About us

Organization
Vincent van Gogh Etten-Leur Foundation

Mission
The aim of the Vincent van Gogh Etten-Leur Foundation is to put Etten-Leur on the map as a Van Gogh municipality and to introduce to a wide (inter)national audience the fact that in 1881 Etten marked a turning point in the life of Vincent van Gogh: this is where he began his artistic career, this is where he registered for the first time as a painter and this is where he had his very first studio. In the former Dutch Reformed Church - now Van Gogh Kerk - this story is colorfully told in a permanent presentation. Visitors are taken into the story of the Van Gogh family in Etten (1875-1882) and Vincent's turbulent stay in Etten (April-December 1881).
In 2025, the Vincent van Gogh Foundation will collaborate with Museum The Art of Living. This museum will be named Museum Sint Paulushofje. Together we will continue as Van Gogh Etten-Leur.

Vision
The Vincent van Gogh Etten-Leur Foundation wants (inter)national recognition and acknowledgement of the importance of Vincent van Gogh's Etten-Leur period. By literally treading in his footsteps, more and more visitors will experience that they can get closer to Vincent, both as a person and as a budding artist. In this way the foundation contributes within the Van Gogh Brabant partnership together with Museum Sint Paulushofje to strengthening the leisure economy in Brabant and in the West Brabant region and Etten-Leur in particular.

Strategy / ambition
These are our focal points:

• Operating the Van Gogh Kerk at Council House Square and the Tourist Information Point in the former "sexton's house" at Market 4.
• Realize expansion of the Van Gogh Kerk in terms of an experience and a new exhibition space
• Collaborate locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Working together under the name Van Gogh Etten-Leur with Museum Sint Paulushofje.
• Provide support for events and activities that contribute to our mission and vision.
• Appoint Collection Policy.
• Provide education.
• Fill social role towards groups in society.
• Organization with volunteers and a director.
• Recruitment volunteers.

The Vincent van Gogh Etten-Leur Foundation is an organization in which about 40 volunteers are active. Around 30 volunteers are active within the museum. All of them are people who enjoy their work, like to share their knowledge, want to be of significance and of course show the famous Brabant hospitality. Their respect for Vincent van Gogh and the history of Etten-Leur is of paramount importance.
Our foundation also manages - on behalf of the Municipality of Etten-Leur - the Tourist Information Point at Markt 4. This, too, is done with volunteers. Linked to the physical information point is the digital platform Etten-Leur City App (app, website and social media). Maintenance and management is done by a professional commissioned by the Municipality of Etten-Leur.

Board*
Lex Besselink (chairman)
Vacancy (secretary)
Rijn Broere (treasurer)
Bert Schluter (member)
*Board members are volunteers and unpaid.

Director
Ankie de Hoon

Museum
The board is composed as follows:
- Karst Vaartjes (chairman)
- Lex Heerma van Voss (secretary)
- Laura Mostert (general board member, treasurer a.i.)
In addition to the board, a Museum Committee is active that organizes the daily affairs of the museum.

Visiting and mailing address Vincent van Gogh Etten-Leur Foundation: Markt 4, 4875 CE Etten-Leur
Billing address: Markt 4, 4875 CE Etten-Leur - penningmeester@vgel.nl
Telephone: +31 765019788
E-mail:info@vgel.nl
Website:www.vangoghetten-leur.nl
Chamber of Commerce: 20108295
VAT no: NL811613550B01
Rabobank no: NL33 RABO 0174 891 237
In the name of the Vincent van Gogh Etten-Leur Foundation

Church Annual Report 2024

Church Financial Statements 2024

Annual report Tourist Information Point 2024

Annual Report Museum The Art of Living 2024