A Dutch elm witnessing times of transition
A symposium on Amsterdam’s financial history, wood and papermaking
Date: Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Time: 14:00 - 17:00h + drinks
Location: Theory Stairs
For who: Open to the Rietveld and Sandberg community
Please RSVP here
Speakers: Simon Lelieveldt (Financial Heritage), Crisow von Schultz (Stadshout), Leo Hoegen (Paper craftsman)
Hosted by: Woodworkshop & Urgent Ecologies
A unique Dutch elm once stood at Beursplein 5 — right in front of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. It witnessed more than financial growth: it stood through colonial trade, rising inequality, wars, economic crashes, and protests like Occupy Now.
Recently cut down, its fruits are now turned into art pieces. Some remainders are waiting to become something new. This symposium is an invitation to explore how art, ecology, and history can come together in a time of transition. And to consider using paper from the Dutch Elm of wood from Stadshout to create new art rooted in historical materials.
While the tree cannot speak for itself, we have three talks vocalising different perspectives. These will connect:
🌿 The hidden financial history of Amsterdam – and its dark chapters
🌿 The city’s identity as a city of elms
🌿 The legacy of papermaking – from tree to protest pamphlet
🌿 Circular art and design – working with materials that carry stories
🌿 The idea of stewardship – making art that’s aware, rooted, and responsible
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Leo Hoegen has been working with handmade paper since 1981 and with bookbinding since 1986 and then (book) printing in 1992. All these years he has been giving lessons, courses, workshops and lectures at all kinds of schools and associations. He has his own studio in Utrecht and carries out all kinds of assignments for individuals and companies.
Also, he has made many trips to several countries all over the world for PUM to advise small paper mills on the process and raw materials. He taught them how to manufacture new products. In 2013, Leo was included with paper on the National List of Intangible Heritage (KIEN). A lot of paper he makes comes from plants and trees, very occasionally from special old paper.
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Simon Lelieveldt is a regulatory compliance consultant for banks by day, and an artist and financial history storyteller by heart. In 2011, he founded Financieel Erfgoed (Financial History of Amsterdam), a non-profit initiative that shares stories and reflections of Amsterdam’s financial history (including the darker pages and Occupy Now) through audio tours, digital maps, and public talks.
The NOW marking on the Dutch ELM inspired him to make coins from the Duch Elm of Beursplein 5 which bear his personal circular motto: NOW is the PAST is the PRESENT is the NOW is the…
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Crisow von Schulz
Before initiating Stadshout, Crisow was, among other things, co-founder and secretary of the Olyfant Foundation, that managed vacant sheds and factory buildings for the municipality between 1987 and 1993 with the aim of supporting large-scale Low-Budget Projects. During that period, he developed as a self-taught artist/furniture maker, apprenticing with many self-selected masters. In 1993, he started an artisan furniture workshop. In that capacity, he also co-founded the Entrepreneurs Association of Crafts in the Pijp (Ondernemersvereniging van Ambachtelijke Bedrijven in de Pijp, OABP) in 2006. Since 2011, Crisow has focused entirely on developing Stadshout.
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Photo source: www.rijksmonumenten.nl, photo by Michiel1972