The Story behind Celtic Webmerchant

About Us

Our expertise

Celtic WebMerchant is a leading European specialist in historical reconstructions, authentic replica’s, re-enactment, LARP and professional costuming. With nearly 20 years of experience, we support:

  • Film productions and theatre projects
  • Museums and living history exhibitions
  • Governments and event organisations
  • Hundreds of thousands of private customers worldwide

Our stylists and historians provide museum-quality outfits, historical reconstructions and complete character kits, from medieval warriors to early modern outfits and fantasy characters. Every project is carried out with the utmost care and historical accuracy.


Reliability & transparency

At Celtic WebMerchant, we combine passion with professionalism:

  • Fully legal and registered company: Chamber of Commerce 87703211, VAT NL864375803B01, EORI NL864375803
  • International presence: 15 webshops in Europe and worldwide
  • Transparent and honest team: Our employees, models and temporary staff are always paid fairly.
  • Inclusive and diverse: Three quarters of our team is neurodiverse, with special attention to people with ADHD and autism.


View our portfolio featuring collaborations with museums, film productions and organisations worldwide.

The Celtic WebMerchant team

Everyone at Celtic WebMerchant shares a deep passion for history, fantasy and creative expression. Our team combines expertise in historical accuracy, production and styling, with a love for LARP, re-enactment, cosplay and fantasy. We support you in bringing your story to life with knowledge, precision and respect for tradition.

Our organisation & international position

Celtic WebMerchant is based in the Netherlands and has a physical showroom and warehouse in Sliedrecht. From here, we serve customers throughout Europe and beyond on a daily basis.

We ship worldwide and regularly deliver to countries such as France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Poland, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Within four days, we ship medium to 29 different countries.

Where many historical webshops started as a hobby, we chose a professional business structure from the outset. This means scalable logistics, established partnerships with international carriers, and an organisation designed for continuity and reliability.

Logistics & capacity

Logistics & capacity

We maintain a large in-house inventory, distributed across multiple warehouse locations in the same region. This enables us to process between 600 and 700 parcels daily and ship until late in the evening.

We work with international carriers and are fully familiar with European logistics networks and sorting centres. 

For specific product groups, such as edged weapons, we work with specialised shipping partners. For the United Kingdom, for example, we have developed specific logistics solutions in cooperation with UPS, aligned with the applicable regulations after Brexit.

Expertise in European legislation

We specialise in weapons legislation within Europe. Our assortment is actively adjusted to basic of national regulations. This allows customers in Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom, among others, to order safely and in compliance with the law. Payment platforms, banks, and insurance companies also assess us as a reliable partner within this complex product category.

Team & expertise

Our team consists of seven permanent staff members with backgrounds in reenactment, LARP, historical study, and craftsmanship.

We understand the cultural and historical value of our products. Whether a customer wants to reconstruct historically accurately or shape a fantasy character, we support this with subject-matter knowledge.

Through our blogs, community pagess, and knowledge articles, we actively share historical context. We do not view our products as fashion items, but as carriers of cultural heritage.

Community & impact

Without specialised suppliers, a shortage of authentic material arises for historical representations. This was visible, for example, in the United Kingdom in the first years after Brexit, when the availability of historical material declined sharply.

We make cultural heritage accessible and affordable for a broad public. For many people, reenactment and historical identity are not a hobby, but a lifestyle connected to family history, social activities, and sometimes religious traditions.

Customers & trust

  • Each year we serve tens of thousands of customers. In total, we have already successfully processed several hundred thousand orders.

  • Our loyalty programme The Tribe has more than 80,000 members. Our newsletter has more than 150,000 subscribers.

  • We work with various governments and departments within the European Union and the United Kingdom, as well as with museums, associations, and cultural institutions.

  • Celtic WebMerchant was founded in 2006 in the Netherlands, based on a clear vision: to make historical replicass and reenactment equipment professional and accessible to a broad public. Whereas many providers in this niche began as hobby projects, from the outset we chose a structured and scalable business operation.

  • The foundation took place during a period in which the European reenactment and LARP community was growing strongly. Yet the supply was fragmented and logistically limited. We saw that there was a need for a reliable supplier with fixed inventory, fast shipping, and substantive knowledge of historical context.

Our foundation (2006)

Since 2006, we have invested in our own stock, international logistics partnerships, and specialist knowledge of European legislation concerning weapons and replicas. This combination of passion and professional organisation has enabled us to grow into an established player within the European market.

What began as a clear ambition has, in nearly twenty years, grown into an organisation that dispatches hundreds of parcels daily to customers throughout Europe. Our Dutch basic still forms the heart of our operation.

Company details:

Celtic WebMerchant BV
Marisstraat 8a
3364 AZ Sliedrecht
Netherlands

VAT number: NL864375803B01
EORI number: NL864375803
Chamber of Commerce number: 87703211

Customer reviews and trust

Our customers’ experiences form the basic of everything we do. With tens of thousands of verified reviews on independent platforms, Celtic WebMerchant has grown into a trusted partner for reenactors, museums, film productions, and historical enthusiasts worldwide.

