From 16 February to 24 September 2023, the exhibition ‘The Winning Ticket, silver prizes in the historic Dutch Lottery’ can be seen in the Dutch Silver Museum in Schoonhoven. Lotteries were a form of crowdfunding in the 16th and 17th century.
From disaster to opportunity
Traditionally a disaster took place which prompted people to start a lottery and raise money for charity. Think of a major fire, a war, destruction by looters or arranging a shelter for orphans, the sick, the elderly or the poor. Rich and poor could participate. And who doesn’t like the change to win? Perhaps it fulfills the wish for a better life or the desire for something you could otherwise not buy. At the same time you help a good cause. Or does helping someone in need outweigh your personal benefit? In the 15th century lotteries came up in the Netherlands and Italy at about the same time, with silver as the main price.