Vereniging Aegon (the "Association") has entered into an agreement with Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe for a multi-year financial investment to support research into and education regarding the restoration and preservation of biodiversity.
A one-off contribution will be provided to finance the modernization and expansion of the educational concept and structure of the Museonder. In addition, the Association will financially support various scientific research projects and educational initiatives undertaken by Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe in the coming years.
Museonder
The soil plays an important role in protecting and strengthening biodiversity. The Museonder is the world’s first completely underground museum and is located in the heart of Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe. The Museonder is dedicated to education and exhibitions focused on nature restoration.
After more than thirty years, the museum is ready for renewal. With the Association’s investment in the redevelopment of the Museonder, Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe will be able to offer visitors even more high-quality education about the importance of healthy soil.
The renewed Museonder should be more than just informative: above all, it should offer an immersive experience and become a platform for sharing knowledge at different levels. Social and environmental issues such as nitrogen deposition and climate change will be brought to the public’s attention.
Scientific research
Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe is also home to extensive scientific research, conducted both by the park itself and in collaboration with external partners. This multi-year investment will support these research projects, with a focus on restoring soil health and creating a better balance in biodiversity.
Quote from Association Aegon
“Biodiversity in the Netherlands is under pressure. Animal and plant species are disappearing, while landscapes are facing changing weather conditions. At Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe, preserving and strengthening biodiversity is the primary objective. We are delighted to contribute to this objective through this multi-year investment and, as a partner, to play our part in restoring nature.”
Lodewijk Hijmans van den Bergh, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Association Aegon
Quote from Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe
“We are extremely pleased with this generous investment, which will enable us to further achieve our objective of preserving and strengthening biodiversity. It is particularly valuable that, thanks in part to this multi-year investment from Association Aegon, we can take a major step towards realizing the new Museonder while also carrying out more scientific research.”
Seger van Voorst tot Voorst, Managing Director of Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe
About Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe
Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe is the green treasure trove of the Netherlands. Covering 5,400 hectares, it is the largest contiguous actively managed nature reserve in private ownership in the Netherlands. Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe operates independently and is largely dependent on visitor income, donations and subsidies for its operations (88%).
The focus on biodiversity is producing tangible results. Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe is home to the only population of wild apple trees in the Veluwe, several highly endangered butterfly species, very rare grasshopper species, and six of the seven native reptile species. Several bird species are thriving thanks to the transitions between different landscape types, and one of the two heathland streams in the Netherlands can also be found here. These are just some of the results achieved at Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe.
More information about Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe is available at www.hogeveluwe.nl.