News:

A painting by the 17th century master, Jan van Goyen, will finally find its way back to its rightful heir, after being confiscated and sold by the Germans during World War II.

Minister Jet Bussemaker adopted the recommend of the Restitution Committee to return the painting to the daughter of a Jewish banker, the only living heir.

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The painting was part of a private collection of the Jewish banker, Gustaaf Hamburger, who fled to the United States with his family in 1940. The Germans confiscated and sold all his possessions.

After being initially transported to Germany, the painting, ‘Landscape with beggars and two riders at a ruin,’ came back to the Netherlands and is now on display at the Limburgs Museum in Venlo, as part of the NK-collection (Nederlands Kunstbezit collectie). The collection consists of artwork, retrieved after the war, particularly from Germany.

The heir, a daughter of the original owner, now lives in Switzerland. Last year she also received three ceramic saucers from the National collection, prompted by the Restitution Committee.

The Restitution Committee assesses claims on artworks, lost during the Nazi regime.