Busts, swords, furniture, medals and ships: The Naval Museum in Den Helder will soon open the exhibition ‘Hidden Treasures’. With the exhibition, the Royal Netherlands Navy breaks with the tradition of keeping the collection in depots behind closed doors. “We needed a nice reception area and we now combine that with a number of beautiful pieces from the rich history of the navy. It was really time,” says curator Graddy Boven proudly.
The Royal Netherlands Navy has about 80,000 objects in its collection; built in the period from 1962 to the present. Curator Graddy Boven of the Naval Museum is pleased that a number of masterpieces can now receive the full attention of the public.
ship ornament
Officially, the exhibition space is the new show room of the navy. The Vice Admiral will receive guests at official events. The Navy Museum hopes to receive many visitors for the paintings, ship models, ship ornaments, silverware and trophies that have been in the dark depots for years. Above: “It’s really just enjoying beautiful things. I hope that the visitors pick out at least two or three objects that intrigue them.”