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Neighbours with a shared history
In conversation with Head of Collection Management Marije Verduijn about the Fundatie van Renswoude.
The Origins and History of the Fundatie
“Behind the richly ornamented façade lies a remarkable story dating back to 1754, when the wealthy widow Maria Duyst van Voorhout, Lady of Renswoude, dedicated her estate to establishing an educational institution for talented orphan boys. In 1761, the first nine pupils entered the Utrecht premises, where, under the supervision of regents, they were trained in trades that enabled them to contribute to the Dutch Republic. The ideal was clear: education as an investment in both the individual and society. That ideal took shape in surroundings that contrasted sharply with the existing orphanage for children learning a trade, then located on the site of today’s Centraal Museum, where poverty and limited resources were the prevailing reality. The Fundatie, by contrast, offered the most talented young people space, structure and education. Over the centuries, the institution evolved with the times. The compulsory uniform was abolished; following the introduction of higher civic schools in 1863, pupils attended lessons elsewhere while continuing to live at the Fundatie; and girls also became eligible for scholarships. After the children’s home closed in 1970, the building was partly repurposed; from 1975 onwards, rooms were rented out to fund its upkeep. Yet the original mission lives on to this day. The Fundatie’s regents still award scholarships to young people who need some support to gain access to higher education—with a growing focus on vocational college students, as a contemporary interpretation of Maria’s vision.”
Regents' Hall
What makes the Fundatie so special?
“This ensemble has survived almost entirely intact. The house remains much as it was designed in the eighteenth century, with countless traces of the pupils who lived and studied there. Their development can be seen in the drawings, paintings and portraits they made of one another. The tableware and furnishings commissioned by the regents, some of which were also made by the pupils, have likewise been preserved, giving an exceptionally complete picture of this world. The richly executed Rococo style, rarely preserved so fully in the Netherlands, is also of outstanding quality. These many layers give the ensemble great cultural and historical significance. At the same time, traces of the strict regime remain: in the cellar, a rack and a heavy wooden block—literally a ‘ball and chain’—serve as reminders of the harsh discipline to which the pupils were subjected.”
Lecture hall
How will the Fundatie's collection be presented in the museum?
"Besides the historical ties between the children's home and the Fundatie, there is also a long-standing connection with the museum. This dates back to the 1930s, when a medieval ship was excavated in Utrecht. At the time, the Centraal Museum had just moved to its current location and faced a practical problem: the ship was too remarkable not to display, but so large that it would only fit in the basement. However, that space was already being used for archaeological finds from the province of Utrecht, managed by the Provincial Utrecht Society (PUG). The Fundatie van Renswoude provided the solution: a floor was set aside here for this archaeological collection. The Fundatie continued to serve this purpose until 2012, and during that period a close partnership developed between the museum, the Fundatie and the PUG. This shared history forms the basis of what can rightly be called a long-standing partnership—physically as well, since from the outside the buildings appear to form a single whole. This summer, the Centraal Museum will begin a complete inventory of the Fundatie's collection. Every object will be carefully measured and photographed to make the collection digitally accessible. Plans are also being developed to give visitors access to the house itself through guided tours. Both online and in person, we hope to enable many more people than before to enjoy this remarkable heritage."
What is your personal favorite from the Fundatie collection?
"Wat de Fundatie uniek maakt, is dat alles nog in samenhang te ervaren is. Daarom kan ik niet één favoriet onderdeel kiezen: de kracht van de Fundatie zit in het ensemble als geheel. Ik ben vooral erg nieuwsgierig naar de verhalen die nog naar boven zullen komen. Er melden zich nu al mensen die aanvullingen en herinneringen hebben bij de collectie. Ik leer iedere week meer, ook over de prachtige objecten, zoals een klok die door leerlingen is gemaakt en een pianoforte die in de portrettenkamer staat. Maar ook over de achtergronden van al deze welvaart hoop ik meer te gaan ontdekken. Bij onderzoek naar de collectie van het Centraal Museum hebben we de afgelopen jaren bijvoorbeeld verhalen over de koloniale herkomst van veel rijkdom blootgelegd. Ik hoop de komende maanden, samen met alle collega's, nog veel geheimen te gaan ontrafelen. En die zullen we dan met veel plezier delen met ons publiek."
Beeldcredits:
Foto Your Epic