Dutch Collector Launches Kilim Foundation

A Dutch collector with the largest private collection of Bulgarian kilims has launched a foundation aimed at preserving and promoting the country’s rich weaving tradition. Jacob van Beelen, who lives in Bulgaria, owns 1,044 authentic kilims and has long been dedicated to safeguarding this cultural heritage, CE Report quotes BTA

The newly founded organization will build and document a national kilim collection, register kilims both in Bulgaria and abroad, and raise awareness through exhibitions, publications, and educational events. A key goal is the creation of a National Kilim Museum.

Van Beelen’s kilims were featured in a major exhibition—Stories in Colour. 350 Years of Bulgarian Kilim Tradition—held April to June 2024 at the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Paris, drawing visitors from across Europe.

Currently, he manages four simultaneous exhibitions across Bulgaria, with kilims displayed in Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv, Razlog, and Bansko. On the foundation's launch day, van Beelen also signed an agreement to host a permanent kilim exhibition at the newly redesigned TZUM building in central Sofia. The space will include kilim documentation, workshops, and a dedicated shop.