Adriaan Pit

He was born to August Nicolaas Marinus Pit (1822–1880), a lawyer, and his wife, Elizabeth Jacoba née Mazel (1829–1901).

While attending the local gymnasium, he developed an interest in art, inspired by his fellow student, Philip Zilcken, who would later become a painter.

In that position, together with his fellow art historian, Willem Vogelsang [nl], he created the museum's first catalogues.

In 1904, he began rearranging the collection and changing the display spaces, which displeased the museum's architect, Pierre Cuypers.

Also, his focus was more on aesthetics than cultural-historical content, causing serious disagreements with Victor de Stuers, the museum's founder and a member of Parliament.