ANBI and POM
Organisation, ANBI status, POM status
Name Stichting Landgoed de Wiersse
RSIN 818909006
KVK 08169192
Contact details Wiersserallee 9, 7251 LH Vorden
t. 0031 575 723086, info@dewiersse.com, www.dewiersse.com
Professional Organisation for the Preservation of Monuments (POM)
Landgoed de Wiersse has been recognised by the national government as a Professional Heritage Conservation Organisation (POM). Only a few dozen organisations in the Netherlands hold this recognition. It also gives Landgoed de Wiersse an exemplary role towards other monument owners and organisations.
There are strict quality requirements attached to this POM status, which are monitored by the Government Organisation and Heritage Inspectorate:
- Statuten: Which shows that the organisation has a statutory objective of preserving cultural heritage.
- Quality of the work: The organisation demonstrates in the documentation that the quality of the work in cultural heritage is ensured and it addresses at least the following aspects:
- the application of professional implementation guidelines for work on national monuments
- the planned maintenance of national monuments
- conducting cultural heritage research in restoration work
- the availability and organisation of structural expertise when carrying out work on national monuments
- Financiële stukken: This shows that the organisation is financially stable. Think annual reports and financial statements or financial reports.
- National monuments in good condition- The organisation demonstrates that at least half of the number of national monuments owned by the organisation are in good condition. That condition must have been determined by an objective, expert third party, unless the organisation itself has one.
In addition, a POM must meet two formal criteria:
- The organisation is a private legal entity or denomination and
- Owner of at least 20 national monuments (De Wiersse has more than 50 national monuments)
see extensive also: https://www.cultureelerfgoed.nl/onderwerpen/subsidie-instandhouding-rijksmonumenten/professionele-organisaties-voor-monumentenbehoud
POM status De Wiersse: setting an example in sustainable management of green heritage
De Wiersse is aware that, as a POM, it has an exemplary role in the Dutch heritage landscape and fulfils this role to the best of its ability. De Wiersse maintains 'green' (gardens) and 'red' (buildings and garden elements such as statues, bridges and fences) monuments. The gardens in particular, including all its elements, are unique among Dutch heritage monuments and in this respect in particular, De Wiersse sets an example for other monument owners and the general public.
In the context of climate change and its challenges, we have focused in particular on developing sustainable management strategies for historic gardens. We are actively experimenting with alternative planting methods and soil management to increase biodiversity and restore ecological balance. For example, we transform traditional lawns into botanical hay meadows and replace vulnerable plant species with robust native varieties.
Soziale Medien
As POM, we are also committed to educational programmes and collaborations. Our educational offerings are diverse and target both the general public and professionals. We offer workshops, tours and practical days, focusing on sustainable management and maintenance of historic gardens and landscapes, which contribute positively to the environment.
We maintain important partnerships both nationally and internationally, including with the INSA Loire Valley for landscape architecture students and the University of Amsterdam (UvA) for restoration and conservation. We also collaborated with Gardeners' World magazine to promote the artisanal plant market at De Wiersse, which is dedicated to sustainable gardening. This event highlights our commitment to sustainability and promoting biodiversity by offering organic and native plant species. Through Gardeners' World's platform, we can promote our approach widely.
POM status De Wiersse: active role in shaping government policy
Besides our efforts in the fields of education and climate adaptation, De Wiersse has also played an active role in influencing municipal policies, especially in terms of subsidies for municipal monuments. We have worked constructively with local governments to highlight the importance of appropriate financial support for the preservation of monuments. By sharing our expertise and experience, we helped shape subsidy policies that recognise not only the historical value, but also the economic and social contribution of monuments to the community.
Moreover, in cooperation with the water board, we have advocated for cultural-historical values to be taken into account when determining measures such as irrigation bans. This has led to the impact on historic gardens and landscapes now being taken into account in decision-making around water management. Our efforts ensure that the unique cultural history of our estate and similar locations remains protected from unforeseen consequences of such measures.
These initiatives demonstrate how De Wiersse not only focuses on the direct care of our own heritage, but also takes a leading role in promoting a wider understanding and appreciation of cultural heritage within public policy. By actively engaging with policymakers, we strive to have a positive impact on historic preservation at both local and national levels.
Board Stichting Landgoed de Wiersse
Ms M.E.B. Gatacre (chairman)
Mr Dr G.J. Hoogendoorn (secretary)
Mr J.A. Jansens van Gellicum (treasurer)
Mr T.J. Gatacre
Ms G.M. Gatacre
Mrs M.C.S. Gräfin zu Solms-Sonnenwalde
Mr M.R.W. Scherpenhuijsen Rom
Organisational structure Landgoed de Wiersse
Stichting Landgoed de Wiersse owns all depositary receipts for shares in Landgoed de Wiersse BV, which in turn holds the land and buildings. The opening of the gardens and plant market on the estate is organised within Openstelling Landgoed de Wiersse BV, in which Stichting Landgoed de Wiersse holds all shares. When purchasing entrance tickets to the gardens, an agreement is established with Openstelling Landgoed de Wiersse BV, Chamber of Commerce number: 93896263, VAT number: NL866564986B01.
