Dutch painter Adrianus Johannes Groenewegen was born on 1 May 1874 in Rotterdam. He died on 8 January 1963 in the village of Horn in the province of Limburg. Adriaan Groenewegen was a draughtsman and watercolourist in addition to being a painter.

Background Adriaan Groenewegen

Adriaan Groenewegen studied at the Academy of Visual Arts in Rotterdam in 1890-1897. After his studies, he initially continued to live and work in Rotterdam, but moved to The Hague in 1898. Later, in August 1922, he settled temporarily in the village of Budel in the province of North Brabant. He lived for about 1 year in a guesthouse owned by the Schepens family on the Markt. After that, Adriaan Groenewegen left Budel for some time and probably stayed in the village Oisterwijk.

But in 1924, Adriaan Groenewegen returned to Budel and had a house built with a studio. This is where he would live until his death in 1963. The property was located on the road from Budel to the Belgian village of Hamont. He named his house “Vredehof”, which name can also be read in stone above the front door.

In 1963, Adriaan Groenewegen was buried in the old cemetery of the Roman Catholic Church in Budel. He died of pneumonia in a nursing home in Horn. It was his last wish to be buried in his beloved village. Later, the street past his house in Budel was named after him: Adriaan Groenewegen avenue.

Hague School

Adriaan Groenewegen is considered one of the last painters of the Hague School. The Hague School is a movement known for its atmospheric landscapes and realistic depictions of the Dutch countryside.

His work covered a wide range of subjects, including portraits, still lifes, interiors with peasant figures, animals and river scenes. Yet he was particularly celebrated for his bright watercolours of green meadows with cattle. In these, he masterfully captured the atmosphere and light. His paintings and watercolours were particularly loved by collectors in England, Scotland, Canada and the United States. This confirmed his international reputation.