Meet Arnoud Bennink: a portrait of a portrait
Arnoud fills his beautiful gallery with zest for life. The art comes to life when he starts telling. “I find this so beautiful!” he says passionately. He stands next to a work of art by Guy Olivier and frames it with a story. About the artist. About the technique. An exclamation mark behind every sentence. It is infectious.
As a little boy, cheerfulness is already written on his forehead, his mother hears him whistling coming from school three streets away. In between all that cheerfulness, he can regularly be found on the tennis court, a bloodthirsty fanatic. Eventually, this hobby leads to his own company in the construction of tennis courts. The highlight is the Davis Cup in 1994: in Rotterdam, Jacco Eltingh and Pete Sampras, among others, play on 'his' court.
The very first Bread
And then: the first art purchase. Arnoud is halfway through forties when he is introduced to Herman Brood by a friend. The two men hit it off and he buys his very first Brood – which still hangs on his wall. His love for modern art is born and he is still in touch with Marcel Brood, Herman's son.
Art gallery in The Netherlands
In his gallery, Arnoud is the host. With arms and heart wide open, he welcomes. There is coffee, something tasty and time. Time to walk around, to marvel at the colours. “Show some photos of your interior,” he says.
“Try these five out and decide at home which one you like best.”
And then: “Look, if you hang that work with the white frame here, that is exactly the shade of the carpet.” And he also knows, estimating off the top of your head whether it would fit in your home - that is difficult. Usually it is Arnoud himself who brings the art to your home. That contact with people, he lives for it.
Make an appointment at the art gallery in The Netherlands or digitally
Fill in the form or call Arnoud. He will take you into the world of art. There is coffee, something tasty and room for personal advice.
Flevoweg 35 2318 BX, Leiden, The Netherlands +316 53 40 74 18
His first business started when he was just twelve years old
On the Amsterdam Waterlooplein he buys old wooden cigar molds for seven guilders and fifty cents - which he then sells in Leiderdorp. The pleasure of shopping and making someone happy with a purchase, it is ingrained in his bones. Helping the customer who is looking for a work of art for his wife. But what would she like? Arnoud can figure it out with this man, who seems to know very well what she likes.
Besides being an art dealer, he is also a grandfather, and he gives each of his grandchildren a small work of art of a bird. One with the beak to the left, the other with the beak to the right. It inspires the children to draw birds and of course they ask him if the drawings can hang in the gallery. "Isn't it great that you can teach that?" he says, beaming.
So he certainly has antennae for emerging talent
As with Je Shen. Arnoud is fascinated by the beautiful works of this Chinese artist and is the only one in the Netherlands who sells the works. And, he goes for quality: a work of art deserves a really beautiful frame, Arnoud believes. 'I want the cream of the crop everywhere.
Arnoud Bennink. A colorful portrait in good condition. Well past retirement age and not tired yet.
“How long am I going to keep doing this? Until I lay my head down.”
He surrounds himself with young people and enjoys sailing in his sloop. Exercises regularly and likes to cook a nice dinner. When he has been out for dinner, he tries to make the dish at home. I have such a fantastic life!' he says with a big laugh.
