Outdoor stop – The B.C. Koekkoek-House in Kleve @museum.de

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Kleve – perhaps better known as Cleves – has always been a sedate little place, though one steeped in history: in the Middle Ages, it was the proud residential capital of a dukedom; in the 19th century, a spa town with special flair.

The bronze city model shows the network of alleys in the old town, surrounding Burgberg – Castle Hill – and the Stiftskirche, or Abbey Church. For centuries, the open space you’re standing in now was the garden of the Friars Minor – their monastery complex surrounded the Unterstadtkirche, the Lower Town Church.

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That remained the case in the 19th century, as Cleves gradually outgrew its medieval city wall. Take a few steps towards the fountains and look up the slope – do you see that sturdy brick building? Beyond it, there’s a four-story villa with pale plastered walls and a plinth and window surrounds of stone.

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This mansion was built in the mid-19th century by Barend Cornelis Koekkoek, a successful painter. Koekkoek was Dutch and had come to Cleves as a young man. His great speciality was wooded landscapes, which were so delicately painted that it’s virtually impossible to see a single brushstroke, even from very close up.

Today, his lordly home is a museum, where you can admire his paintings and those of his fellow artists. That’s because Koekkoek attracted quite a number of students and established what became known as the Klever Romantik – the Cleves Romantic style.

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For his mansion, he chose an angular design reminiscent of upper-class Italian town houses. However, he soon found himself in a dispute the local city authorities. The mighty stone plinth that extends across the lower floor jutted out into the road by an extra four inches!

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Fortunately, the artist, his architect and the authorities were able to reach an agreement. Koekkoek moved into his mansion, created some breath-taking pictures, received prominent visitors … and enjoyed the view over the garden of the Friars Minor outside his windows.

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If this has made you curious, why not stop by? The B.C. Koekkoek House will be delighted to welcome you for a visit.