Bilderdijk Museum

Boasting of a huge collection of memorabilia, which generally surpasses those that one can find in a real museum, the Bilderdijk Museum, located in a modern university building, surprises visitors with its striking care for details and the respect for tradition. This museum is a must visit for those who love literature and also for those who are interested to have an in-depth knowledge of Dutch history.

Willem Bilderijk, after whom the museum is named, was a lawyer by education, but he only worked for a short period in the capacity of a lawyer.

He spent most of his time and his active life to his teachings, his writings, and his studies. Apart from being a thinker, writer, and poet, he also dabbled in politics. Today Bilderijk is viewed upon as the father of the Het Réveil movement. This museum is situated in the same building that houses the Amsterdam Free University.

Tourists who are unaware of the ` Het Réveil’ are informed that is was a movement that took place in the northern part of Europe during the first half of the nineteenth century and dealt with the revival of Christianity.