East -Geldrian Batenburg's: patriots or traitors?

Which positions took the people from East-Gelderland in The Netherlands during important periods of history. Did the Batenburg-Family choose the side of the rebellions or the side of ruling class? How did they earn their money? What did drive them? En which trails of their ‘enlightened' minds by the French Revolution we can still find between their descendents.

The foundation ‘Van Batenborgh Stichting' (VBS) wants to stimulate cultural historic publications and research by several activities and providing subsidies.

Preservation of Cultural heritage in East Gelderland

The Van Batenborgh- family is already mentioned in the 17e century in Gelderland. Their descendents and their relations with other people from Gelderland have resulted in many trails in archives until the 21st century. These cultural valuable traces tell their own story people will recognise and do colour the regional history and the history of the adjacent border with the present Germany.

Restorations and publications

Stone tablets, paintings, photo portraits, objects and documents that relate to these Geldrians, are on the edge to disappear or do not survive the battle of decay.

By supporting publications and restorations, the VBS wants to pass the cultural heritage to the next generations. Sometimes by own activities with volunteers, but often also by activities of professional historians who will be financially supported.

Collections of the Van Batenborgh Foundation

Several persons have already handed over their ancient collections to the VBS. The present collections of documents and charters cover already more than 15 meters and the period of the 15th until the 20th century. The unique pictures collection counts more than 1000 representations with many Geldrian portraits and groups of people on photographs and paintings. The collections are available for research and the general public because they are deposed in the national archive of Gelderland ‘het Gelders Archief', based in Arnhem in the Netherlands.

Plans

With interested institutions and descendents of Geldrians we are talking about the activities and priorities of the VBS.

Many suggestions for research and publications have been given, like: Survival strategies of Roman Catholic elites in the 17th and 18th centuries in Gelderland, Changed social positions of families from Groenlo during the Batavian revolutions in Netherlands (18e century), The publication of the oldest Dutch - Album Amicorum, of Johan van Lynden (1556-1578), and a renewed publication of the ‘Netherlands patriciate' with an overview of all members of the Van Batenborgh-family.

Priority: preserve material from decline

Many people do have paintings with marvellous heads of people from Gelderland, but that is unknown to many other people. But also old photos that are interesting for art-historical, regional of family history reasons. First priority of the Foundation is to discover these objects, to duplicate it, and if necessary to restore these, before it falls in decay. The most interesting objects will be published or exhibited.

Contributing to the success of the Van Batenborgh Stichting?

The VBS can only be successful by the activities and enthusiasm of interested persons:

By exchanging thoughts, cooperation, writing and researching. By registering with the VBS special objects, documents, photo's and paintings. The (as a loan) handing over of depictions, old papers, letters and objects to the VBS or to cooperate by making a reproduction.

Gifts

The VBS is recognised by the Dutch Fiscal authorities as a an institution for the general benefit. Gifts to the VBS can be compensated in the income taxes you pay, according to Dutch fiscal law.

Please contact us if you have suggestions of questions.

About the Van Batenborgh Stichting

De VBS is seated in Groenlo in the Netherlands and founded in 2001 by the late B. Batenburg en R. van Basten Batenburg. The reason for this was the presence of available objects and documents that were at risk of disappearing or destruction. And in addition the available material was not described nor accessible for interested researchers.

The preliminary objective was the preservation and the enhanced accessibility of the cultural heritage of the Batenburg family and descendants originating from Groenlo. But because persons and their behaviour get their perspective from the context they have lived in, a broader setting was formulated for the VBS: the preservation of cultural heritage in East Gelderland and the adjacent German border area.

The VBS will realise her objectives by extending, describing, and open up her collections, by contributing to restorations, and by the stimulation of research and publications.

The board of governors consist of D. van Basten Batenburg - de Jong van den Brand, D. Batenburg and R. van Basten Batenburg.

More information?

Look for background information or news at this web-site.

The Van Batenborgh Stichting is seated in Groenlo in The Netherlands en registered at the Chamber of commerce in Arhem in the Netherlands under number: 09116963. Bank account number: 43.26.31.194.

Contact details Van Batenborgh Stichting