This painting is made after thoroughly research by local artist Piet Emck, and his friend Roel Vroon.
Starting point was an old black and white print from 1750.
On this print, Leerdam can be seen from the dike along the Glassfactory, and the river "Linge".
In the painting you can still see the old castle.
On the foundations of the castle, "The Hofje van Aerden" was build later on.
This painting gives a beautiful romantic look at Leerdam around 1750.
Piet Emck also acts as a guide in "The Hofje van Aerden".
(A group of almshouses built by Mevrouw van Aerden in 1770 on the site of a castle belonging to the Van Arkel family. Here women who had fallen into poverty were accommodated in large houses set round a beautiful courtyard. In a tall building with a domed roof opposite the main entrance is the Regents' Room, with old furniture and a number of paintings by Frans Hals, Gerard Terborch and Jacob van Ruisdael.)
If you like to know more about his work or you would like to contact him, feel free to mail him at embis@hetnet.nl
Or if you want to know more about the local history, visit; www.hofjevanaerden.nl