Het Depot

About the museum

Het Depot sees itself as a stage for contemporary sculpture and puts the artists' opportunities for development at the centre. The collection concentrates on torsos and fragments of the human body – a form as old as sculpture itself; a copy of the Belvedere Torso recalls the most famous model. The gallery grew out of the Utopa Foundation, which works for people's chances of development.

It started in 2004 in Villa Hinkeloord, which the plantation owner Dirk de Vreede had built on the Wageningse Berg from 1855 and which received its present name around 1872. After a thorough restoration based on plans by Bas van Hille, it initially showed a work by Eja Siepman van den Berg. From 2010 the main building and the De Peppel building on Arboretumlaan were added; they had previously served as a library, laboratories and botanical centre of Wageningen University and were partly designed by the architecture firm Mecanoo. When the university moved out, Het Depot saved the buildings from demolition.

Today two arboretums connect the three sites: Arboretum De Dreijen, laid out in 1895 as a school garden of the agricultural school, and Arboretum Hinkeloord. More than 600 sculptures can be seen, almost all of which may be touched. Since 2022, De Peppel has shown the work of Emile van der Kruk.

Highlights

• More than 600 sculptures, almost all to be touched
• Torsos and body fragments by contemporary sculptors
• Villa Hinkeloord with arboretum and works by Eja Siepman van den Berg
• Two arboretums (De Dreijen, Hinkeloord) freely accessible daily
• Restaurant Linnaeus and guided tours for blind and visually impaired visitors

Permanent exhibitions

• Torsi und Fragmente (Skulpturengalerie) – Permanent presentation of contemporary sculpture with torsos and body fragments in the main building, plus the exhibition "Over mensen, bomen en planten" on the two arboretums.
• Emile van der Kruk (De Peppel) – Overview of the sculptor's work with more than 100 wooden sculptures in an emotional-realistic formal language.
• Eja Siepman van den Berg (Villa Hinkeloord) – Permanently displayed work by the artist in the villa with which Het Depot opened in 2004.

Founded

2004

Operated by

Stichting Het Depot (Utopa-Stiftung)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the gallery and arboretums is free. Costs only arise for guided tours and special programmes.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the website, the buildings are fully wheelchair accessible; a loan wheelchair can be reserved in advance by e-mail. Special tour for blind and visually impaired people and people with dementia (Thursdays and Fridays, €7.50, companion free). No air conditioning; the upper floors of the main building can get warm. Dogs are only allowed as assistance dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Almost all sculptures may be touched. Free children's discovery routes for indoors and outdoors (search card, treasure hunt), family game "Think Visually and See More"; no registration needed, materials are available at the desk.

Getting there & parking

Access via the A12 or A50, exit Wageningen; entrance from Generaal Foulkesweg or Ritzemabosweg. About a 10-minute walk from Wageningen bus station.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Restaurant Linnaeus (lunch Thursday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., reservation recommended on +31 317 467736); museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit