My story and passion

Discover the driving forces behind The SL Forum and the personal journey that led to this digital museum filled with unique lighting. Learn more about the fascination and the growth of a remarkable collection.

The fascination for lighting

Hello, i'm Mack Koudijzer, the builder of this site.

I have been fascinated by infrastructure and streetscapes since childhood, and in recent years, that interest has focused specifically on street lighting and lamps. What started with just a few CFLs and incandescent bulbs has grown into a fairly large collection, at least, as much as fits in the attic!, featuring streetlights, gas lamps, and, of course, the iconic SL lamps.

The start of a unique collection

Early on in my collecting hobby, I came across the ‘jam jar lamp’ (as we call it in the Netherlands), on the internet: the ''Philips SL* lamp''. It took a long time to actually get my hands on one, as I wasn't buying things online yet due to my young age at the time. Once I did start buying online, however, the real adventure began, not just with the SL lamps, but with the rest of my collection as well. In addition, collecting has also created new contacts, who are not only collectors to me, but some also became friends.

Sharing information

With The SL Forum, I hope to provide visitors with informative and detailed information specifically about these types of lamps. My goal is to offer a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in the history, development, and technology of the Philips SL* and similar electronic energy-saving lamps.