New acquisitions

New Acquisitions – Collecting for Our City offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the museum. Since 1903, the collection has grown to reflect the art and history of Breda. In this exhibition, we present a selection of our newest acquisitions.

From Thrift Store to Museum Piece

In New Acquisitions, you will discover artworks and objects that have become part of our collection in surprising and diverse ways. For example, we have acquired the very first photograph taken in Breda: a portrait of a deceased woman from 1844, obtained thanks to an observant private collector. Another surprising find is the colorful tapestry by Will Vaes, discovered in a local thrift store by a former employee. Sometimes, you need to cross borders to find Breda's treasures. At an Italian auction, we purchased a large work by Matteus Verheyden, who painted portraits of influential Bredanars in the 18th century. Dozens of new acquisitions are on display in the exhibition, each with its own story.

Collecting for our City 

The museum collects art and objects with a story, which either fit the current times or the heritage of Breda. We carefully consider whether an acquisition fits the collection based on criteria such as artistic value, historical significance, and physical condition. Some new acquisitions are immediately placed in the museum, while others are put in storage to be researched or restored.