Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Nicolaas Beets

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 24, 2022

1. Nicolaas Beets Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Hier schreef Nicolaas Beets als Hildebrand zijn Camera Obscura
1834 () 1839

(English translation:)

Here Nicolaas Beets, under the name "Hildebrand", wrote his book Camera Obscura
1834 () 1839

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1834.

Location. 52° 9.441′ N, 4° 29.495′ E. Marker is in Leiden, Zuid-Holland (South Holland). Marker is on Breestraat. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Breestraat 114C, Leiden, Zuid-Holland 2311 CM, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Een Nieuw Stadhuis bij de oude markt / A New Town Hall on the Old Market (within shouting distance of this marker); Jan Steen (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Lodewijkskerk / St. Louis Church (about 150 meters away); Een spiegel van bloei en crisis / A Mirror of Growth and Crisis (about 150 meters away); Vieze vollers en beroemde schilders / Filthy Fullers and Famous Painters

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(about 150 meters away); Heike Kamerlingh Onnes: Vloeibarr Helium / Liquid Helium (about 180 meters away); Hooglandse of St Pankraskerk / Highland or St. Pancras Church (about 180 meters away); Sint Pieters- of Van der Speckhofje / Van der Speck Almshouse (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leiden.

More about this marker. The latter date depicted on the marker, 1839, is depicted both inverted and reversed, as if projected through a camera obscura.

Also see . . . Nicolaas Beets (Britannica.com).

Excerpt: "Nicolaas Beets, (born Sept. 13, 1814, Haarlem, Neth.—died March 13, 1903, Utrecht), Dutch pastor and writer whose Camera obscura is a classic of Dutch literature....While still at Leiden, he also wrote the sketches, tales, and essays collected as Camera obscura (edited under the pseudonym Hildebrand, 1839; 4th definitive ed. 1854). These works continued the Dutch tradition of presenting domestic scenes realistically but combined with it the whimsical humour he had learned from reading the English authors Laurence Sterne, Charles Lamb, and Charles Dickens."

Nicolaas Beets Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 24, 2022

2. Nicolaas Beets Marker - wide view

(Submitted on August 3, 2022.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 63 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 3, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.