Sybren Hellinga Foundation presents:
Galerie Hellinga – The House with the Eagle
Curated by Albert Oost

Festive opening on July 4 at Kunsthuis Syb
Location: Kunsthuis Syb, Hoofdstraat 70, Beetsterzwaag
Period: July 4 – August 1
Opening time: 14:00 – 17:00
Exhibition: July 4 – August 1, 2026
Opening hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 13:00 – 17:00

Kunsthuis Syb is pleased to invite you to the group exhibition Galerie Hellinga: The House with the Eagle. The exhibition is a tribute to Sybren Hellinga (1945–2024), gallerist, collector, and source of inspiration for generations of artists, as well as founder of Kunsthuis Syb. The exhibition brings together works by fourteen artists who played a significant role during his many years of gallery practice in Beetsterzwaag. It also features the festive launch of the book Syb – Life and Work by Gitte Brugman. The exhibition is curated by Albert Oost, organised by the Sybrand Hellinga Foundation, and presented by Kunsthuis Syb.

Press Release:
persbericht.pdf

Celebrating the life of Syb
The life of Sybren Hellinga cannot easily be summarized. He was a collector, gallery owner, art lover and mentor, but above all someone who believed that art brings people together. This exhibition reunites the world of Sybren Hellinga one more time: his enthusiasm, his hospitality and his enduring commitment to artists.
Through works that Syb presented during his years as a gallery owner in Beetsterzwaag, the atmosphere of Galerie Hellinga is brought back to life. The exhibition is not only a reflection on a remarkable gallery practice, but also marks the publication of Syb – Life and Work, a book documenting his life story and legacy.
A defining moment in Syb’s life was his encounter with the work of Boele Bregman. As one of Bregman’s earliest collectors, he developed the conviction that art should not remain hidden in private collections but should be shared. After his retirement, he put that ideal into practice. First in Britswert and later in Beetsterzwaag, he created a gallery where art, conversation and human connection came together.

Tribute to a community of artists
The artists featured in this exhibition reflect the open and intuitive way in which Syb approached art. Some exhibited only once, while others returned regularly. Professional relationships often developed into lasting friendships. The works on display come from private collections, artists’ estates and loans from the artists themselves, demonstrating how the relationships and convictions that emerged around Galerie Hellinga continue to resonate today.
As such, the exhibition is not only a retrospective but also a tribute to a community of artists, collectors and friends. Syb’s dedication to art and emerging talent continues through Kunsthuis SYB and the Sybren Hellinga Art Prize.