Foundation for Art & Historical Artefacts

In three centuries of company history, a.s.r. has built up a beautiful historical collection. a.s.r. still expands her unique collection with the purchase of contemporary art. The Foundation for Art & Historical Artefacts manages this collection. One of the highlights of recent years is the historical bookcase of De Utrecht. After more than 40 years of wandering, the cabinet has been given a beautiful position in the a.s.r. building.

The Foundation for Art & Historical Artefacts

aims to contribute to the historical awareness with the historical collection
tries to create an inspiring working environment with the purchase of contemporary art.

Historical library cupboard back at a.s.r.

In 1899 the management of the life insurance company De Utrecht gave architect Jan Verheul (1860-1948) the assignment for the construction of a new head office on the Leidseweg in Utrecht. The De Utrecht building was built in the Dutch Art Nouveau style or Jugendstil. On January 1, 1902 the building was ready. De Utrecht was very satisfied. The building, together with the Belgian, French and Danish head offices, stood out as advertising on the policies of society. However, the building had to give way to the construction of Hoog Catharijne and was demolished in 1974.

The library

The library was the most beautiful room in the building, a large, rectangular hall that also served as a meeting room. On the side where you entered the room, the whole wall was occupied by the bookcase. It was a characteristic part of the Jugendstil building and designed by architect Verheul. The bookcase contained the book collection of mr. Ingenegeren about insurance companies and insurers. The sometimes ancient books were about insurance, mathematics, economics and typography. After the demolition of the property, the bookcase ended up on the attic of the town hall. In the nineties the bookcase was placed in the Vitens gas station in Soestduinen. The bookcase has been stored in the Centraal Museum for a number of years. Now the bookcase was given a prominent place at a.s.r. Insurance company De Utrecht merged into a.s.r. The beautifully renovated building of a.s.r. is an appropriate place to restore the past.

Guided tours

On a regular basis, curator Sigrid Vegter organises exclusive tours, in which you can view the library cupboard. You can find the exact dates and register on the website www.kunstbijasr.nl

The Foundation does not seek to achieve profit and does not have any staff. a.s.r. employees are on hand to perform a number of duties; they are paid a fee. The Board members are not rewarded for their work for the Foundation. They are entitled to an expense allowance provided that the expenses they incur in performing their duties are not excessive.

The board

Jos Baeten, chairman
Renée ter Haar, member
Astrid Melger, member
Annette Pannekoek, member
Robert van der Schaaf, secretary
Bernhard de Vries, treasurer

Conservator

Sigrid Vegter

Contact information

Stichting Kunst & Historisch Bezit ASR Nederland
Archimedeslaan 10,
3584 BA Utrecht / Postbus 2072, 3500 HB Utrecht
The Netherlands

Tax ID no. 8218.68.779 / Chamber of Commerce no.: 30279963

Sigrid Vegter, conservator
Phone: +31 (6) 23 91 26 14

Downloads (only available in Dutch)

Beleidsplan 2017 (Policy)
Jaarverslag 2017 (Annual report)
Financieel overzicht 2017 (Financial overview)