Naturalis Museum mourns unexpected death of director Marjolein van Breemen at 47

Naturalis Museum is mourning the sudden death of its director, Marjolein van Breemen, over the weekend. The museum has lowered its flag to half-mast in her honor.

Van Breemen, 47, was a highly respected figure in the museum and science center community. In a statement, Naturalis described her as “a highly valued, knowledgeable colleague and a wonderful person. Always full of energy and ideas. Sparkling, empathetic and sociable. We are devastated and saddened and are finding it hard to process the news.”

Van Breemen had also been involved in her local community. In 2023, two years ago, she and two neighbors invested in a café near Noordermarkt in Amsterdam’s Jordaan district.

The café, R. de Rosa, officially opened in June 2023, with the goal of keeping the neighborhood livable rather than managing daily operations, Het Parool reported.

At the time, Van Breemen said, “To prevent noise nuisance, we close no later than half past midnight. This keeps it enjoyable for the neighborhood and ourselves.” The initiative required a significant investment for renovations, goodwill, and a ten-year lease, while professional operators ran the café.