Museum De Proefkolonie in Frederiksoord is closed on Mondays, but today was cause for celebration. This was due to a special visit: the museum received a donation. With this donation, the museum can start a new construction project.
“Wow! I hadn’t counted on this at all!” The astonishment can be seen in Friso Visser’s eyes. In his hands he holds a check worth 400,000 euros from the Vriendenloterij. The museum has applied for support from the Vriendenloterij, but was not aware that it had already been granted. A delegation from the lottery would come by today to discuss the application. Museum director Visser thought he should explain his application here. “I thought we were going to negotiate.” That was no longer necessary, the desired amount has already been received. “I knew nothing and was really blinking my eyes!”, says Visser.
“It is a beautiful museum with a beautiful story and beautiful plans,” says Jeroen Branderhorst on behalf of the lottery. “And we love that and we’re happy to help make it possible.”
The museum tells the story of the poverty of 200 years ago. The four tons will be used to build a new room for a new exhibition, this time about the poverty of today. “Then we will have a fourth room, with an exhibition about the poverty of today. Unfortunately, poverty has not yet been eradicated, it remains a major issue.” The restaurant is also getting bigger. “We need more space, for example to receive large groups. We still have to say ‘no’ too often. I am very happy with this gift, because now the shovel can go into the ground.”
The lottery thinks this is a good plan. “This is a beautiful and fun museum. It is interesting and informative to walk around here,” says Branderhorst. “It is now combined with the social issue of poverty. We are very enthusiastic about the combination of welfare and a museum.”
The new exhibition should open in July 2024. “First the building has to be renovated,” says Visser. “The exhibition must also be really beautiful and interactive, so we still have a lot to do. I hope that many people who have experienced poverty themselves will want to participate in this. So that this becomes a realistic story.” Visser also hopes for many speakers. “So that we can also work on the solution to poverty here.”
The museum staff will celebrate the good news sometime next week with a drink and cake. That was of course different 200 years ago, how had the colonists celebrated good news? Visser: “I think with half a potato extra.” He smiles. “And very secretly a drink, because alcohol was forbidden in the colony.”