Exhibition 2026

Tastemakers – Historical Influencers of Bergen

Every year, Het Sterkenhuis presents a special exhibition. This year: Tastemakers – Historical Influencers of Bergen.

The historical museum Het Sterkenhuis highlights a selection from the vast array of historical influencers—born in Bergen or drawn to it—to tell the story of the town. Presented in alphabetical order, these figures come to life and narrate Bergen’s history. From the seventeenth‑century cartographer Adriaan Anthonisz to the poet Theo Olthuis, who passed away in 2024. Some are nationally known, others locally celebrated, but all have shaped the vibrant history of Bergen.

Until 1900, Bergen was a sleepy farming village, until the pioneering Van Reenen family – ‘Lords of Bergen’ and mayors – used their influence to spark one development after another. A modern tram connection from Alkmaar brought the first tourists to idyllic Bergen and bathers to Bergen aan Zee. In the wake of these economic changes, renowned painters, poets, and composers settled in Bergen, soon forming a close‑knit artistic community that transformed the village into a cultural hotspot. The artists of the Bergen School, the expressive painting style born here, put the village firmly on the map. But the seemingly everyday influencers also played their part: Dirk Klomp, Bergen’s promoter; the schoolteacher Pieter van Hoorn; and the Ursuline sisters. They were important tastemakers – Bergen’s influencers avant la lettre.

The exhibition Tastemakers – Historical Influencers of Bergen at Het Sterkenhuis runs from 3 April to 25 October 2026, Tuesday to Sunday from 13:00 to 17:00.