Instrument
violin
Willem Bouman
The Hague,
1988
played by
Maartje van Assema
Maartje van Assema
bouwer
Willem Bouman
*1922 , Leeuwarden †2005 , Den Haag
Willem Bouman was involved in the establishment of the Musical Instrument Fund from day one and remained closely involved in all matters concerning the fund until his death.
Willem Bouman grew up in The Hague, where his father was a musician with the Royal Military Band. After retiring, Bouman Sr.—himself an avid amateur violin maker—moved with his family to Groningen, where he opened a shop. The young Bouman studied violin at the conservatory there and quickly emerged as a promising violinist. A promising career seemed to lie ahead, but performing as a soloist in front of audiences proved more difficult for Willem than he would have liked. He chose a different career path and decided to train as a violin maker in Mittenwald.
Willem Bouman grew up in The Hague, where his father was a musician with the Royal Military Band. After retiring, Bouman Sr.—himself an avid amateur violin maker—moved with his family to Groningen, where he opened a shop. The young Bouman studied violin at the conservatory there and quickly emerged as a promising violinist. A promising career seemed to lie ahead, but performing as a soloist in front of audiences proved more difficult for Willem than he would have liked. He chose a different career path and decided to train as a violin maker in Mittenwald.
Workshop(s)
Den Haag, 1951-2005
From this builder
Instrument
violin
Willem Bouman
The Hague,
1988
played by
Maartje van Assema
Maartje van Assema
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He had to put those plans on hold for the time being due to the outbreak of World War II. During the war, he served as a courier for the resistance. His musical activities also continued during and after the war. He led a band with which he performed all over Groningen and had his own string quartet. Because of his history in the Resistance, Bouman received special permission after the war to study in Mittenwald, which was by then under American occupation. In Mittenwald, he remained active as a musician and met his future wife, Irmengard, who played in the same chamber orchestra. Bouman earned his master’s degree in Mittenwald.
In addition to violin making, he also learned the craft of bow making from Otto Adler. His career as an independent violin maker began in 1951 in The Hague, once again with government assistance due to his history in the resistance. Bouman’s excellent reputation spread quickly, and musicians from the Netherlands and abroad began patronizing his shop. Until his death, Bouman enjoyed a distinguished reputation as a luthier, restorer, and expert.
Bouman was an honorary member of the Association of Swiss Violin Makers. He received the City Medal of The Hague and was named a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
The Bouman company in The Hague was carried on first by his wife, Irmengard, and then by his son, Feiko, and his daughter, Lies.
