the Akkerman bottle, with its clever long neck and zero-waste philosophy, feels like a tiny glass tribute to that same Dutch way of doing things. And now, really, why throw away ink when you can use every last drop?
A Collector’s Gem
Today, the bottle remains virtually unchanged from its original 1930s form, and for good reason: it still works brilliantly. Its iconic, utilitarian shape has earned it a cult status among fountain pen enthusiasts, transforming it into a true collector’s item. With over 30 rich ink colors available, it’s almost impossible not to find one that suits your taste.
Whether displayed as a quiet trophy or used to the last drop, this bottle belongs in every serious collector’s repertoire, not just for its unique design, but for the heritage and ingenuity behind it. Call me old-fashioned, and maybe I am, but there’s something both nostalgic and remarkable about owning a piece of design that was created nearly a century ago and is still in production today.
The Akkerman ink bottle is available for €21,50 at akkermandenhaag.nl.