Book collection Johan Dijkstra

Collection description:

UKLU Dijkstra

Collection description created by:
Anike van Noort, 2025

Brief overview

Name: J., Dijkstra, (1896 - 1978), artist, writer, glazier

Size: Ca. 3 metres, 195 books

Language(s): Dutch, French, English, German, Italian, Japanese

Summary: Art books that were property of Johan Dijkstra (1896-1978).

Owner: Groningen University Library

Repository: University Library Groningen, Special Collections Department

Provenance and acquisition

Biography

Johannes (Johan) Dijkstra was born in 1896, the son of Derk Dijkstra (decorative painter) and Elisabeth Dijkstra-Bousema (seamstress). 

After attending ULO and HBS, Dijkstra studiet the Minerva Academy in Groningen from 1916 to 1919. In 1918, he became one of the founders of the Groningen art group De Ploeg. 

Upon completing his education in Groningen, Johan Dijkstra moved to Amsterdam, where he studied at the Rijksacademie from 1919 to 1920. From 1920 onwards, Dijkstra primarily earned his living through illustrations and advertising work. 

In the 1930s, Johan Dijkstra shifted his focus to monumental art. He trained as a glazier and, among other projects, created the windows for the auditorium of the Academy Building at the University of Groningen. In addition to his work as a graphic artist, painter, and glazier, Johan Dijkstra was also a writer. He contributed texts for publications by and about De Ploeg and worked as a critic for various magazines.

Johan Dijkstra passed away in Groningen in 1978 and was buried at Esserveld Cemetery.

Acquisition

The pieces in this collection were owned by Johan Dijkstra and were obtained in 2021 through a donation from Ms Martha Kloosterboer to the UB.

Contents and collation

The collection consists of books and a few magazines on art.

User Instructions

Request Instructions

The materials in this archive can be requested through SmartCat

Citing instruction

When justifying the use of material from this collection, the following information should be included: 

Collection: Groningen University Library, UKLU Dijkstra

Individual items: Groningen UB [000, 000]

Use / Reproduction

For conditions of use and reproduction, see our web page.

Related Collections

Dutch industrial bookbindings. Some of the bookbindings were made by Johan Dijkstra. These can also be viewed digitally.

Collection KOOPS

Literature 

Veltman, D. Het ‘oerprovincialisme’ van een modernist’, de boekencollectie van Johan Dijkstra. De Boekenwereld: Frisia. Vol. 38, Is. 3. Amsterdam University Press & Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 2022, pp. 19-23.

Checked keywords

Persons

Dijkstra, Johan (VIAF ID: 50037155)

De Ploeg (VIAF ID: 196242118)

Academie Minerva (VIAF ID: 127637814)

Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten VIAF ID: 123703751

Geographical names

Groningen (VIAF ID: 127790264)

Amsterdam (VIAF ID: 158824135)