Marie Tak van Poortvliet

She was born to the Dutch Reformed minister, Johannes Tak van Poortvliet, and his wife, Christina Louisa Henrietta Geertruida van Oordt (1850-1897). She remained unmarried.

Little is known about her youth or education. She became wealthy after her father died and left 1,500,000 Florins, equivalent to roughly €18 million ($20 million) in 2013, to be distributed among his four children.

After 1906, she spent the summers in Domburg with her companion, Jacoba van Heemskerck, for whom she set up a studio and acted as a patron. Soon, she began acting as a patron for several other artists; often by purchasing their works. By 1920, she had accumulated over 120 pieces. Later, she sold some to various Dutch museums; leaving a legacy to the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and the Stedelijk Museum.

Tak and Van Heemskerck were both supporters of the Antroposophy movement of Rudolf Steiner and she translated several of his works into Dutch. With her help, and Steiner's, Dr. Willem Zeylmans van Emmichoven was able to establish the Netherlands branch of the Anthroposophical Society in 1923. Three years later she helped to create "N.V. Cultuur Mij Loverendale", which promotes agriculture and animal husbandry in the Biodynamic manner.

She also contributed articles about Anthroposophy, music and art to various journals.

She died in Dornach; Steiner's home town. The Marie Tak van Poortvliet Museum in Domburg is named after her.

• Nederland's Patriciaat 44 (1958), p. 303.
• A.H. Huussen jr., 'Tak van Poortvliet, Joanna Maria (Marie) (1871-1936)', in: Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland 2 (1985)