The monument for Piet Hein

A substantial, heavy, natural stone monument like this requires considerable maintenance. In 1854, it underwent a major restoration in which defects were repaired and touched up. Everything was washed, sanded, and polished, and the letters of the inscription were gilded again with real gold leaf. Approximately thirty years later, a second restoration took place due to damages and potential subsidence in various parts of the monument. The well-known stone masonry company of Frans Stolzenberg, along with a carpenter and contractor from Delft, undertook the restoration. They opened the burial vault, replaced the lead and wood of the coffin, repaired and anchored the monument, and worked on the fence. An interesting detail: just after this restoration, in 1882, an anonymous donor gifted a piece of bone and a lock of hair from Piet Hein to the Rijksmuseum… Around 1925, additional work was done on the church floor in front of the monument.

Once again, the monument of Piet Hein is undergoing restoration, as it is partially sinking or cracking, and the stone contains harmful salts that can cause discoloration or damage. This process needs to be halted in order to preserve art-historical heritage such as this monument for future generations. Therefore, based on the guidance of experts, an intensive restoration plan has been developed and is being executed by specialized restoration stone masons and other craftsmen, such as a gilder for the inscriptions and conservators specializing in sculpture or antique celestial and terrestrial globes. Initially, the monument is disassembled, then removed from the church in separate parts. Desalination and the actual restoration work are carried out in the workshop of the stone restorers. If all goes according to plan, the monument will be reinstalled in the Oude Kerk around mid-2025. At that time, a separation layer will be applied between the church wall and floor and the monument itself to prevent the harmful salts from affecting it again