New keyboard for work in The Netherlands

[erice]

I already bought into the whole mechanical keyboards are better mantra. I just want to buy another for work purposes. The last time I spent way too much figuring out which one to buy, so I'd rather just piggy back on the work someone else already has done.

I also considered the Kinesis Advantage, but it sells at EUR 399, which is a bit overpriced.

Requirements:
- no LEDs
- TKL
- PBT
- letters must not wear out
- 45g maximum activation force
- US layout
- letters should only be on the top of the keys (not at the front as some keyboards have)

I also considered the Das Keyboard, but I have no idea what the difference is between their older model and their newer model (if any).

Switches: I currently use browns which seem to work fine, but if there is something better and it's not just an opinion, but more a matter of fact, I'd be more than willing to switch  .

[Dyaems]

How about a White Realforce 87U? Assuming you can buy it from your country.

Topre Switch
TKL
Dyesub PBT Keycaps, except for spacebar which is ABS. You can probably buy a PBT spacebar in the Classified section maybe? Or Massdrop.
45g (or was it 55g/variable weight)
No LEDs, besides caps lock maybe?
ANSI Layout
Letters are located at the top of the keys

[Altis]

+1 for the Realforce 87U 45g uniform or variable (most of it is 45g but the edges is 30-35g, and the escape key is 55g randomly).

The nice thing about it is it doesn't sound particularly strange so coworkers won't be bothered, but it sounds very nice and feels great.

Seems to meet all your needs. Happens to be pretty well my favorite keyboard.

[Wilkie]

If going Cherry MX, perhaps contact mechanicalkeyboards.nl and ask if they have any KUL ES-87 stock.  Their website shows negative 17 MX Brown units.  If you can't find any European distributors with stock, Elite Keyboards has them and will ship to Europe, but I don't know what you'll pay in customs (https://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=keyed_up_labs,tenkeyless&pid=es87u_cg_bbb_al).

KUL ES-87 is a very solid board with no visible branding (might be desirable, depending on your work environment).  However, the stock ABS keycaps are terrible.  You would want to separately buy PBT keycaps.  I've been using one with MX Black daily for about two years, very pleased (except for the caps).

You might also consider Leopold, whether you're after Cherry or Topre switches, especially if you can consider a layout a little smaller than TKL (FC660M/C) or a little larger, but smaller than full-size (new/forthcoming FC990M/C).  I haven't used them, but you can find many positive reviews of both the boards and the stock keycaps.  They do have TKL, as well, but the models quoted above seem to get more love.

[wishful_cynic]

If going Cherry MX, perhaps contact mechanicalkeyboards.nl and ask if they have any KUL ES-87 stock.  Their website shows negative 17 MX Brown units.  If you can't find any European distributors with stock, Elite Keyboards has them and will ship to Europe, but I don't know what you'll pay in customs (https://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=keyed_up_labs,tenkeyless&pid=es87u_cg_bbb_al).

KUL ES-87 is a very solid board with no visible branding (might be desirable, depending on your work environment).  However, the stock ABS keycaps are terrible.  You would want to separately buy PBT keycaps.  I've been using one with MX Black daily for about two years, very pleased (except for the caps).

You might also consider Leopold, whether you're after Cherry or Topre switches, especially if you can consider a layout a little smaller than TKL (FC660M/C) or a little larger, but smaller than full-size (new/forthcoming FC990M/C).  I haven't used them, but you can find many positive reviews of both the boards and the stock keycaps.  They do have TKL, as well, but the models quoted above seem to get more love.

KUL ES-87 with MX clears was my first mech, still my office board.  It's a tank!  I replaced the stock caps immediately.  The legends are like grains of sand over glue stick.  I'm using a thick PBT set on it now.

[Twinguin]

KUL ES-87 with MX clears was my first mech, still my office board.  It's a tank!  I replaced the stock caps immediately.  The legends are like grains of sand over glue stick.  I'm using a thick PBT set on it now.

KUL ES-87 is a very solid board with no visible branding (might be desirable, depending on your work environment).  However, the stock ABS keycaps are terrible.  You would want to separately buy PBT keycaps.  I've been using one with MX Black daily for about two years, very pleased (except for the caps).

I'll join the KUL ES-87 discussion: I agree on both, that the board itself is a solid build, and that their original key caps are not the best. I had wear on them within a month of moderate use (mine has Cherry Blue). So, if you find yourself a decent set of PBT caps, sounds like a good route for you ...

[erice]

Can you recommend a specific product and vendor which ships those PBT keycaps to the Netherlands as cheaply as possible?

A Topre would cost over 300 dollar without any warranty after customs and shipping.

Is there just not enough demand to just get a container full of random keyboards to Europe?

[Twinguin]

Can you recommend a specific product and vendor which ships those PBT keycaps to the Netherlands as cheaply as possible?

As I am currently in the USofA, so I am not too sure about the European vendors. But http://www.ukkeycaps.co.uk/category/keycaps send from the UK.
And on the Vortex homepage (http://www.vortexgear.tw/) they also list their European distributors. I personally like the Vortex PBT caps that I have on my Pok3r.

[Twinguin]

Look, what I stumpled across: https://mechanicalkeyboards.nl/ - they should have KUL boards.

[Ashlyn]

Leopold 750r MX red