Founder story of The Silver Mountain

The History of The Silver Mountain: From Pioneer to Market Leader

The history of The Silver Mountain is inextricably linked to the vision of its founder, Rolf van Zanten. In 2008, he launched the first Dutch webshop for silver coins with a clear mission: to make physical silver accessible to the general public. What began as a bold initiative has since grown into the largest online bullion dealer in the Netherlands.

2008: Disrupting the precious metals market

Before the arrival of The Silver Mountain, purchasing physical silver as a private individual was a significant challenge. Investors were forced to rely on a handful of banks that only sold silver bars (taxed at 21% VAT) or traditional auction houses for collectible coins.

As a passionate student of Commercial Economics and a lifelong coin collector, Rolf van Zanten saw an opportunity to disrupt the market. He introduced a strategic investment method: importing silver bullion coins, such as the Canadian Maple Leaf. Because these coins fall under the margin scheme in the Netherlands, they became the tax-efficient alternative to heavily taxed silver bars.

The Silver Revolution: Transparency and innovation

The founding of The Silver Mountain sparked a modest “Silver Revolution.” As the first provider in the Netherlands to offer physical precious metals entirely online, the company brought much-needed transparency to the industry. For the first time, investors had direct insight into real-time prices and could order physical precious metals with the click of a button, supported by a secure and discreet logistics process.

15 Years of growth and market leadership

Over the past 15 years, The Silver Mountain has evolved from a niche webshop into a full-service precious metals platform. Key milestones in our history include:

• Product Expansion: Moving beyond silver to offer a wide range of gold coins, platinum, and exclusive collectibles.
• Tailored Solutions: Developing specific investment strategies for both the novice collector and the high-net-worth institutional investor.
• In-house Series: The introduction of unique, self-designed coin series, providing clients access to exclusive investment opportunities.
• The Number One Position: Growing into the largest gold and silver webshop in the Netherlands through an unyielding focus on service, provenance, and transparent pricing.

A foundation of expertise

Today, The Silver Mountain continues to build on this rich heritage. Rolf van Zanten remains at the helm, utilizing his years of market expertise to guide clients through the complex financial landscape. What once started as the passion of a young entrepreneur is now the trusted harbor for thousands of investors looking to protect their wealth with tangible assets.

2023: Opening of the The Hague office

In 2023 opened our second office location. Situated in a stunning historic bank building in The Hague, we now welcome clients for personal consultations and secure order pickups.