Sunday 17 November 2019

ODs TOUR OF THE RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM

The idea of an OD trip to Amsterdam was hatched at a lunch your secretary had with Duncan Bull (O, 1971, left) in May this year. Duncan, who has worked at The Rijksmuseum for nineteen years, is the Curator of non-Dutch pictures. With a hugely impressive CV packed with international experience and academic qualifications, he is a long way from a prematurely trimmed post-matric when he and Bishops disagreed on his political activism strategy, quite tame at the time, but a step too far for the School. He hasn't looked back, and now on the threshold of retirement, has made his mark at this, one of the most iconic of international art museums.

What, in initial discussions was going to be a short talk to UK ODs in London, developed into a mini break in Amsterdam itself. Cormac Petit (O, 1973) a native of that city for the past 27 years was dragooned into the organising team and what an asset he proved to be, not least for his membership of the Royal Industrieele Groote Club, a very grand and  exclusive establishment on the Dam where we had dinner on our first night. He also has a deep and loving relationship with the City and we benefited from this on a walking tour on our first afternoon.

Allister Wilson (G,1971) who is currently on secondment for E&Y to The Hague (where he heads global the Shell audit) most generously entertained Waine Lawton (F, 1965) and Liz and your secretary to a pre-tour dinner in the amazing Brasserie van Baerie where we pushed to the limit their stocks of their delicious and, in the end, limitless, Armagnac.

The rest of the trip is described below.

(My apologies for the quality of the photos which were taken with a mobile phone - a very unsatisfactory plan B after the lead camera was left in London. Click on the pictures to enlarge them).


The curtainraiser, 4th November:

As mentioned, the first evening was, for Waine and Liz Lawton and me, spent in the entertaining and generous company of Allister Wilson. The restaurant was amused to find themselves attending to the needs of three Bishops boys (two of whom were Founders boarders) and allocated one Vivienne to head the service. The food was fabulous, the wine exemplary and the service - thanks to the super-resilient Vivienne - superb. For the evening experience and the inspired choice of restaurant, thank you Allister.

At the Brasserie van Baerlie: Waine Lawton, Nicky Bicket, Vivienne (taking the photo), Liz Lawton and Allister Wilson

Lunch and the walk, 5th November:

The following day, we met at Cafe Luxembourg for  lunch and a quick refreshing of the party details (to include the Beekmans who your secretary had somehow managed to omit from the lists). With all well since it ended well, we then staggered out to follow Cormac Petit who showed us parts of the City even the well-travelled and highly knowledgeable David Jordan (W, 1962) hadn't seen. We started at the Begijnhof, seeing the secret church there and the English Church (with pulpit panels by Mondriaan).  We then followed the pilgrim’s route past the pillar marking the Miracle of Amsterdam, through the Oudemaanhuispoort into the University District, past the Agnietenkapel and via the Oudezijds Voorburgwal to the Red Light District (not entirely unfamiliar to some of us). We passed the Condomerie and came to the oldest building in Amsterdam, the Oude Kerk (unchanged since Rembrandt’s day). Finally we walked past the hidden church of Our Lord in the Attic to the St. Nicolaas Basilica (patron saint of Amsterdam, seafarers, and children). There we ended our walk.

Cormac has a deep love and knowledge of Amsterdam and that showed through in spades as we walked off an energy-building lunch, orientating ourselves with the city and preparing physically and mentally for dinner.


Cormac Petit and Marjan Beekman

David Jordan, Waine Lawton and Rudi Beekman
The English Church in the Begijnhof


Cormac, Rudi and David

Waine, Cormac and David

Cormac, David, Waine and Rudi

Rudi and David
Rudi, Cormac, David and Marjan


Such a beautiful city

Dinner, 5th November:

Founded (as the De Groote Klub Doctrina et Amicitia) in 1788, now The Royal Industrieele Groote Klub combines the membership criteria of academia and indusrty in a very grand premises on the Dam. Cormac is a member and very kindly hosted our first evening there. Pre-drinks were held in the members' bar and a very sumptuous and beautifully laid table, replete with gifts and OD-branded menus greeted us as we made our way to dinner. After dinner, Duncan Bull gave us a short interactive and, in his inimitable style, deeply knowledgeable and engaging talk on both the Rijksmuseum and his side passion, Robert Jacob Gordon (think Gordon's Bay and see: www.robertjacobgordon.nl). This was the perfect set up for the following day, give or take a few post-prandial ... well, Armagnacs, of course.

Claire and Jeremy Friedlander

Waine and Liz Lawton, Claire Friedlander and Peter Arthur

Waine and Peter

Duncan Bull, David, and Diana Arthur

Duncan and Nahnya Petit

David and Rudi

Duncan and Allister Wilson



A welcome from Cormac
Claire, Rudi, Waine and Marjan
from right: Diana, Jeremy, Marjan, Waine and Rudi
Waine and Marjan
Liz and Allister
Nahnya, David, Liz and Allister
Duncan, Peter and Cormac
Waine, Marjan, Jeremy, Diana and Duncan
David Jordan finishing off with a few well-chosen words

Wednesday 6th November: Robert Jacob Gordan and the Rijksmuseum:

Not everyone gains access to the Rijksmuseum Reading Room. And even fewer have the rare privilege of seeing the drawings - some up to eight metres in width - and notes of Robert Jacob Gordon which are brought out only every two years. Top that, then, with Duncan taking us through the historical, political and social commentary surrounding Gordon. A truly incredible money-can't-buy experience. Duncan's passion is for the life and times of Robert Jacob Gordon for whom he has curated a website, well worth a visit (www.robertjacobgordon.nl)

The Rijksmuseum Library
Examining the paintings and drawings of Robert Jacob Gordon





Cormac and Allister











The imposing facade of the Rijksmuseum - and if you think it reminds you of the Amsterdam Central Station, you wouldn't be wrong. The same architect, Pierre Cuypers, designed both
A man who needs no introduction and Frans Hals's The Meagre Company

Cormac, Peter, Diana and Duncan

Duncan, David, Nahnya, Rudi, Cormac, Marjan (just) and Peter

Marjan, Rudi, Diana, Allister, Duncan and Claire

Duncan, David, Rumer Ramsey and Nahnya under the watchful eyes of  The Company of Captain Dirck Jacobsz Rosecrans and Lieutenant Pauw, by Cornelis Ketel (1588)

Rumer, Diana, Peter, David, Duncan and, struggling, Jeremy

Finally, and, depending on whether one had seen it before, disappointingly or interestingly, Rembrandt's The Nightwatch, the centrepiece of the Museuem, being prepared for a restoration. 

Supper, Wednesday 6th November:

d'Vyff Vliegen, founded in 1939 following the joining of five 17thC canal houses, is one of Amsterdam's most interesting, delicious (and quite expensive) restaurants. It consists of a warren of rooms, all packed with diners - local and tourists - enjoying local cuisine at its finest. A fitting close to the trip.

Our (branded) menu and a photo of the restaurant entrance
Jeremy, Rudi, Liz and Waine

Peter, David, Diana, Marjan, Rudi, Liz, Waine and Duncan


Peter and David


Add captionClaire, Duncan and Rudi

David and Marjan
And then it was over!

On the trip were:

Peter Arthur (W, 1965) and Diana Arthur
Jeremy Friedlander (F, 1972) and Claire Friedlander
Rudi Beekman (O, 1962) and Marjan Beekman
Waine Lawton (F, 1965) and Liz Lawton
Cormac Petit (O, 1973) and Nahnya Petit
David Jordan (W, 1962)
Allister Wilson (G, 1971)
Duncan Bull (G 1971)
Nicky Bicket (F, 1973)