Policy plan
The organisation was established as a foundation by notarial deed on 15 December 2007.
The Foundation raises capital by:
- receive donations from individuals. The Stiching has a friends and donors programme for this purpose. Friends who give at least €30 a year have, among other things, free access to the gardens and are invited to an annual friends' meeting. Donors who give €175 or more are also invited to an annual donor lunch.
- apply for grants from governments and private funds. The grants are applied for and used for specific projects that include the maintenance of the national monuments that Landgoed de Wiersse B.V. maintains.
The Foundation manages and expends assets as follows:
Stichting landgoed de Wiersse manages and spends the assets acquired as above in line with its objective (see under Objective). The assets are used to maintain the estate, the natural beauty located thereon and the national monuments located thereon in the public interest. The general policy in this regard is set out and explained in more detail in the estate vision (2014). This vision has been updated in the policy plan 2021-2026, downloadable here. For a detailed explanation of the ANBI Foundation's policies and multi-year budget, please refer to the document 'Policy and budget ANBI Foundation 2021-2026', available for download here.
Remuneration policy
The Foundation has no employees. The directors receive neither remuneration nor an expense allowance for their services.
Objective
The Foundation aims to:
Continuing in the general interest of the historical ensemble de Wiersse (first mentioned in twelve hundred and eighty-eight), a buitenplaats described and protected as a national monument consisting of main and outbuildings, as well as an important historical garden and park layout (forty-five parts), surrounding an estate opened under the Nature Conservation Act.
The character of the ensemble has always been developed under family management, with continuity of ownership (since sixteen hundred and seventy-eight), notably by Victor de Stuers (until nineteen hundred and sixteen), the first law clerk for Arts and Sciences and his wife Aurelie van Limburg Stirum; then by his only child, Alice and her husband, William Edward Gatacre; since nineteen hundred and sixty-three by Edward Victor Gatacre (Victor de Stuers' only grandchild) and his wife Laura. This development takes into account not only cultural and natural history values, but also an inhabited and working whole. Within the whole, housing the contents (including the collection of objects of history and art together with the family archive, managed by the Victor de Stuers Foundation) is an important element. Equally important in the continuation of the ensemble are the managers, employees and tenants who look after the preservation and living development of the house, the historic garden and park, the cultural landscape and nature, together with the visible productivity of agriculture, forestry and hunting. The ensemble of the estate includes: farms with functioning farm buildings as well as baking ovens and wells; meadows and fields; buildings (including two national and eight municipal monuments); woods, hedges, girdles, groups of trees, and lanes; pools and meander streams; as well as the flora and fauna that benefit from the diversity.
Report on activities carried out
Task and modus operandi of the board of Stichting Landgoed de Wiersse:
Given the purpose of the foundation, the primary task of the board is to work for the preservation of NSW Landgoed de Wiersse. The board meets periodically and at least annually in formal meetings, during which policy is discussed and the annual accounts, annual report and important decisions are approved. The directors also provide regular advice to those charged with implementation. This advice covers the areas of each person's expertise, particularly aspects of estate management, law and taxation, cultural and natural history. Implementation takes place at the level of Landgoed de Wiersse BV, in which ANBI Foundation Landgoed de Wiersse holds all the depositary receipts for shares.
Financial justification
The foundation has had ANBI status since 1 January 2008.
The income and expenditure statement as well as the 2022 and 2023 balance sheet can be seen in the 2023 financial statements, downloadable here.
The statement of income and expenditure as well as the balance sheet for 2024 are included in the 2024 annual accounts, download here
The statement of income and expenditure as well as the balance sheet for 2025 are included in the 2025 annual accounts, download here
Staff estate
As a privately occupied estate, de Wiersse is always maintained by its own approach that subtly changes and adapts from generation to generation. This approach ensures that the Estate, its park, gardens and buildings look natural, although in reality it continues to develop almost invisibly.
The estate is managed on a day-to-day basis by M.E.B. (Mary) Gatacre and her husband Dr A.L. (Aart) Jonkers. They manage both Landgoed de Wiersse BV and Openstelling Landgoed de Wiersse BV. The garden employs a small garden team led by Mary Gatacre, consisting of gardener Wilco Knol and one (sometimes two) employee(s), volunteers and interns. Jettie Stelling, Ria Olyslager and fellow guides provide the guided tours.
While the foundation has no employees, Landgoed de Wiersse BV does.
Annual report
View the Annual report 2023 and the Annual report 2024