Established 1917 (1917) Collections Ceramic art Website www.princessehof.nl Phone +31 58 294 8958 | Type Art museum President Saskia Bak Province Friesland | |
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Curator Frank van der Velden, Eva Ströber, Karin Gaillard Address Grote Kerkstraat 11, 8911 DZ Leeuwarden, Netherlands Hours Closed today MondayClosedTuesday11AM–5PMWednesday11AM–5PMThursday11AM–5PMFriday11AM–5PMSaturday11AM–5PMSunday11AM–5PMSuggest an edit Similar Fries Museum, Natuurmuseum Fryslân, Kanselarij, Flipje & Streekmuseum, Tresoar Profiles | ||
Princessehof Ceramics Museum (in Dutch: Keramiekmuseum Princessehof) is a city museum of ceramics in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. The museum's name comes from one of two buildings in which it is housed: a small palace built in 1693 and later occupied by Marie Louise, dowager Princess of Orange. The other annexed building is the Papinga stins, a former stronghold from the 15th century. The museum is of interest for its buildings, but also for its collection of tiles, pottery, and ceramic sculpture.
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History of the building
In 1731, the building was purchased by Marie Louise (known in Leeuwarden as Marijke Meu, 'Aunt Mary'), who had been a widow since 1711 and acted as regent for her son William IV up to that year, when he came of age. She moved in and began a collection of ceramics, and her collection forms part of the museum's collection, most notably in the Nassaukamer, a period dining room in Baroque style. After she died, the building was split into three houses, and one of these later came into the hands of the Leeuwarden notary and art collectors Nanne Ottema (1874–1955) and his wife Grietje Kingma, who founded the museum during their lifetime in 1917.
The Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher, known for his often mathematically inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints, was born in the middle house in 1898.
Ceramics
The Ottema-Kingma Stichting keeps the tradition of the founders alive with an online database for the collection and associated library. This Stichting is also the formal owner of the Asian ceramics collection with items ranging from 2800 BC up to the 20th century. Besides the Asian collection, there is also a wide range of European and some Islamic ceramics.
Facilities
The museum has a café and often hosts visiting art exhibitions. The museum also permanently exhibits the former studio of the Dutch ceramist Jan van der Vaart.
Gallery
Selection of work from the pertinent collection: