De Verhalen van Villa De Lindenhof door DIEP

The city villa De Lindenhof in Emmen is opening its doors for a final time to host VillaVerhalen, a closing exhibition presented by the art center DIEP. This showcase serves as a narrative journey through the history of the iconic building, transforming a space that has functioned as both a private residence and a public venue into a curated experience of art and heritage.

A Building of Many Lives

Constructed around 1935 by the then-alderman Roelof Zegering-Hadders, De Lindenhof has served as a silent witness to significant historical shifts. During the Second World War, the villa was occupied by a Wehrmacht general, and in more recent history, it gained fame as the recording location for the television programme Alle dieren tellen mee, hosted by Loretta Schrijver.

Did You Know? The villa’s transition from a residential home to a contemporary art space is highlighted in the exhibition by contrasting historical artifacts, such as a candlestick from the era of the Nazi occupation, with new items representing the site’s history of sheltering evacuees.

Artistic Interpretation of Conflict

Exhibition maker Bastiaan van den Berg designed the layout to mirror the structure of a story, incorporating time, place, characters, and central conflicts. The exhibition intentionally invites a sense of confusion, prompting visitors to question whether they are viewing historical heritage or contemporary art.

View this post on Instagram about Expert Insight

From Instagram — related to Expert Insight

Expert Insight: By juxtaposing remnants of wartime authority with symbols of civilian protection, the exhibition forces an uncomfortable dialogue about how history is preserved. The creative decision to use animal-themed installations to critique human behavior suggests that the exhibition is less about the building’s physical structure and more about the moral weight of the stories we choose to carry forward.

What Comes Next?

As VillaVerhalen marks the final exhibition for this iteration of the art center in De Lindenhof, the future of the building’s usage remains a focal point for the community. The exhibition will prompt further local discussions regarding the preservation of the villa’s layered history. Observers might expect that the questions posed by Van den Berg—regarding which narratives deserve to be told—will influence how the site is perceived long after the doors close.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the VillaVerhalen exhibition?

The exhibition serves as a final, comprehensive look at the history and diverse stories associated with the city villa De Lindenhof in the center of Emmen.

Frequently Asked Questions — Villa De Lindenhof

How does the exhibition use historical conflict?

It uses contrasting items, such as a candlestick from a Nazi general versus one representing evacuees, to explore the tension between dark historical events and more modest, human-centered narratives.

What role do animals play in the exhibition?

The exhibition features an installation of animals observing human television programmes, including Alle dieren tellen mee and Het echte leven in de Dierentuin, to prompt reflection on how humans treat animals.

Which historical narrative of a building do you find most compelling: the stories of its original inhabitants or the events that changed its purpose over time?