It was a festive occasion indeed when Alexander Pechtold, known to many as the leader of the D66 liberal party, a position he held for many years, and great silverlover, opened the exhibition 'Ground Hope' by handing over a copy of the book Jan van Nouhuys Silver Art to Jan.
In a substantive speech he cites three quotes from Jan out of the book to analyse Jans work and Jan as a person.
Marcel Teheux, director of the Zilvermuseum Schoonhoven had started of with a humoristic and to the point speech. "Before deciding on this exhibition rumours reached me that Jan was a difficult man. Very precise, meticulous in every detail, no compromise, and it turned out that this was not at all - far from the truth! But then, you have to be like that. If you go upstairs you can see 74 pieces - some on pictures, most exhibited, and there is much more. That is very hard work and it is also hard work to strive to get silver accepted as an art form. You can't be nonchalant about that."
Jelle van Helsdingen, lover of contemporary silver and active in various ways to stimulate it, presented a silver bookmark to Jan.
Jan then had the chance to thank Marcel Teheux and his team for the inspiring cooperation, and the committee that produced the book for all their hard work.