Restoration of the Cathedral of Cartagena, Colombia

In a cooperative effort between the Colombia Minister of Culture, the Colombia Center of Restoration, the Bishop of The Catholic Church of Cartagena, international volunteer university students of restoration from: Colombia, France, New Zeeland, Greece, and under the on-site direction of RSF of France, the interior restoration of this historic and beautiful cathedral is slowly and painstakingly progressing.

RSF, Restorers Sin (without) Frontiers, is a non profit organization based in France. RSF is donating highly skilled craftsmen, technical expertise, and equipment for the restoration of the Cathedral. Their volunteer work includes many sites around the world, and our contact was Mr. Tomas Van Der Hammen from Holland.

Tomas Van Der Hammen

When not working as a professional restorer, somewhere in the world, Tom resides in France with his French wife and their children. Mr. Hammen´s papa is from Holland and his mother from Colombia, so this restoration is of special "personal" importance. Tom's specialty is wood. He knows wood of all types, and how best to inventory, catalogue, remove, restore and preserve artistic works made with a wood base.

Tom explained that the major problems with the Cathedral, were water damage leaking in from windows, and termites. Worldwide, these are the most common "natural" causes of historic art damage.

Let's join Tom as he shows us some of the progress of the restoration work of the Cathedral of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.