1795. Reimagined.
A legacy 230 years in the making
From carillons to chronometers, from 1795 to 2026—witness the evolution of a legacy.
For over two centuries, the Van Bergen name has echoed through time—from carillon towers crafted for the esteemed Rockefeller family to the precision workshops of today. In 2026, this extraordinary heritage finds its ultimate expression.
Something remarkable is taking shape.
Behind closed doors, master craftsmen are bringing to life a timepiece that honors our carillon-building legacy while embracing the future of haute horlogerie. Every component, every detail, every stroke of the dial speaks to our unwavering commitment to precision that has defined us since 1795.
The story unfolds gradually.
Like the careful tuning of a carillon bell, true craftsmanship cannot be rushed. Throughout 2025, we will share glimpses of this extraordinary creation with our most valued collectors and heritage enthusiasts. Each revelation will deepen your understanding of the artistry, innovation, and heritage that defines this singular timepiece.
Exclusivity by design.
With only a limited number available in 2026, this will be more than a watch—it will be a piece of living history.
Dipl. Ing. Andries Heero van Bergen V (1896-1981), director of the Royal A.H. van Bergen firm, Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
From Midwolda workshops to global legacy
Since 1795, the Van Bergen family has been united by a singular obsession: the pursuit of perfect timekeeping. What began in the workshops of Midwolda and Heiligerlee (Groningen) with the creation of church bells has evolved into a legacy that spans over two centuries, several continents, and connects Dutch craftsmanship even to the very heart of American history.
Our ancestors were among Europe’s most revered bell founders and carillonneurs, creating the bronze voices that called communities to prayer, celebration, and remembrance. Their bells still ring today from cathedral towers all across the globe—mechanical symphonies that have marked the passage of centuries with unwavering precision.
Every other watch tells time. Only Van Bergen tells American history.
Creating carillon bells required not just craftsmanship, but an understanding of mathematics, acoustics, and mechanical engineering that few possessed. Each bell had to be tuned to exact specifications, cast from the finest bronze, and calibrated to create perfect harmonic resonance when played together.
These same principles—mathematical precision, material excellence, and mechanical harmony—would later become the foundation of our watchmaking philosophy. The transition from crafting monumental timepieces to personal ones was as natural as the passage of time itself.
Crossing the Atlantic: A gift to America
In 1954, history called upon our family’s expertise for something extraordinary. The Netherlands, in gratitude for American liberation during World War II, commissioned a magnificent carillon as a gift to the United States. The Van Bergen family was chosen to contribute our centuries of knowledge to this project of international friendship.
The Netherlands Carillon stands today on a hilltop in Arlington, Virginia, overlooking the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol. Its 53 bronze bells ring daily: at noon, playing the anthems of America’s armed forces; at 6 PM, both the Dutch and American national anthems echo across the Potomac River, visible and audible from the monuments that define the U.S.
These are not just bells—they are monuments to freedom, crafted by hands that now create timepieces of equal significance.
The Netherlands Carillon in Arlington. Photo: David Coleman
This remarkable 1950 photograph captures Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard during a visit to the Van Bergen firm in Heiligerlee. The royal couple is seen admiring small bells specifically crafted as gifts for their daughters, the princesses.
From carillons to chronometers
By acquiring a Van Bergen timepiece, you’re not just purchasing an object of exquisite craftsmanship; you’re becoming a part of a storied legacy that stretches back to 1795.
Each watch carries the echoes of centuries of precision, royal patronage, and the intricate art of time-keeping, from monumental carillons to personal wristwatches.
As you wear your Van Bergen creation, you not only connect with this rich heritage but also embark on the journey of creating your own enduring legacy, marking the significant moments of your life with a symbol of timeless elegance and masterful engineering.
A living legacy
When John D. Rockefeller Jr. sought to create a lasting memorial to his beloved mother, he and his son entrusted Van Bergen with crafting the bells for Riverside Church’s magnificent carillon.
This commission represents more than craftsmanship—it embodies the trust America’s most prominent family placed in our 230-year tradition of precision.
Today, every Van Bergen timepiece carries forward this legacy of excellence that once graced the Rockefeller family’s most precious memorial.
This is heritage you can wear, legacy you can live, and history you can hold.
The five sons of philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. joined together in December 1940 to form a new philanthropic organization, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Photo by the Rockefeller Archive Center.
The Van Bergen dynasty.
A timeline of craftsmanship and innovation
Shipping
The Van Bergen dynasty was originally active in the shipping industry. Heere Andries van Bergen, born in 1738, started manufacturing wooden ship parts in Northern Germany.
When he was just 16 years old, his son, Andries Heeres van Bergen (1768-1847), crafted a miniature warship, complete with sails, rigging, cannons, and all the details. This impressive model was displayed on an honorary arch during the visit of the King of Hanover to Leer.
It attracted so much attention that His Majesty, to encourage the young man’s talent, personally presented him with a sum of money (see: Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek 9).
Bell founding and clocks
In 1795, Van Bergen cast his first tower clock for Midwolda (East-Groningen) in 1795, a striking clock, and the following year the large ringing bell, as well as that of Termunten. As was customary then, he still cast the bells on the spot itself.
After casting 26 heavy-caliber bells, he entered into a partnership with a long-established bell-founding family in Jeverland at Burhave near Witmond, Germany (Mameus Fremy). This lasted until 1827, during which period they cast many bells in Germany and The Netherlands.
Internationalization
Afterward, he continued the business with his son Udo Andries van Bergen, which in 1853 passed to the grandson Andries Heeres van Bergen Jr. (born 1835).
The latter had already exhibited his products in 1851 at the World Exhibition in London, and in 1856 also established a bell foundry in Loyerberg near Oldenburg.
Global expansion
In 1862, the foundry in Midwolda was moved to Heiligerlee, where they also cast fire engines, tower clocks, and various other machinery. He also owned three brick and tile factories, which were steam-powered.
In 1893, he transferred the factories to his sons A.H. and U.J. van Bergen. They exhibited at shows in Paris, Antwerp, Philadelphia, and many others in The Netherlands, winning numerous first prizes.
Andries Heero van Bergen Jr.’s younger brothers, who worked under his leadership in the same company in Heiligerlee until 1871, restarted a bell foundry in Midwolda.
The legacy continues
When Heritage Meets Horological Excellence
The final bellfounder of the esteemed Van Bergen dynasty was Dipl. Ing. Andries Heero van Bergen, knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau. When the centuries-old bell founding era concluded in 1980, it marked not an ending, but a transformation.
A new chapter begins.
His grandson, Baron Dr. rer. nat. h.c. R.A.U. Juchter van Bergen Quast, LLM, joined forces with horological visionary Erik Meijer to ensure this extraordinary legacy would continue to mark time for generations to come. Together, they envisioned a future where the precision that once shaped carillon bells would find new expression in the intimate artistry of haute horlogerie.
From bell towers to your wrist.
In 2026, this vision becomes reality. Our inaugural timepiece represents the culmination of years of meticulous development—a watch that carries forward over two centuries of Dutch craftsmanship tradition. Every element has been designed not merely to tell time, but to become a cherished symbol of your own story, connecting you to this remarkable heritage.
The Van Bergen legacy lives on.
What began in the foundries of 1795 now finds its ultimate expression in the precision workshops of today. This is more than a watch—it is the continuation of a dynasty, the preservation of a craft, and the beginning of your own timekeeping legacy.
2026: The year heritage meets your wrist.