Van Gogh Monument, Eindhoven
In December 1929, a special committee was formed in Amsterdam aimed at commemorating the 40th anniversary of Vincent van Gogh's death with a permanent monument. Among those who took the initiative were the architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage and the painter Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan (aka Piet Mondrian). In 1930, it was decided that Nuenen was the best place to install the monument.
The municipality of Nuenen, which was also offered to contribute, after some deliberation allocated to the project 50 guilders. Commissioned to make the statue was Hildo Krop, a talented Dutch sculptor and decorative artist.
The monument was unveiled on Saturday 30 July 1932. Hendrik Wiegersma from Deurne, a member of the founding committee, wrote a speech for the event and read it out during the ceremony. He then offered it for sale for 100 guilders, for the benefit of the poor. In the end, however, he got only 12.5 guilders for it.
The monument represents a plain, dark, round millstone, made from a Bavarian erratic boulder, upon which stands a basalt block, delivered from the south of France, with a radiant, hand-sized, golden sun carved in the upper part. The monument symbolizes the dark Nuenen period in the artist's life, a stark contrast to the bright period that he had in France. On the rim of the millstone is the inscription: "Vincent van Gogh worked in this village, December 1883 to November 1885".
This is the very first monument in the Netherlands dedicated to Van Gogh.
The municipality of Nuenen, which was also offered to contribute, after some deliberation allocated to the project 50 guilders. Commissioned to make the statue was Hildo Krop, a talented Dutch sculptor and decorative artist.
The monument was unveiled on Saturday 30 July 1932. Hendrik Wiegersma from Deurne, a member of the founding committee, wrote a speech for the event and read it out during the ceremony. He then offered it for sale for 100 guilders, for the benefit of the poor. In the end, however, he got only 12.5 guilders for it.
The monument represents a plain, dark, round millstone, made from a Bavarian erratic boulder, upon which stands a basalt block, delivered from the south of France, with a radiant, hand-sized, golden sun carved in the upper part. The monument symbolizes the dark Nuenen period in the artist's life, a stark contrast to the bright period that he had in France. On the rim of the millstone is the inscription: "Vincent van Gogh worked in this village, December 1883 to November 1885".
This is the very first monument in the Netherlands dedicated to Van Gogh.
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Van Gogh Monument on Map
Sight Name: Van Gogh Monument
Sight Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands (See walking tours in Eindhoven)
Sight Type: Statue/Public Art
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands (See walking tours in Eindhoven)
Sight Type: Statue/Public Art
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Eindhoven, Netherlands
Create Your Own Walk in Eindhoven
Creating your own self-guided walk in Eindhoven is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Eindhoven Introduction Walking Tour
Eindhoven is the largest city in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands. It was founded in the 13th century but didn't see large growth until DAF Trucks and Philips Electronics were established in the city during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Eindhoven was officially given status as a municipality in 1232. It was already a small town with less than 200 houses inside the city... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Eindhoven was officially given status as a municipality in 1232. It was already a small town with less than 200 houses inside the city... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Van Gogh's Nuenen Walking Tour
The small town of Nuenen, located practically a stone's throw from Eindhoven, is a very old Dutch locality that shot into significance as the inspiration behind many of the works by Vincent van Gogh. The painter lived and worked here for 18 months, from December 1883 to May 1885. During this period he created many paintings capturing the images of local people (peasants, weavers, etc.) such... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles