Boerhaavelaan 6.(Gillian Vogelsang, 12 September) We have finished our first day of the Open Monument Weekend (Open Monumentendagen), which is a national event where people can come and look at various forms of monumental buildings, from factories to cathedrals, via churches and castles. Not to mention, public and private buildings of various types and ages.
The TRC was opened last year and we agreed to be open again this year, as it is a great way for people to see the building (Boerhaavelaan 6) and to learn about the TRC and what we are doing. Today we were open from 12.00 until 17.00 and we had over 100 visitors. The first, actually came at 10.30 as the banner was in situ and the door open!
There was a constant flow of visitors from 11.30 onwards. Most people came to see the building, for example, there were some who had lived on or near the Boerhaavelaan and simply wanted to see what the house looked like on the inside. Others were interested in the architect, Jesse, who was involved in building both the house and its extension.
But there was an equal number who had heard about the TRC via the local newspapers, online (especially LinkedIn), etc., and wanted to learn more about what we are doing and why. The shop was open and many items sold to visitors, another way of helping to support the TRC! Various people took the new TRC brochure with the promise to make a donation. There were also a number of people who are now seriously thinking about becoming a volunteer and helping with the day-to-day running of the TRC.
The TRC team on Saturday 12th September.
One lady has offered to give gold work embroidery lessons. She was a professional goldsmith and is also willing to run a class on how to make gold threads of various types. More about this in due course (worth looking at the TRC Agenda to see when this will occur).
In other words this was a good opportunity to let people from Leiden and others learn about the TRC and what we are doing. I wonder who will come tomorrow (Sunday) to explore and experience the TRC (we are open from 10.00 until 17.00, entrance is free of charge).
