Our Story

Morgenster Vaessen

A Family Legacy Since 1900

The store in Heerlen in 1950

Our story begins in 1900 on my great-grandfather’s farm.


Stephanus Vaessen, born in 1883 in Voerendaal, was the farmer’s son who preferred fine mechanics over heavy farm work. Recognizing his talent, his parents encouraged him to start a small watch repair workshop and gold & silversmith studio in the upstairs room of the "Morgenster" farm, located on the border of Heerlen and Voerendaal.

This is where the Vaessen family’s journey as jewelers began – a passion that has now been passed down through four generations.

In 1915, Stephanus moved to the center of Heerlen and opened a shop in Oranje Nassaustraat, selling pocket watches and jewelry. Heerlen was booming at the time, attracting workers from all over the world for the State Mines. That same year, Stephanus married Josephine Frank, and together they had four children.

After the war, their son Winandus Vaessen took over the business. Stephanus, a self-taught watchmaker, had trained him carefully before the Second World War. Winandus married Gerrie Frijns, and together they had three children.

A group of people, including women and men, are standing together inside a clock shop with numerous wall clocks displayed behind them. The group appears to be posing for a photo, with some holding flowers. The shop has a decorated interior with plants and flowers.
An old black and white photo of a brick building with a storefront on the ground floor. The store is named 'S. VAESS' with large display windows and a family of three standing outside, including a man, a woman, and a child.
Vintage advertisement for S. Vaessen, Heerlen jewelry and watch shop, with decorative border and details in Dutch.
A black and white photo of a street at night decorated with string lights overhead. There are buildings with illuminated signs and a clock visible on the right side of the street.
A black-and-white photo of five men in suits having a conversation at an event or gathering. They are indoors, and two are holding glasses of wine. There are display cases and shelves in the background with a sign above that says 'Van Vaessen Juweliers Heerlen'.
A young girl feeding a parrot held by a man in a suit inside a room with a birdcage, a lamp, and furniture.
Black and white photo of a multi-story corner building with multiple windows, retail shops on the ground floor, and leafless trees in the foreground.

His second child Stephanus, my father, took over the shop in 1972.
He had completed the Durch Jeweler school in Schoonhoven and had gained experience at a number of jewelers in the Netherlands.
Steph quickly realized that it was wise to distinguish yourself as a jeweler. He traveled to international fairs in Switzerland, Italy and France.
At that time it was not normal for a jeweler to sell branded products, but to distinguish himself from the 15 other jewelers in Heerlen,
Steph was the first in the Netherlands to include Cartier and Chopard in the collection (we still sell Chopard today).

In 2000, Steph expanded the store and received the designation by appointment to her majesty the queen.
 
In 2017, Servaas Vaessen my brother took over the store from my father and I started a new adventure with my father "Morgenster Vintage Watches & Jewelry".
Morgenster gives us the opportunity to express our passion for beautiful jewelery and watches.

Jewelery and watches are emotion, they are given at moments that mark an important moment in their lives for many people.
 The collection of watches and jewelery that we have selected all have a unique but often beautiful story.

We look forward to welcoming you in one of our stores in Heerlen or Maastricht.

Morgenster Vaessen BV