The Van Bergen 1795 team
For 230 years, the Van Bergen name has resonated through the world’s most distinguished bell towers – a legacy built on precision, artistry, and an unwavering pursuit of perfection. Today, that heritage finds new expression in the intimate craft of haute horlogerie.
Behind Van Bergen 1795 stand three individuals whose paths converged in devotion to a singular purpose: to honor a storied past while creating timepieces worthy of the family name. Here, noble lineage meets horological mastery, where Dutch craftsmanship traditions are transformed into mechanical art.
Baron Dr. rer. nat. h.c. Rudolph Andries Ulrich Juchter van Bergen Quast, KJH, LLM, is the President of Van Bergen 1795, carrying forward a heritage that spans 230 years of Dutch precision craftsmanship.
As grandson of Dipl. Ing. Andries Heero van Bergen V – the final master bellfounder of the legendary Heiligerlee foundry – the Baron embodies a direct connection to a legacy that began in 1795. For nearly two centuries, the Van Bergen name resonated through bell towers across Europe and beyond, their carillons and bells renowned for perfect tuning and exceptional acoustic precision.
His commitment to preserving this extraordinary heritage extends into scholarly dedication. With a doctorate honoris causa in natural sciences and a Master of Laws degree, Baron Juchter van Bergen Quast has devoted considerable research to documenting the Van Bergen foundry’s artisanal traditions, ensuring that centuries of metallurgical knowledge and craftsmanship excellence remain preserved for future generations.
The Baron holds distinguished positions within venerable institutions: he is a member of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers in London and a descendant-member of the Association of the Descendants of the Knights of the Garter at Windsor Castle – affiliations that reflect his dedication to tradition, excellence, and noble heritage.
In partnership with horological visionary Erik Meijer, Baron Juchter van Bergen Quast has undertaken to transform the foundry’s legacy of precision bronze casting into the art of haute horlogerie. Together, they are creating timepieces that honor the same principles that guided six generations of Van Bergen bellfounders: uncompromising precision, exceptional quality, and meticulous attention to detail.
The 2026 launch of Van Bergen 1795’s inaugural collection represents not merely the introduction of luxury timepieces, but the renaissance of a storied name—a 230-year legacy reborn in mechanical form.
“When my grandfather ended bell founding in 1980, I knew our legacy of precision couldn’t end. Today, I’m honored to see the same dedication that once shaped bells for Rockefeller now creates timepieces that will become family heirlooms.”
Classically trained as a percussionist and conductor at Rotterdam Conservatoire and The Hague Royal Conservatoire, Erik spent his formative years mastering rhythm, resonance, and the precise measurement of sound – skills that would prove uncannily prophetic for his calling at Van Bergen 1795.
With over two decades transforming luxury timepiece ventures into global phenomena, he brings to the family legacy not just unparalleled market development expertise and an extraordinary network spanning royalty, Formula 1, and the world’s most prestigious retailers, but a musician’s soul that understands what the Van Bergen name has always represented: the marriage of precision engineering and sonic artistry.
Erik designed Van Bergen 1795’s inaugural Heero Collection – a groundbreaking timepiece that translates 230 years of bell-founding mastery into haute horlogerie. Every element reflects the family’s acoustic engineering heritage:
- The signature half-hour sonnerie au passage complication, inspired directly by Van Bergen carillon bells’ tonal characteristics
- The distinctive checkerboard dial pattern, referencing the mathematical grids both Heero (shipbuilding) and Andries (bell-casting) used in their work
- An in-house developed sonnerie mechanism creating a sound signature unlike any other in haute horlogerie
- Five dial colors representing the diversity of the Van Bergen legacy across 230 numbered pieces
His track record speaks volumes: €4M+ in pandemic-era sales when the luxury market faltered, 13-week boutique launches versus the industry’s 12-18 month standard, and the distinction of personally presenting a timepiece to Queen Elizabeth II. From securing Robb Report’s “Best of the Best” recognition to orchestrating celebrity-studded flagship openings, Erik has consistently redefined what’s possible in haute horlogerie.
For 230 years, the Van Bergen name has been synonymous with the world’s most magnificent bells and carillons, creating sonic monuments that still ring across continents – from the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon at Manhattan’s Riverside Church to installations throughout Europe and America.
Now, Erik ensures that musical heritage lives on in a new form. Van Bergen’s inaugural Heero Collection features the half-hour sonnerie au passage, and every future timepiece will incorporate a musical or sound element, honoring the bells that built this legacy.
His philosophy is singular: heritage must sing, craftsmanship must resonate, and every Van Bergen timepiece must earn its place amongst the world’s finest.
“A Van Bergen without sound would be a Van Bergen without soul. Our founders shaped bronze into music; we shape movements into melody.“
Daniel van Ree’s dedication to craftsmanship and precision is deeply rooted in the long-standing tradition of fine watchmaking.
Daniel developed his passion for horology at the Vakschool voor Uurwerktechniek in Amsterdam, where he laid the foundation for his craft. It was there that his fascination with precision, engineering, and durability evolved into a lifelong commitment to refining mechanical perfection.
Following his education, he expanded his knowledge and experience at some of the world’s leading watchmaking houses. During this period, he worked on prestigious and exceptionally complex timepieces, including minute repeaters, chronographs, perpetual calendars, tourbillons, and power reserve indicators. These experiences allowed him to master his technical skills in every detail and to continuously pursue refinement.
Daniel focuses on the development and technical realization of exclusive timepieces that embody the House’s core values: precision, authenticity, and timeless elegance.
In addition to his technical expertise, he has cultivated a strong affinity for design and innovation. His work represents a seamless harmony between engineering and aesthetics, where every element is considered with the utmost care and executed to perfection.
The timepieces he creates reflect his unwavering pursuit of quality, precision, and refinement. Driven by passion and craftsmanship, he designs and builds watches for the true connoisseur; those who recognize the value of genuine artistry and timeless beauty.
“In every mechanism, we unite centuries of knowledge with contemporary perfection. That fusion is not a goal, but a devotion; where science and engineering meet craftsmanship and perfection.”
A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDERS
Why Van Bergen returns now
When we first discussed bringing Van Bergen into the world of horology, we asked ourselves a simple question: What justifies another watch brand in an industry already crowded with excellence?
The answer, we realized, was sound. Not sound as a feature or a selling point, but sound as a reason for being. Van Bergen spent over two centuries mastering the science of making metal sing. That knowledge – accumulated across six generations, documented in archives that survived war and closure – is irreplaceable.
Most watch brands that offer striking complications do so because they can. We do so because we must. A Van Bergen without sound would be a Van Bergen without soul. The half-hour sonnerie au passage is not optional for us – it is our identity, our heritage, our reason for existing in horological form.
We invite you to join us on this journey. Not as customers seeking another luxury object, but as partners in the continuation of a 230-year tradition. The bells Van Bergen cast still ring across the world. Now, for the first time, that voice can accompany you wherever you go.
Baron R.A.U. Juchter Van Bergen Quast
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