The man behind the success is the Dutchman, Robert Noortman. He began dealing in paintings at the age of 22, opening his first gallery in the Netherlands in the mid-1960's in the town of Hulsberg. In 1979, the gallery moved to its present location, a 17th century house in the center of the historic city of Maastricht. Over the past three decades the international reputation of the Noortman firm grew as business was conducted from our former gallery in New York and, until 1999, through our galleries in London (under the management of its late director, John Whately).

Noortman's has been proud to provide paintings to international private collections as well as major museums worldwide. These museums include the Rijksmuseum; the Mauritshuis; the National Gallery London; the National Gallery Washington; the Metropolitan Museum of New York; the J.Paul Getty Museum; the Rubenshuis and the Tel Aviv Museum amongst others.

The Noortman Cabinet Room in the National Gallery in London which he sponsored displays some of the museum's most important Dutch paintings and is a testimony of Noortmans close connection and friendship with museums and public galleries as well as universities and art historians.

Noortman is one of the founding members of The European Fine Art Fair, held yearly in Maastricht, which has become the most important art and antiques fair in the world. In addition to exhibiting at this fair, the gallery also participates in the Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris, the PAN in Amsterdam and the Palm Beach International Art and Antiques Fair.