-
Applications
-
Product Families
-
About Bruynzeel
-
Highlights
The Netherlands
Stichting Texels Museum
On the island of Texel in the Dutch Wadden Sea, heritage and nature go hand in hand. Stichting Texels Museum is a unique cultural organisation that manages four distinctive locations: Ecomare, a nature museum and seal sanctuary; Museum Kaap Skil, which tells Texel’s maritime story; the historic Oudheidkamer in Den Burg; and the iconic lighthouse in De Cocksdorp. Together, they preserve the island’s natural, cultural, and historical legacy.
To support this mission, the foundation set out to create a single, centralised depot to house collections from all four museums. With support from Bruynzeel Storage Systems, this vision became reality: a state-of-the-art storage facility that meets the latest standards in conservation, flexibility, and sustainability.
A Shared Depot for a Shared Story
Over the years, the collections of Stichting Texels Museum had been spread across various sites – stored in cellars, offices, or improvised spaces. These conditions weren’t always ideal, and managing the growing number of objects became increasingly complex. “A central depot had been a long-held wish,” says Marion Barth, director of the foundation. “We needed a dedicated space where all our objects could be stored safely, under the right conditions, and where we knew exactly where everything was.”
The result is a fully integrated depot where materials from all locations come together. Whether it’s a centuries-old shipwreck find, a mounted seabird, or a historic painting – each item now has a proper place.
Thoughtful Design, Tailored to Every Object
Collection manager Manon Schooneman played a key role in the move. “Before the transition, we carefully analysed what the collection needed. Some items needed to hang, others had to lie flat or be stored in special rolls to protect their structure.”
Together with Bruynzeel, the team selected a mix of solutions: painting racks, roll storage systems, and height-adjustable shelving for boxed and standalone objects. The result is a depot that’s not only efficient in layout, but also precise in how it supports and preserves every item.This flexibility allows the team to optimise storage and minimise space loss – an important factor on an island where every square metre counts.
“For me, the true sign of a good partnership is when people think critically with you. Not just offering a product – but a solution. Bruynzeel really did that.”
Sustainable and Built for the Long Term
Sustainability was an important goal for the museum foundation. With Bruynzeel’s GreenSteel, the depot shelving was manufactured using steel that reduces CO2 emissions
by up to 90%. This aligns closely with the values of the foundation and its focus on preserving both cultural and natural heritage.
“We don’t want just a solution that works now,” says Roy van Gestel, account manager at Bruynzeel. “We design for the long term—so that even 20 years from now, the system
still meets the needs of the collection.”
From Vision to Reality
The depot is now in full use, and the team couldn’t be happier. “It feels like a luxury,” says Marion. “The space is bright and wellorganised, and walking through it is a joy. But most of all, it gives us the peace of mind that we’re preserving Texel’s heritage in the best way possible – for today and for future generations.”
The collaboration between Stichting Texels Museum and Bruynzeel shows how a shared commitment to care, conservation, and craftsmanship can bring a long-awaited dream to life.
