Museum de Fundatie

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The foundation was laid by the collector Dirk Hannema (1895–1984), who became director of the Museum Boymans in Rotterdam in 1921. After World War II – he had collaborated with the occupiers and had bought Van Meegeren's forgery "The Supper at Emmaus" for Boymans as a Vermeer – he was unable to return to his post and devoted himself entirely to his own collection. In 1958 he moved with it into Kasteel het Nijenhuis near Heino, which had been restored by the province of Overijssel, and personally guided visitors through the rooms; in 1964 he transferred the artworks to the Hannema-de Stuers Fundatie.

Museum de Fundatie grew out of this foundation. Since 1993 it has also managed the province of Overijssel's collection of modern and contemporary art; today the holdings comprise more than 16,000 objects from the Middle Ages to the present. From 1991 onward, one of the largest sculpture gardens in the country was created around the castle.

In Zwolle, the museum moved in 2005 into the former Palace of Justice on the Blijmarkt, a Neoclassical building by Eduard Louis de Coninck from 1838–1841, which Gunnar Daan had converted into a museum. In 2012–2013 Bierman Henket Architecten added an elliptical extension on the roof – the "Wolk" (cloud), clad in 55,000 blue and white ceramic tiles from Makkum, for which residents could sponsor individual tiles. It has since become a city landmark.

At both locations, the museum shows changing presentations of the Fundatie Collectie as well as exhibitions of historical and contemporary art. In 2025 the two sites together welcomed just over 166,000 visitors.

Highlights

• Former Palace of Justice with the elliptical "Wolk" of 55,000 ceramic tiles on its roof
• Fundatie Collectie with works by Vincent van Gogh, Jacoba van Heemskerck and Nola Hatterman, among others
• Kasteel het Nijenhuis, one of the best-preserved havezaten (manor houses) in Overijssel
• Sculpture garden at Nijenhuis with more than 100 sculptures from the 20th and 21st centuries
• Paintings that founder Dirk Hannema believed to be works by Vermeer

Permanent exhibitions

• Beeldentuin bij Kasteel het Nijenhuis – Sculpture garden between ornamental gardens and woodland with more than 100 works of modern sculpture from the collections of the Fundatie, Beelden aan Zee and the province of Overijssel.

Founded

1958

Director

Beatrice von Bormann

Visitors per year

approx. 166,004 (2025)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every first Friday evening of the month 17:00–21:00 (Fundatie Friday, Zwolle only)

Prices apply per location. Free with the Museumkaart (available at the ticket desk for €75 and valid immediately); also free with the VriendenLoterij VIP card, Rembrandtkaart and for Friends of the museum. VVV gift vouchers and the Museum-Cadeaukaart are not accepted.

Accessibility

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

Zwolle is easily accessible with a wheelchair or rollator, and with a mobility scooter depending on size and exhibition; step-free entrance at the rear (Potgietersingel). Loan wheelchairs (can be reserved in advance at 0572-388188) and folding stools. Two accessible parking spaces each on Potgietersingel and Blijmarkt. Sensory tours for visitors with visual impairments. Kasteel het Nijenhuis has only limited accessibility (no elevator, many thresholds).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly

In Zwolle, the free "Omdwaaltour" with discovery cards for children aged 7–12 (Dutch/English) and "De Studio" with drawing tables; in Heino, the "Op pad met Mikkel" tour through the sculpture garden for ages 5 and up and a studio corner in the café. Strollers and buggies allowed.

Getting there & parking

For the Heino location, see other locations.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Zwolle: "Hannema’s museumbar" in the Wolk (fourth floor) with a view over the city, currently no lunch; Heino: museum café with lunch and terrace. Museum shops at both locations, free lockers.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

Museum bar in the Wolk (lectures up to 60, receptions up to 80–100, dinners up to 50 people) and, at Kasteel het Nijenhuis, the Bouwhuis Oost meeting room (up to 40 people, stairs only), museum café (receptions up to 80–100) and sculpture garden; outside opening hours only.

Plan your visit