The Hague, Netherlands – June 18, 2025 — The Bredius Museum officially opened a landmark exhibition titled “Old Masters from Kyiv in The Hague. The Khanenko Museum at the Bredius Museum”, marking a significant moment of cultural collaboration between Ukraine and the Netherlands.
The exhibition brings together, for the first time, masterpieces from the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts in Kyiv and the Bredius Museum’s own collection. Featuring portraits, still lifes, landscapes, and historical scenes, the show explores the artistic affinities shared by the founders of both institutions and their mutual dedication to European painting traditions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Halyna Hryhorenko, First Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, underscored the exhibition’s symbolic and diplomatic resonance. “The exhibition testifies not only to the beauty and vulnerability of art. It is a cultural bridge, a living testimony of the deep ties between our countries, which have a history of more than 100 years,” she said.
Hryhorenko also emphasized the critical role of international solidarity in supporting Ukrainian culture amid ongoing conflict, and expressed appreciation for Willem Jan Hoogsteder, curator and Board member of the Bredius Museum. Hoogsteder, a key figure behind this exhibition, also spearheaded the 2024 Kyiv-based exhibition “The Hague – Kyiv. Paintings from the late 19th – early 20th centuries”, featuring works from the Hoogsteder and Ponomarchuk family collections.
“When Russia wages war not only against our people but also against our culture, the protection and promotion of Ukrainian cultural heritage becomes especially significant,” Hryhorenko added. “The exhibition in The Hague is a powerful gesture of support and our joint act of cultural resistance.”
The opening ceremony drew a distinguished audience, including The Hague’s Mayor Jan van Zanen; Christiane Mataisen, Deputy Director General for Culture and Media at the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; Yulia Vahanova, Director of the Khanenko Museum; Andriy Kostin, Ukrainian Ambassador to the Netherlands; Onno Eichelsheim, Commander of the Dutch Armed Forces; and Devi van de Werd, Ambassador for Cultural Cooperation at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The exhibition is a collaborative effort between the Khanenko Museum, the Bredius Museum, and the Netherlands Institute for Art History, reflecting a shared commitment to preserving and showcasing European art heritage.
“Old Masters from Kyiv in The Hague” will be open to the public from June 21 through September 28, 2025.
