About us - Marechausseemuseum

OUR MISSION

The four defense museums show the past, present and future of the armed forces. We tell about the wars of the past, today’s peace missions and the story of the men and women who serve in conflict situations on behalf of the Netherlands. This is important because war and conflict are inextricably linked to the world we live in and therefore to us.

OUR VISION

The armed forces fulfil an important core task of the Dutch government. For the social legitimacy of the armed forces – and for the motivation of the men and women who work there – it is necessary that a large part of society is aware of the importance of an armed force and can form an opinion about the way the armed forces carry out their tasks.

How did the armed forces originate and how do they protect us and others in times of war and uncertainty? The four defense museums demonstrate this by offering a window on the past, present and future developments of the armed forces.

We want to touch the hearts and minds of the members of the public by:

Making emotions of service personnel such as camaraderie, courage, dedication and fear palpable;
Showing that making choices is a necessity;
Showing that the mere threat of the use of arms can be instrumental in keeping the peace;
Enabling visitors to feel, smell, taste and hear what it means to work for peace and security;
Shedding light on the mutual impact of the armed forces on society from multiple angles.

We are endeavouring to deliver a ‘transformative experience’, which means that visiting one of the Defence museums may change the way members of the public think about the armed forces.

The Royal Defence Museums Foundation has a statutory board which is made up of one or several directors. The number of directors is established by the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board has appointed Paul van Vlijmen into office as the General Director. The latter is assisted in the performance of his duties by a Management Team

Management Team

Paul van Vlijmen, General Director SKD, interim Site Manager National Military Museum;
Wietse Portiek, Operations Manager SKD;
Kees Boelema Robertus, Site Manager Navy Museum;
Frédérique van Steekelenburg – van der Stelt, Site Manager Netherlands Marine Corps Museum;
René Parijs, Site Manager Marechaussee Museum.

Supervisory Board

The SKD has a Supervisory Board (SB) which superintends the accomplishment of the (social) objects within the broadest possible setting and the general state of affairs within the foundation and the associated organisation. The number of members of the SB is established by the Board itself. Members of the SB are appointed by the Minister of Defence, at the proposal of the SB.

The Supervisory Board is made up of the following members:

Mr J.S.J. Hillen, chairman
Mr W.I.I. van Beek
Mr R.H. Berkvens
Mr W. Bijleveld
Mrs M.G.H.A. Soeteman-Reijnen
Mr M. Schouten
Mr D. Starink
Mr H.H. Hulshof
Mrs Y. Shitrit

Since 25 June 2014, the Stichting Koninklijke Defensiemuseums (SKD) (Royal Foundation of Defense Museums) has been recognised by the Tax and Customs Administration as a Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling or ANBI (Public Benefit Organisation). The four museums that are part of the SKD come under the same recognition decision.

Nationaal Militair Museum (National Military Museum) in Soesterberg
Marinemuseum (Navy Museum) in Den Helder
Mariniersmuseum (Netherlands Marine Corps Museum) in Rotterdam
Marechausseemuseum (Royal Marechaussee Museum) in Buren

Public Benefit Organisations or ANBIs can call on certain tax benefits in the event of inheritances, gifts, donations and for energy tax. Institutions that have been designated as ANBIs have the benefit of these tax breaks. Since 1 January 2012, donors to cultural ANBIs get an extra donation deductible. This is intended to incentivise donations to cultural ANBIs.

HISTORY MARECHAUSSE MUSEUM

The Marechaussee Museum has a special history. In 1936 the Historical Museum of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee was opened in Apeldoorn. After the war, the museum moved to The Hague and then to Rotterdam. Since 1972, the Marechaussee Museum has been located in Buren in a former Royal Orphanage.