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Jan Bernard van Heek

1863 – 1923

Dutch museum founder

Textile manufacturerArt collector
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About Jan Bernard van Heek

Lived 1863 – 1923 (aged 59). Jan Bernard van Heek was a Dutch textile manufacturer and art collector.

Jan Bernard van Heek (18 November 1863 in Enschede – 31 January 1923 in Rutbeek) was a member of the famous Dutch textile family from Twente. Among his achievements was founding the Rijksmuseum Twenthe in Enschede, the Netherlands. Jan Bernard Van Heek donated his own private collection and the museum building to the government. This made it a national museum. The museum is still an important icon in the east of the Netherlands.

Van Heek was mostly known as a board member of Van Heek & Co as well as the Rijksmuseum Twenthe, to which he donated his art collection. He was the son of Gerrit Jan van Heek and married the American Edwina Burr Ewing. They lived together in their home, Zonnebeek, influenced by her family home back in the United States. He is buried at the Algemene Oosterbegraafplaats in Enschede.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Textile manufacturer, art collector
Employers
Van Heek & Co
Also known as
J.B. van Heek

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jan Bernard van Heek's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jan Bernard van Heek?

Dutch museum founder (1863-1923)

When was Jan Bernard van Heek born?

Jan Bernard van Heek was born on 18 November 1863 in Enschede.

When did Jan Bernard van Heek die?

Jan Bernard van Heek died on 31 January 1923 in Rutbeek.

What was Jan Bernard van Heek's occupation?

Jan Bernard van Heek was a textile manufacturer and art collector.

What nationality was Jan Bernard van Heek?

Jan Bernard van Heek was Dutch.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jan Bernard van Heek

· Wikidata: Q1918641

· DBpedia: Jan Bernard van Heek

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jan Bernard van Heek. https://biography.guide/jan-bernard-van-heek/

MLA: "Jan Bernard van Heek." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jan-bernard-van-heek/.

Chicago: "Jan Bernard van Heek." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jan-bernard-van-heek/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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