Permanent Collection
The Teylers Museum - Hollands oldest museum - was established by Pieter Teyler van der Hulst, a prosperous merchant born in Haarlem in 1702. In his last will and testament, he provided for its establishment by endowing the Teyler Foundation, part of whose task would be to further progress in the arts and sciences.
Ever since his death in 1778, his ideals have been given concrete expression through the museum. For example, the Neo-Classical Oval Hall was built in 1784 for the display of the collection and demonstrations of physics. The museum's first curator, Wybrand Hendriks, acquired a portion of the Queen of Sweden's collection of 16th and 17th-century drawings by Italian masters. Subsequent curators have continued to add to the collection, which now includes five centuries of Dutch draughtsmanship, works produced by the Romantic and Hague Schools, and Impressionist prints. The museum's first director, Martinus van Marum, encouraged scientific research and laid the foundations for the scientific collections belonging to the Teyler Museum, including fossils and mineral specimens. There is also an important collection of coins and medals.
A new wing provides space for a gallery for temporary exhibitions, while there is a smaller space to exhibit books from the Library and a pavilion for educational programmes. Selections from the internationally renowned collection of drawings will be on display in the new Printroom.