Two million florins were bequeathed by Pieter Teyler van der Hulst in 1778 to advance the study of religion, science, and the arts within his native Haarlem. This significant endowment, equivalent to approximately 80 million euros in modern currency, facilitated the creation of Teylers Museum, a lasting institution that continues to preserve his eighteenth-century cultural vision.
Business and Banking Career
Born in 1702, Teyler descended from a line of Scottish merchants, a heritage reflected in his surname. He built his professional life in the Dutch Republic as a silk and cloth merchant. By 1763, he transitioned into an increasingly active role as a financier and banker, operating offices in Amsterdam. His financial reach extended to prominent contemporaries, including the wealthy merchant George Clifford III, known for his patronage of Carl Linnaeus.
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Teyler was a member of the Waterlander Mennonite community in Haarlem. His philanthropic activities were wide-ranging, beginning with his role as a trustee for the city orphanage starting in 1750. In 1752, he and his wife, Helena Wynands Verschaave, whom he married in 1728, established a Mennonite hofje. Unlike typical almshouses of the period, this foundation did not restrict residency to Mennonites.
Intellectual Contributions
Influenced by the Scottish Enlightenment, Teyler supported the local intellectual landscape through large monetary loans and direct participation. He supported the establishment of the City Drawing School in 1772, the local College of Music in 1773, and provided funding for new premises for the Dutch Society of Sciences in 1777. His own interests included natural history, numismatics, and library development.
The Teyler Legacy
Teyler died childless in 1778 and was buried at the Grote Kerk in Haarlem. His 1756 will created Teylers Stichting, which established two distinct societies: the Theological Society for religious study and the Second Society, focused on physics, poetry, history, drawing, and numismatics. His former residence, the Fundatiehuis, remains linked to the museum he made possible.
Fast facts
- Born: 25 March 1702, Haarlem
- Died: 8 April 1778, Haarlem
- Citizenship: Dutch Republic
- Occupations: Merchant, banker, art collector, patron of the arts
- Spouse: Helena Wynands Verschaave
- Major Foundation: Teylers Stichting
- Burial Site: Grote Kerk
Questions readers ask
What were the primary goals of Teylers Stichting?
The foundation was split into two branches: the Theological Society for religious studies and the Second Society for the pursuit of physics, poetry, history, drawing, and numismatics.
Did Teyler own a large collection of art?
Yes, he possessed a significant collection of natural history artefacts, medals, drawings, and a large library, much of which formed the basis for the museum's initial inventory.
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