Team

  • Walter Vanhaerents
    Photgraphy by Karel Duerinckx

    Walter Vanhaerents

    Walter Vanhaerents (b. 1945, Torhout) initially dreamed of becoming a doctor, but personal circumstances led him, at the age of twenty-four, to take the helm of a major construction company. Under his leadership, it grew into a remarkable success story. This early chapter in his life reveals the qualities that continue to define him today: an unwavering drive, a direct yet respectful way of engaging with others, and an ability to commit himself fully to any challenge he embraces.

     

    Walter is the founding spirit of the Vanhaerents Art Collection. His vision—bold, curious, and uncompromising—remains visible in every detail of the Collection. He sets the artistic direction, generates new ideas with infectious enthusiasm, and builds meaningful relationships within the international art world. His intuitive understanding of contemporary art, combined with his natural leadership, has shaped the Collection into what it is today: a place where experimentation, dialogue, and artistic risk-taking flourish.

     

    Together with Joost and Els, Walter continues to act as the Collection’s artistic compass, inspiring the entire team with his reflections on what art is—and what it might become. Hard-working, visionary, and determined, he channels his lifelong passion for art into opening the doors of an extraordinary collection for a wide and diverse audience.

  • Joost Vanhaerents

    Joost Vanhaerents

    Joost Vanhaerents (b. 1969, Torhout) spent two decades at the helm of the family’s construction and real estate company, drawing on his training as an industrial engineer and his talent for managing ambitious projects. Throughout those years, his lifelong fascination with contemporary art—sparked during childhood visits to exhibitions with his father—continued to deepen and evolve.

     

    Today, alongside his father Walter and his sister Els, Joost is one of the key driving forces behind the Vanhaerents Art Collection. Energetic, communicative and hands-on, he shapes the Collection’s public presence through its public relations and marketing, while also taking charge of the design and management of its often complex technical and architectural installations. His engineering mindset, combined with a genuine love for artistic experimentation, allows him to translate demanding artistic visions into seamless, immersive experiences.

     

    Joost is also an enthusiastic ambassador for the Collection. He greatly enjoys guiding visitors—whether students, professionals or international guests—and regularly gives tours in Dutch, English, and French, offering insights into both the artworks and the broader narrative of the Collection.

     

  • Els Vanhaerents

    Els Vanhaerents

    Els Vanhaerents (b. 1971, Torhout) trained as an architect and spent more than a decade working in the field before shifting her focus to contemporary art. Her architectural background, combined with a refined aesthetic sensibility, plays a decisive role in shaping the scenography of the Collection’s exhibitions. Els approaches each display as a spatial composition, carefully balancing artworks, architecture, and atmosphere to create meaningful encounters for visitors.

     

    Within the Vanhaerents Art Collection, she also contributes to financial management and helps guide the organisation of events, ensuring that each project aligns with the Collection’s vision and values.

     

    Beyond her curatorial and organisational work, Els is a passionate mediator of art. She regularly leads tours in Dutch, sharing insights into the Collection with warmth, clarity, and a deep commitment to making contemporary art accessible to a wide audience.

  • Arthur Buerms

    Arthur Buerms

    Arthur Buerms (Jette, 1993) studied law with a specialisation in copyright for the creative industries. During his studies, he founded several art initiatives, driven by a strong interest in contemporary culture and artistic entrepreneurship.

     

    He spent two years in New Zealand, where he launched the Nomadic Art Gallery, a mobile gallery housed in a transformed truck, and later ran a gallery in Belgium focusing on contemporary art from Oceania.

     

    With a passion for cultural ecosystems and strategy, Arthur developed his career as a consultant in the creative sector. He now works at the Vanhaerents Art Collection, where he oversees digital collection systems, B2B and cultural partnerships, events, and audience development.

     

    Arthur works part-time at Vanhaerents and is also business manager and co-company manager at A7LA5 vzw.