The raincoat

The raincoat

Series: Old junk

05-09-2025 · Background

Raincoat: a garment to protect the wearer from rain, according to the Dutch dictionary. We’ve had one hanging in a dark cupboard for years, waiting for a proper downpour – and a good story.

In films and comic strips, after all, the raincoat (usually brown and knee-length) often serves as the unofficial uniform of journalists, thrown on as they dash off in pursuit of a scoop, notepad in hand. The last person to wear this particular coat was our seasoned editor Wammes Bos. When he retired, he left behind the coat, along with boxes full of notes and papers – silent witnesses to countless stories. “What are we going to do with these?” we often exclaim when opening the cupboard and watching the dust swirl around. The coat has since become the butt of many jokes (as well as a magnet for moths), but we can’t bring ourselves to throw it away. It would be like discarding a piece of our rich history. But don’t worry – we’ll keep writing those stories, rain or shine, with or without the raincoat. For now, it will continue to hang there, waiting for the rain and a new pair of shoulders to fill it. Anyone in need of a garment to protect them from the upcoming wet Dutch autumn is more than welcome to come and take it – though I’d recommend giving it a wash before wearing it.

Lost and found

Every week, Observant dusts off an object that’s been lying around the office for years, if not decades. If you’d like to give one a new home, feel free to drop by or send us an email.

Photo: Observant

Tags: raincoat, instagram, old junk, office, lost and found, 50 years, 50yearsUM

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