Nine New Van Gogh Monuments
A team of experts researched the places in Brabant where Vincent van Gogh grew up and developed into a painter. As a result of the research, nine new locations have been qualified as Van Gogh Monuments. This brings the total number of Van Gogh Monuments in Brabant to 46. All the new insights and backgrounds into the Van Gogh Monuments and their significance for the life and work of Vincent van Gogh will be published in the Atlas Van Gogh in Brabant. This will be presented to the painter's descendants on March 30 and will be available in Dutch bookstores from that date.
In recent months, Helewise Berger (curator of The North Brabant Museum) and Ron Dirven (curator of Van Gogh Brabant) have been researching places significant to the life of Vincent van Gogh in Brabant. This was commissioned by Van Gogh Brabant and Het Noordbrabants Museum, which want the research and the publication of the results to contribute to the preservation of the monuments and the propagation of the heritage of the world-famous painter. In addition to Berger and Dirven, Teio Meedendorp and Louis van Tilborgh (Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam) also contributed to the study, which was a follow-up to an initial reconnaissance in 2017. At that time, 39 sites were designated as Van Gogh Monuments. Two of these have now been dropped from the list as new information revealed that the buildings were no longer in authentic condition. These are the sexton's residence in Etten-Leur and the town hall in Zundert.
Family and friends in Helvoirt
In the current list of 46 monuments, more importance has been given to places related to the painter's family and friends. They played a role in the life choices that ultimately led Van Gogh to follow his passion and become a painter. Helewise Berger: "we were particularly surprised in Helvoirt by the fascinating genesis of the house of Vincent's aunts on Oude Rijksweg and the friendly relationship with the Protestant noble family De Jonge van Zwijnsbergen, owners of Zwijnsbergen Castle where the Van Gogh family regularly spent time. In addition, Huize Mariënhof and Jagtlust are added in Helvoirt.'
Estates in Zundert
Ron Dirven: "The landscape of Brabant was also a lasting source of inspiration for Van Gogh. In the area around Zundert, where the painter was born and grew up, we have therefore also examined more closely estates for their significance for his life and work. Thus, estates De Moeren, Buisse Heide and Wallsteijn have been added because of the walks Vincent made as a child in these surroundings and the connection of the owners with the reformed community in Zundert.'
Etten-Leur and Nuenen
In Etten-Leur, the Trouwkerkje has been designated a monument because of Vincent's relationship with Pastor Kam's family. In Nuenen, the carpentry workshop of Theo de Vries on the Berg and the textile factory and home of Louis Begemann have been added to the already impressive list of Van Gogherfgoed.
Atlas Van Gogh in Brabant
On March 30, the birthday of Vincent van Gogh, the first copy of the Atlas van Gogh in Brabant will be presented to the van Gogh family and the director of the Van Gogh Museum. This festive event will take place on Vincent's birthplace in Zundert. The Atlas combines old maps, historical images, works by Van Gogh and new photography by Karin Borghouts with facts about the monuments and backgrounds to the life of Vincent van Gogh in 19th century Brabant.
