When Elisabeth of Culemborg, one of the richest women in the country, died in 1555, she left behind a vast inheritance. Elisabeth had no children. In her will, she stipulated that a large portion of the money should go to the poor. In Culemborg, a huge orphanage was built, which was completed in 1560. The construction of the orphanage cost no less than 15,545 guilders, and it had a starting capital of 32,000 guilders! The highest amount ever spent on an orphanage in the Netherlands. ...
The museum manages a rich and diverse collection. The portrait gallery of the counts and countesses of Culemborg is one of the most striking features. The 16th-century panel paintings and the 17th-century Adoration of the Shepherds by Paulus Moreelse are also among the museum's top works. In addition, there are special art objects from Culemborg's churches and several photography collections. The collection of historical household items provides insight into daily life in the past. As a whole, the collection offers a vivid picture of the city's history.
The collection can be viewed almost in its entirety on CollectieGelderland
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The Elisabeth Orphanage provided shelter for a total of around 700 orphan children over four centuries. Boys and girls who had lost their parents to illness or, for example, a fire. Children from often small labourers' houses came to the large, stately orphanage in the centre of Culemborg. That must have been overwhelming. The orphanage was a world unto itself. With a washhouse, bakery, brewery, farm, a large vegetable garden and an orchard, the orphanage was almost entirely self-sufficient. ...
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