Paviljoen Welgelegen – Haarlem

Welgelegen Pavilion, since 1930 the seat of the Provincial Council of North Holland, has a long and eventful history. Built in the revolutionary year 1789 for banker Henry Hope, it later became a retreat for King Louis Napoleon and Wilhelmina of Prussia, the mother of King William I. Between 2007 and 2009 the pavilion was beautifully restored.

We restored the gilt leather in the Pavilion, which originally came from Medemblik. In 1930 it was given to the Provincial Council of North Holland by the municipality of Medemblik.

After intensive use of the room it was in poor condition and the gilt leather needed a cleaning treatment. Because the room is not air-conditioned, it was also necessary to give the leather a flexible suspension allowing it to stretch and shrink without great stress on the old and dry leather. The work was carried out in collaboration with Godfried Brands and Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg.