In an age when everything is becoming faster, more digital, and more fleeting, appreciation for craftsmanship is slowly returning. A desire for objects made with care is growing – for the feeling, the scent and the sight of true craftsmanship. Where machines are efficient, people are attentive. Crafts remind us that quality takes time and that beauty often lies in dedication.
Silver craftsmanship is a shining example of this. For centuries, silversmiths have transformed precious metals into objects that not only serve a function but also move us. The hand of the maker is reflected in silver: the rhythm of hammering, the heat of the fire, the tension of the moment when a form is just right. Silver is alive; it reacts and demands complete concentration. Each piece tells a story: of craftsmanship, of culture, of humanity.
‘Every work of silver art radiates love, time, and respect – a silent testament to craftsmanship, made to endure.’Hans November, director
True beauty arises from a love of craftsmanship
These stories are preserved and passed on at the Dutch Silver Museum in Schoonhoven. Here, the past, present and future of silver converge. The museum demonstrates how traditional techniques continue to inspire new generations. Through educational programs, competitions and scholarships, it encourages young artisans to discover and further develop their craft. At the same time, research is conducted into the rich history of silver in the Netherlands, and the collection is continually expanded, restored and digitized.
A visit to the Silver Museum is more than a glimpse of dazzling metal – it is an encounter with patience, precision and mastery. Contributing to education, research or the collection helps keep this craft alive, allowing it to continue shining in the hands and eyes of future generations.
Currently, the following exhibitions are on view:
- Encounters: Lynne Leegte & Daan Brouwer
Until 10 May
With the Encounters series, the Dutch Silver Museum seeks to stimulate dialogue between contemporary artists and the centuries-old craft of silver in the coming years. By connecting artists from different disciplines, space is created for new perspectives on materials, meaning, and craftsmanship.
This first encounter focuses on the work of visual artist Lynne Leegte (1965) and silversmith Daan Brouwer (1978). Both create objects that radiate a quiet, almost meditative beauty. Their work expresses attention, precision and tranquillity.
- Crazy About Silver! 50 Years Jubilee of the Dutch Silver Club
Until 13 May
The Dutch Silver Museum has chosen to place the collector at the centre of this exhibition. Collecting art objects is a centuries-old tradition. Well known are historical collections of art and curiosities, kept in cabinets or even dedicated rooms – the so-called cabinets of curiosities, or Wunderkammern.
The popularity of these collections was partly fuelled by the growing knowledge collectors gained about the world. Exotic objects, plants and animals were brought from distant lands: nautilus shells, ostrich eggs, gemstones, pearls, Asian porcelain and ivory. Roman coins and cameos were also discovered and collected.
- Please Touch!
Until 27 September
In the exhibition Please Touch! the Dutch Silver Museum challenges a centuries-old museum rule: ‘do not touch’. While museums today protect almost all objects behind glass, Please Touch! invites visitors, in selected cases, to ‘look’ with their hands. The idea is that touch itself adds meaning to the experience of silver.
For centuries, museum objects have been protected from physical contact. Silver objects in particular are vulnerable: fingerprints can cause permanent damage, and air pollution causes silver to tarnish. Yet many of these objects were originally created to be used. Showpieces were passed from hand to hand at festive dinners; religious objects were touched in the hope of healing. Use left traces – tangible memories of human interaction.
Please Touch! casts a critical light on the conservation-focused nature of museums and raises fundamental questions about the relationship between touch, experience, and meaning. In the words of Prof. Dr. Tineke Abma, Professor of Art and Care at Erasmus University: ‘Objects come alive when you touch them. Memories are released, and the mind travels to other times. You feel a connection to the past, to the people who came before you.’
The exhibition invites visitors to reflect, both literally and figuratively, on what is lost when touch is absent. How heavy is a silver bowl? What does the surface of a centuries-old chalice feel like? And what does that do to your understanding of the object – and of yourself?
About the museum
Visiting the Dutch Silver Museum is a fun and interactive way to spend your day. As a visitor you see, feel, smell and hear silver. Discover even more about this versatile material in the world of silver.
The collection is presented in different themes, like ‘this is me’ and ‘eternal fame’. One of the museum’s highlights is the interactive Silver Table. It is filled with interesting stories and exciting tasks, all relating to the world of silver.
Learn extraordinary trade secrets from smiths and create something yourself in the Silver Forge.
Dutch Silver Museum
Kazerneplein 4
2871 CZ Schoonhoven
Opening hours
Tuesday through Sunday: 11AM – 5PM
Private visits or meetings can be arranged outside of opening hours.
Please contact us for more information: