Willem Bilderdijk (1756-1831) was one of the most interesting figures in the in the 19th century history of the Netherlands. A lawyer by education, only shortly worked as an attorney dedicating most of his active life to his studies, his writings and his teachings. Bilderdijk became an influential personage of the Dutch literature - a poet, writer, thinker, but also an important person for politics in the Netherlands, as a supporter of the constitutional monarchy of the dynasty of Orange.
Bilderdijk is seen today as the father of the movement called Het Réveil – Christian revival in the Northern Europe of the first half of the 19 c.; speaking out for God, Country and Monarchy (Dutch: God, Nederlands, Oranje) and against new ideas of the French Revolution. Despite his extreme poverty at the end of his life, he continued his teachings against liberalism.
The feel
The Bilderdijk Museum is more a large, well organized reading room, with a rich collection of memorabilia, than a real museum. Nevertheless, located in a modern university building collection surprises with is impressive care for a detail and with love of tradition. In our opinion this small museum is a must for the Dutch history and literature lover.
Open:
Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. and 13 p.m. – 16:45 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday: closed
Admission: free. Museum sells unique books by Bilderdijk.
How to get there:
Bilderdijk Museum is located in a big modern building of the Amsterdam Free University (Vrije Universiteit - VU); room 1B-41/31; entry through the Department of Old Prints of the VU Library. The best is to enter through VU the main entry and go to the left to the wing B. You will find the Bilderdijk Museum on the second floor, behind the library.
By tram, from the Central Station: lines 5 and 51; step out on the stop: Vrije Universiteit, ca 30 min.
With the car: from A10 ring take an exit Amstelveen and drive out of the city center. Then tak left on the second lights, direction VU hospital. The VU University building will be on your right at the first big crossing. Paid parking in front of the university building (left side of the street, metered parking).
Address:
Het Bilderdijk Museum
Vrije Universiteit
De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
Telephone (for contact only, curator’s - Dr. M. van Hattum number): +31 20 645 43 68
Homepage: www.bilderdijkmuseum.vu.nl
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