The Temple of Rare Automobiles: Louwmann Museum

Stating that they are trying to compile an interesting and balanced automobile collection in order to show the history of automobiles in a clear and understandable way, Ronald Kooyman gave examples of the content of the museum, which includes more than 275 automobiles, including the single example of AA, the first Toyota model, as well as models such as Brooke Swan Car or Joswin.

So how do you restore cars that have been out of production for a century or more? Ronald Kooyman’s answer to the question of how to find spare parts for such vehicles: “Instead of restoring cars, we prefer preserved ones. Each project is unique and should be researched as a single project. “Sometimes we can still find spare parts, sometimes we have spare parts made specially.”

Thinking that such rare cars must be quite expensive, we do not forget to ask about the most expensive vehicle in the museum and the total wealth in the museum. Saying that they are not interested in the value of the cars, Ronald Kooyman emphasizes that they are only interested in the historical value of the car.

There are not only rare cars in the museum. After the emergence of automobiles, toy cars and model cars also emerged. A special section at the Louwmann Museum is full of artistic models and toy cars. Among these, there are miniature cars called Spindizzy, which appeared in the 1930s and can reach speeds of up to 200 km per hour.

Posters also play an important role in model promotion in automobile history. The museum has the world’s richest collection of automobile posters from the 19th and 20th centuries, prepared by very important artists. There is also a special section for automobile-themed items. Many special products, from cigarette cases to letter openers, from pocket watches to flasks, have also taken their place in the museum.

Racing is an essential part of the automobile world. Silver, bronze and porcelain cups and sculptures, which are works of art prepared for the winners of races as old as the history of automobiles, are also exhibited at the Louwmann Museum.

The museum also hosts expositions. Finally, Formula 1 legends are on display at the Louwmann Museum. Previously, special exhibitions such as micro cars, the 100th anniversary of the Alvis brand, and extraordinary French cars were also held.

THE MUSEUM BUILDING IS ALSO A WORK OF ART

The building currently used by the Louwmann Museum was designed by the well-known American architect Michael Graves. The landscape around the building bears Lodewijk Baljon’s signature. The rectangular-shaped museum building has a design reminiscent of the demolished Reigersbergen mansion, which was previously located at the same point. The museum building, which has an area of 16 thousand square meters, was opened by Queen Beatrix on July 2, 2010.