V.E.L. de Stuers (Victor Eugène Louis de Stuers) was born in Maastricht on October 20, 1843. He died in The Hague on March 21, 1916. During his grammar school education, he received drawing lessons from A. Schaepkens. He had an intense interest in town and village scenes, churches, castles and defensive works. In 1861 he went to study law in Leiden. Since then he wrote many articles and publications on monuments, vandalism and monument policy. With his article "Holland op zijn smalst," he accelerated the establishment of governmental care for national heritage. In 1874 he became secretary of the Board of State Advisors for the Monuments of History and Art and in 1875 referendary to the Arts and Sciences Division at the Department of the Interior. In this position, he advocated attention to architecture, art and monuments as means of uplifting the people. He engaged with supporters such as Cuypers in organizing the care of monuments, museums, archives and the teaching of drawing and arts and crafts. His Hague residence showed his interest in collecting ancient art in several period rooms.