The Van der Toorn family, once prominent in the shipping industry of Scheveningen, continues to contribute to society today. No longer with boats, but with funding for projects that truly make a difference for people in and around Scheveningen. We spoke with Onno van Brussel and Jan Bakker, board members of the foundation, about how it all began and what they are committed to.
The history of the Van der Toorn family
Arie Cornelis Jzn. van der Toorn was one of the most influential shipowners in Scheveningen in the early 20th century. In 1917, his impressive fleet consisted of 26 luggers, several steam and motor vessels, and four tug trawlers. His son Johannes Jacobus continued the family business and also led the shipping company for many years. The Van der Toorn family had not only a business impact but also a significant social impact on the Scheveningen community. "The shipowner family left their mark on society for many years. For example, they also supported widows of skippers," says chairman Onno van Brussel.
Giving back to the Scheveningen community
After the death of their father, sisters Bep and Ali van der Toorn wanted to do something lasting in memory of their father and grandfather. In 1997, they established Stichting Van der Toorn, using their inheritance to support social organizations in and around Scheveningen and beyond. After his death, brother Bas Van der Toorn also left his inheritance to the foundation. This way, the family remains meaningfully present in the community where their roots lie, even after their active shipping days.
Focus areas of the foundation
The Van der Toorn family was religious and church-going, and Bas Van der Toorn was also culturally active. These values are clearly reflected in the foundation's mission: "Providing financial support to institutions in social, cultural, and religious fields that are committed to helping others."
In the coming years, the donation policy will be even more focused on Dutch institutions and organizations involved in the care and guidance of people with disabilities and the less fortunate. Stichting Van der Toorn only finances project-based applications; personal applications are not considered.
Although the focus is mainly on Scheveningen and the surrounding area, the foundation has also supported numerous projects elsewhere in the Netherlands and in developing countries over the past 25 years. To support all these projects, the foundation works with three forms of financing.
Getting funding to the right place
The fund distributes its resources in three ways: through individual projects (for example via FindNFund), long-term partnerships with social organizations, and for the past ten years through named funds. In such a partnership, Stichting Van der Toorn connects with a fund with specific expertise. These partners are closer to practice and know exactly where the need is greatest.
A good example is the collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM). Thanks to their close involvement in rescue work, they knew that the rescue brigade urgently needed new survival suits, which are essential for rescuing people from the North Sea, where you can have a heart attack after just three minutes in the water. With this knowledge, the foundation made the financing of 20 to 30 survival suits possible. This way, the money goes exactly where it really counts.
The collaboration with FindNFund
With the vision of working smarter, not harder, Stichting Van der Toorn has chosen to collaborate with FindNFund. This means you can submit an application to the fund via the FindNFund platform. View the organization's profile for more information:
