Stedelijk Museum Breda
Stedelijk Museum Breda is the city museum of Breda, located in the province of North Brabant, the Netherlands. Housed in a centuries-old building once known as the Oudemannenhuis also known as De Beyerd, a listed monument with nearly 800 years of history.
The museum explores the identity of Breda through historical exhibitions on Breda’s cultural heritage — including the influential Nassau dynasty — with contemporary visual culture. The museum was founded in 2017 through the merger of Breda's Museum and the Museum of the Image .
History
The origins of Stedelijk Museum Breda trace back to 1903, with the founding of the first municipal museum in the city. Breda’s Museum curated a broad collection related to local history; from religion and military history to industry and urban development. The museum also managed the city collection of the Municipality of Breda and the collections of the Friends of Breda's Museum.In 2008, the design-focused Graphic Design Museum opened in the same building, later rebranded as Museum of the Image in 2011. MOTI explored graphic design and digital visual culture. In 2017, Breda’s Museum and MOTI merged to form Stedelijk Museum Breda.
Architecture and Building History
The museum is housed in a centuries-old building originally established as a Gasthuis in 1246. Over time, it was repurposed as an Old Men’s House , a former guest house originally established in the 13th century as a hospice for travelers and the sick. Over centuries, the building served as an old men's home before becoming the cultural center: De Beyerd''. Its historic facade, created by stonemason Laureys Drijffhout in the 17th century, remains a notable feature. The building was renovated for museum use in 2017; adapted to meet 21st-century standards while preserving its historical character.The building has been a national heritage site since 1966.
Collections
Highlights ':'● Portrait of Mary Stuart and her son William III by Gerard van Honthorst
● Paintings by Petrus van Schendel, including his self-portrait
● Christ and the Samaritan Woman at the City of Breda — considered the oldest known cityscape of Breda
● A series of six still lifes by Jan Hendrik Frederiks
● Works by August Allebé and other 19th-century Dutch artists