We are rated with:

  • 9.2 / 10 on WebwinkelKeur — based on more than 20,000 verified reviews
  • 9.2 / 10 on Google Reviews — based on more than 1,000 customer reviews
  • 9.0 / 10 on Trustpilot — based on more than 450 independent reviews

These ratings reflect our ongoing commitment to quality, historical accuracy, and reliable service. Our customers range from individual reenactors and LARP players to museums, educational institutions, film productions, and event organisers throughout Europe and beyond.

View our full reviews on WebwinkelKeur, Google and Trustpilot, or read customer experiences directly on our product pages.

Our mission

At Celtic WebMerchant, we believe that a person without history is like a tree without roots. By understanding our past, we can enrich our modern lives, be more creative, and live with greater purpose and meaning. LARP, reenactment, living history, cosplay, and fantasy offer an escape from the routine of modern life – a chance to reconnect with the way our ancestors lived. These activities bring us closer to stories, ancient traditions, and nature, and encourage creativity and self-expression.

World-building and mythical stories have been part of human culture for centuries. Our ancestors created myths and legends, from the Edda to Beowulf, to understand their world. Today, we continue these traditions in fantasy, role-playing games, and historical recreations, where historical accuracy and creative freedom go hand in hand.

Why we are #HistoryRebels

We combine historical expertise with creative freedom. At Celtic WebMerchant, we offer everything you need to bring your story to life – from historical replicas and museum-quality outfits to fantasy accessories and LARP costumes. Anyone can shape their own character, whether you have studied Viking history in depth or want to create your own interpretation of a character.

Join more than 80,000 History Rebels worldwide who have already started their journey!

Our core values

  • Strength

    Be inspired by the resilience of your ancestors and use their perseverance as a source of your own strength and courage.

  • Live more slowly & return to nature

    Through LARP, reenactment, and historical reconstructions, you rediscover the rhythms of the past and the connection with nature.

  • Freedom

    We believe in the freedom to be who you want to be. Embrace your creativity and write your own story.

  • Meaning

    Finding meaning and purpose is essential. Our products and expertise help you create a story that gives meaning to your hobby and life.

  • Depth

    Leather about your ancestors and connect with like-minded people to build real, meaningful connections.

Join the #HistoryRebels

Whether you are a historical reenactor, LARP player, fantasy enthusiast, or museum professional: at Celtic WebMerchant you will find everything you need to shape your character and story. Discover our portfolio, explore our historical reconstructions and fantasy collections, and begin your journey as a #HistoryRebel today!

Meet the founders

In this video, Patrick, Nienke, and Judith explain how Celtic Webmerchant came into being. What started as a shared passion for history and craftsmanship grew into an international brand with a strong community. In the interview, they take you back to the beginning and offer a look behind the scenes.

Patrick Gilbers – CEO & Creative Director, Celtic WebMerchant

Patrick Gilbers is the founder and CEO of Celtic WebMerchant, where he also serves as Creative and Artistic Director. With nearly twenty years of experience in historical research and cultural living history, he leads the team in developing high-quality historical weapons, LARP gear, and reenactment products. Driven by a passion for heritage, community values, and respect for ancestors, Patrick is committed to an authentic experience and an engaged global community of like-minded people. His leadership combines expertise in historical accuracy with a deeply rooted commitment to quality, sustainability, and customer trust.

Nienke Valk – CFO & Marketing Director, Celtic WebMerchant

Nienke Valk is CFO of Celtic WebMerchant and is responsible for finance, marketing, and customer experience. With a multidisciplinary academic background in art history and Middle Eastern Studies (MA, University of Amsterdam), she brings both in-depth historical knowledge and strategic leadership to the company.

Her expertise in historical manuscripts, medieval and post-medieval codices, and material culture supports the development of authentic products for LARP, reenactment, and cosplay. She has also worked with historical manuscripts at the John Rylands Library in Manchester. Since 2022, she has led Celtic WebMerchant BV and InterCeltic BV as General Director, combining academic accuracy with international e-commerce experience and customer-focused strategies.

Nienke has knowledge of several modern and classical languages, enabling her to connect a global community of customers and those interested in history.

View publications

Judith Schoen – Commercial Director, Technical Director & HR Director

Judith Schoen is co-founder and director at Celtic WebMerchant, responsible for sales, webshop management, IT, and staff development. She combines strategic leadership with operational expertise, ensuring that the webshop and IT systems function optimally while fostering a strong, engaged company culture.

With an academic background in Celtic Studies and Medieval, Ancient and Renaissance Studies (MA, Utrecht University), Judith has in-depth knowledge of historical cultures and medieval literature. Her research and publications, such as Orcain catrach Mael Milscothaig, support the development of authentic historical and fantasy‑products for LARP, reenactment, and cosplay.

Thanks to her multilingualism and international experience, Judith is able to connect with and support a global community of customers and those interested in history. Under her leadership, Celtic WebMerchant remains a reliable European specialist in historical reconstructions, reenactment, LARP, and professional costuming.

View publications