a century of wonder

Wolkers Naturally - A Century of Wonder shows how Jan Wolkers managed to capture the beauty of the everyday in his work. The colors and nature of Texel played a major role. Well-known works such as “De vier seizoenen” and “Het grote gele doek” are displayed alongside his other abstract works. In the Auditorium of the museum you will also see episodes of the series De achtertuin van Jan Wolkers (shown on television in 2002-2003).

WOLKERS IN LEIDEN

In 2018, a selection of 17 works from the artistic legacy of Jan Wolkers was transferred from Texel to Leiden. Since then, Museum De Lakenhal holds the largest collection of works by Jan Wolkers. The extensive literary and personal archive is housed at the Leiden University Libraries. This fulfills the wish of Wolkers and his wife Karina to house the collection in Leiden.

WRITER AND ARTIST

Jan Wolkers (1925-2007) has been influential as a writer and artist in the Netherlands. Although his literary work is better known than his visual oeuvre, he considered himself primarily a visual artist. Over the years, this work was given more and more space. Wolkers was born in Oegstgeest, spent his childhood in Leiden and later lived in Amsterdam and on Texel. Over the years, nature began to play an increasing role in his work and life, especially the Texel landscape. To this day, Wolkers remains one of the most influential writers and artists in the Netherlands.