Museum De Buitenplaats has two young curators indoors, Martje Hiemstra (25) and Barber van der Laan (26). The two recent graduates from the University of Groningen will be allowed to shine their creative light in Eelde in the coming years.
A breath of fresh air is blowing through De Buitenplaats, but it is not the case that the museum is completely upside down. The main task remains the same as in previous years: to keep Jos and Janneke van Groeningen’s cultural heritage alive.
Since its foundation in 1996, De Buitenplaats has housed art by northern realists. “Mainly figurative work, which can be traced back to reality,” says Van der Laan. She entered the museum not too long ago as an intern and soon found her place. “The small scale gives the museum its charm.”
Hiemstra has known the museum for a little longer. During her studies she already worked in the marketing and communication department, but as a former art history student she wanted to focus more on her studies.
Attracting a younger audience is one of the goals of the enthusiastic duo. “But the main goal is to bring the entire collection to the attention of the widest possible audience,” says Hiemstra.
The Nijsinghhuis, the former home of the Van Groeningen couple, should play an even greater role at De Buitenplaats. Most of the house is now open to the public. This gives the museum extra exhibition space. “The rooms themselves, which were painted by northern artists, are a work of art in themselves,” says Van der Laan.
Not much can be said about future plans. “We have only just started,” said Hiemstra. “But when I look at our field of study, I think we are on the same page.”
Van der Laan: “It is incredibly exciting but also a fun challenge to do this and what it can mean for the museum.”