Standbeeld Johannes Vijverberg

Johannes Vijverberg: Pioneer in Bird Photography

Johannes Vijverberg was born on August 25, 1880, in Oosterland as the son of a miller. From an early age, he was drawn to nature and developed a passion for birds. What began as collecting lapwing eggs grew into a lifelong dedication to the world of birds.

Teaching and Return to Schouwen-Duiveland
After his studies, Vijverberg worked as a teacher in Haarlem and Rotterdam. In 1908, he returned to Schouwen-Duiveland as headmaster of the primary school in Noordgouwe. Here, he combined his teaching career with his love of nature research.

Pioneer in Bird Photography
Using homemade cameras, Vijverberg began photographing birds—an unprecedented achievement in his time. He developed methods to capture birds without disturbing them and photographed more than a hundred species. His work was internationally recognized.

Publications and Legacy
In addition to photography, he wrote books and articles on birds, including Vogelidyllen. During the war, he was forced to leave his home, but after liberation he resumed his work. Vijverberg died on April 15, 1965, but his influence on nature photography and ornithology lives on.

This statue was donated by the Renesse Foundation.