World

Dutch WWII Wedding Ring Found After 83 Years by Metal Detectorist

By TOI World Desk

A wedding ring that vanished on a Dutch farm during World War II has been recovered after 83 years. The ring belonged to Jo Nabuurs, who lost it while threshing grain behind his family farm in the village of Odiliapeel in the winter of 1942 or 1943. He searched for it then but never found it. Nabuurs had married in 1941, just a year or two before the loss, and later died without the ring. According to Dutch broadcaster NOS, a man using a metal detector in Odiliapeel discovered the ring about 20 centimetres below the ground. The find was passed to a relative who lives near the former farm, who then informed Jo’s son, Bert Nabuurs, that someone would visit. The finder brought the ring directly to the family. Bert was surprised by the discovery and offered a reward, but the finder declined payment. The ring, still in good condition, bears an engraving of Jo and his wife’s wedding date, confirming its identity. Bert said the family, especially his siblings, were delighted to have the heirloom returned. The ring’s dry storage over the decades helped preserve it. The family is happy to have the ring back, even though Jo is no longer alive to see its return.