History
Over the years, the Iona Stichting has adapted to the developments of its time. However, the core has always remained the same: supporting socially engaged projects.
Jan and Ernée van der Linden
1966
Founding
March 17, 1966: Jan van der Linden (1907-1993) and his wife Ernée van der Linden-’t Hooft (1911-2004) founded the Iona Stichting. The architect and the artist drew the name from the inspiring Scottish island of Iona, once an important spiritual source for Europe. With the foundation, they aimed to create a bridge between social renewal, art, and anthroposophy.
1970
Development of services
In the seventies, the Iona Stichting developed into a service organization for institutions with an impulse for renewal inspired by anthroposophy. It advises, participates in founding boards, provides funding, raises funds, and organizes cultural activities in the fields of Waldorf education, healthcare, and biodynamic agriculture and nutrition.
1980
Extension and deepening of the art theme
During the 1980s, the activities are further expanded and the attention to the arts is deepened from the theme The Unity of the Arts. The highlight is the symposium in 1987: The Spiritual in Art in The Hague.
1990
Focus on Eastern and Central Europe
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the focus of the Iona Stichting in the 1990s shifts more towards Central and Eastern Europe. Agriculture, healthcare, and education there call for reform.
2000
Sustainability and awareness
Awareness, social responsibility, and sustainability are broadly rising in society. This also brings coherence to the foundation's areas of focus.
2020
Promoting initiative
The theme Moving connections, connecting movement plays an important role. The foundation wants to promote initiative and encourage social innovation.
Hope and trust arise through an integral, social, and circular approach, in which the earth and fellow human beings are respected.
Present time
Personal meeting
In a period in which it is easy to lose sight of each other due to technology, the Iona Stichting is committed to personal encounters and pays extra attention to the relationship between humans, earth, and spirit.