NORFOLK, Neb. -- Andrew Schliewe loves nutcrackers. 

“622”, Schliewe said.

He has been collecting since 1996 when he was a sophomore in high school. 

“People give them to me as gifts”, Schliewe said. “I find them at antique stores and rummage sales.”

The 44-year-old has amassed the largest collection in Norfolk and possibly the state. All in pristine condition. 

“I've never cracked a nut with them before”, Schliewe said.

They come in all shapes and sizes with a variety of different themes.

“I have Nutcracker ties, anything that has nutcrackers I try to find”, Schliewe said.

After beginning his collection, Schliewe took upon the interests of Herr Christian Steinbach- a famous nutcracker craftsman from Germany who passed away in 2007.

But his favorite nutcracker is the one that means the most. 

“When I lived in Wisconsin, I worked at a bakery, and I worked with a guy, and he was going to give this to me for my birthday, but he died that same night, and he never got to give it to me," Schliewe said. “But his family gave it to me. He made it especially for me.”

Since then, his collection has expanded to multiple rooms around the house. 

“Come look at them, take a tour,” Schliewe said. “I don't charge anything.”

And when asked if he is going to continue to collect more…

“Probably, but I don't know, running out of room,” Schliewe said.