Kijk mee voorbij het doek: symposium over Paulus Potter

• 13 November 2025
  • 13:00 – 17:00

In 2025, it will be exactly 400 years since the famous painter Paulus Potter was born in Enkhuizen. His paintings, such as The Bull and The Boar Hunt, are among the most famous works of the Dutch Golden Age. The municipality of Enkhuizen is celebrating this remarkable resident with an inspiring symposium on Thursday, November 13, 2025, in the Westerkerk. Everyone is welcome to discover more about the painter, his era, and his city.

An afternoon full of art and stories

During the free symposium, art historians, conservators, and local experts will introduce the audience to the life and work of Paulus Potter. The afternoon begins at 1:00 PM and lasts until 5:00 PM. It will be a varied program featuring stories about his paintings, his working methods, and 17th-century Enkhuizen.

Program and speakers

The afternoon will be moderated by Lars Boon, co-author of “A Small Country Full of History.” Also speaking:

Frans Grijzenhout , emeritus professor of Art History (University of Amsterdam), discusses the short but impressive life of Paulus Potter. How did a young painter from Enkhuizen become world-famous?

Abbie Vandivere and Jolijn Schilder , conservators at the Mauritshuis, share the latest insights into Potter’s technique and use of materials. They discuss their research into his masterpieces, The Bull and The Boar Hunt.

Klaas Koeman , chairman of the Oud Enkhuizen Association, sketches life in Enkhuizen around 1625. What did the city look like when Potter was born?

Anniek Bakker , curator of the Enkhuizen municipal collection, talks to Lars Boon about the special stories behind Enkhuizen artworks – from a preserving jar with herrings to Potter’s The Boar Hunt in the town hall.

To register

The symposium “Look beyond the canvas: Paulus Potter in Enkhuizen” will take place on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Westerkerk, Westerstraat 138 in Enkhuizen. Admission is free. Anyone interested in art, history, or the city of Enkhuizen is welcome to attend this special afternoon.

You can register via www.enkhuizen.nl/potter

About Paulus Potter

Paulus Potter was born in Enkhuizen in 1625 and died young, at 28. Yet, he left behind an impressive oeuvre. His paintings depict animals with the same dignity as humans, something innovative in his time. With his eye for detail and sense of character, he became one of the most famous painters of the Dutch Golden Age.

Images:

Painting The Wild Boar Hunt by Paulus Potter – Property of the Municipal Collection Enkhuizen and on display in the town hall of Enkhuizen.

Portrait of Paulus Potter painted by Bartholomeus van der Helst – Property of the Municipal Collection of Enkhuizen and on display in Enkhuizen Town Hall.