Van Gogh Experience opens
The church, where Van Gogh’s father once preached, was closed for over nine months for a thorough transformation. With great respect for its history, this listed building has undergone internal restoration in collaboration with architect Bierman Henket and contractor De Kok Bouwgroep. As part of this, the interior has been restored to its original appearance and splendour of colour, based on historical colour research. New technology has been used to create a modern multimedia experience.
A monument full of new energy
The church, where Van Gogh’s father once preached, was closed for over nine months for a thorough transformation. With great respect for its history, this listed building, in collaboration with architect Bierman Henket and contractor De Kok Bouwgroep, underwent an internal restoration, during which the interior was restored to its original appearance and splendour of colour based on historical colour research. New technology has been used to create a modern multimedia experience.
The renowned agency Tinker Imagineers was commissioned to develop the concept; they had previously realised successful Van Gogh projects in Brabant, such as the Van Gogh Village Museum in Nuenen. They have created an immersive show and exhibition in the Van Gogh Church, featuring life-size projections, powerful sound and pure emotion. “With the Van Gogh Experience in Etten-Leur, we are enriching Brabant’s Van Gogh offering in a way that truly moves visitors,” says Caroline Belt.“We are proud that, in this special place where Vincent’s artistic career began, we have created a multimedia experience that appeals to young and old alike. It is a real asset for anyone who wants to get to know Vincent.”
Van Gogh lives on in Etten-Leur
Together with the Museum Sint Paulushofje, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the Van Gogh Church, the Van Gogh mural and the studio, the Van Gogh Experience offers a complete Van Gogh experience in Etten-Leur. Today’s festive opening also marked the celebration of the merger between the Van Gogh Church in Etten-Leur and the Sint Paulushofje Museum, which will continue as ‘Van Gogh Etten-Leur’. In the church, visitors step into the spirit of Vincent, whilst the hidden gem that is the Sint Paulushofje Museum takes them back to the village life that inspired him. A single ticket grants access to both venues, and all the information can be found on the brand-new website www.vangoghetten-leur.nl. The venues are also the key Van Gogh highlights along the various Van Gogh cycling and walking routes around Etten-Leur.
At the opening, Mayor Starmans-Gelijns expressed her pride: “On 22 October 1889, Vincent van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo: ‘I often think of what it was like in Etten. That is something that will always be dear to me…. and everything I have sought since then, I believe, began right there.’ With the Van Gogh Experience, we are bringing that cherished place to life. Art and history come together here, deeply rooted in Etten-Leur. Just like our own Moeierboom, which inspired him even back then. I am incredibly proud that it is here, in the Van Gogh Church, that this wonderful experience can be seen, where everyone can feel the magic of Van Gogh’s work.”
Lex Besselink emphasised the collaborative nature of the project: “This unique project has been realised thanks to the dedication of our many volunteers. They put their heart and soul into welcoming residents and visitors and introducing them to Vincent’s world. Together with the volunteers, we will continue to build on the Van Gogh heritage in Etten-Leur, with the refurbishment of the Sint Paulushofje Museum as our next milestone.”
A new milestone for Van Gogh in Brabant
With the opening of the Van Gogh Experience, Brabant’s Van Gogh heritage gains a major cultural attraction. Brabant is home to a total of 46 Van Gogh monuments, three Van Gogh museums and numerous cycling and walking routes right through Van Gogh National Park, allowing you to literally follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps. Following the grand opening of the Van Gogh Village Museum in Nuenen in 2023, Etten-Leur is now the setting for a new cultural milestone.