W.M.M. van Giersbergen.
Drawing schools in North Brabant in the first half of the nineteenth century. Professional training for underprivileged boys.
Noordbrabants Historisch Jaarboek 19 (2002) 136 - 192.
In 1817 the government ordered the foundation of drawing schools in all Dutch cities. With this provision the government tried to revive the stagnating industry. The drawing schools were intended for working class boys who were trained during evening hours to become able craftsmen. To this end, the training had to be freely accessible. The government only issued the order, but left the (financial) responsibilities with the local authorities. Out of the ten cities in North Brabant faced with this obligation, only 's-Hertogenbosch, Breda and Eindhoven were able to start a municipal drawing school. Drawing was considered the basis for craft and industry and was therefore the main subject at schools. At first the emphasis was on the visual arts, but after a revision of the provision in 1829 the emphasis shifted toward efficiency. The need for drawing schools, which were just about the only form of technical education in the Netherlands, was high. In general it can be stated that the schools contributed to the technical development of craftsmen and to the blossoming of local industry.
Translation: Auke van den Berg, Rosmalen.