The Stedelijk Museum Kampen Collection
The Stedelijk Museum Kampen houses a collection organized around four central pillars: water, religion, justice, and the House of Orange-Nassau. Within these themes, the museum preserves specific historical artifacts that connect the city to broader European narratives. One such object is a copy of a peace treaty from 1370, a document involving the Hanseatic League and King Waldemar IV. This treaty reflects the historical weight of the Hanseatic League and its influence on the region.
The presence of the House of Orange-Nassau is felt through a series of formal portraits. The collection includes painted portraits of all the rulers and kings from this dynasty. Many of these works are full-length portraits, capturing members of the House of Orange-Nassau in their entirety. These figures occupy the space with a quiet, historical permanence.
The collection also addresses the fundamental aspects of civic life through its focus on religion and justice. These themes are held within the walls of the Old Town Hall, where the objects and paintings exist in their original architectural context. The museum maintains these specific threads of history, from the legalities of the past to the maritime importance of the water that shaped Kampen.
The Historic Old Town Hall Building
The museum occupies the Old Town Hall of Kampen, located at Oudestraat 133. This structure preserves the architectural character of the city's civic history. Within these walls, the Schepenzaal, also known as the Magistrate Hall, remains the central presence. Dated 1545, the hall has remained unchanged for hundreds of years, maintaining the same atmosphere that once governed the city.
The Schepenzaal serves as the showpiece of the museum. Its preservation allows for a direct encounter with the spatial conditions of the sixteenth century. The hall's continuity offers a sense of permanence amidst the changing city outside. It remains a quiet space where the weight of past governance is still felt through the architecture itself.
Major Themes of the Permanent Collection
The permanent collection is organized around four central pillars: water, religion, justice, and the House of Orange-Nassau. Each theme reflects a specific facet of the history and identity of Kampen. The connection between the city and the water is particularly evident, illustrating how the river IJssel and the surrounding waterways shaped the local economy and brought both prosperity and threat to the region. This relationship with the water is a fundamental thread running through the historical narrative of the area.
Religious history is another significant presence within the museum. The collection traces the transition of Kampen from a Roman Catholic town to a Protestant center, a shift that left a lasting imprint on the local culture and architecture. This spiritual evolution is held within the walls of the museum, alongside works that address the concept of justice. The museum explores how governance and law were practiced in earlier centuries, particularly through the history of the city's administration.
The House of Orange-Nassau is represented through a series of formal portraits. These works include full-length depictions of various members of the royal family, capturing their presence from head to toe. These portraits provide a visual record of the rulers and kings who shaped the nation.
- Last Supper, about 1574 - Mechtelt van Lichtenberg
- Last Judgement, 1545 - Ernst Roelofsz. Maler
- The Seven Works of Mercy, 1548 - Jacob Maler
- Skaters, Kolf players and Sledges on the Ice, 1630 - Hendrick Avercamp
Temporary Art and History Exhibitions
The museum hosts five to six temporary exhibitions on contemporary art each year. These rotating displays bring a changing focus to the space, ranging from specific historical inquiries to modern artistic perspectives. Recent presentations have included Slavernijsporen in Kampen, which ran from July 1, 2023, to September 7, 2023, and the exhibition MATCH | 1 op 1 met een topstuk uit het Rijksmuseum, held between July 1, 2023, and September 3, 2023. Such exhibitions allow the building to engage with different eras and social narratives through a variety of lenses.
The dialogue between history and art continues through diverse thematic selections. The exhibition Van Soerabaja naar Kampen | Kasboek van een Wereldreiziger was held from March 25, 2023, to June 11, 2023. Nearby, the installation IN THE GALLERY | Het Atelier van Alioune Diagne occupied the space from February 18, 2023, to June 18, 2023. Earlier, the Secret Garden | Carolein Smit & Gebroeders Miedema was presented from October 14, 2022, to March 5, 2023. These works exist within the halls as specific moments in time, offering a presence that shifts with the seasons.
Past exhibitions have also examined the nuances of portraiture and significant anniversaries. Oog voor het oor – De oren van Rembrandt door de ogen van Jan van Driel was on view from October 3, 2020, to January 24, 2021. The exhibition Ammehoela! 75 Jaar vrij zijn took place between June 5, 2020, and September 20, 2020. Each temporary installation contributes to the ongoing life of the Old Town Hall, ensuring the interior remains a site of active observation.
