Nicolaas Beets (1814-1903) lived here from 1854 to 1903. He was a preacher, writer and professor of church history at Utrecht University. Furthermore, he was an abolitionist and member of the Nederlandse Maatschappij ter Bevordering van de Afschaffing der Slavernij (NMBAS, Dutch Society of the Advancement of the Abolition of Slavery). The NMBAS saw slavery as fundamentally opposed to God’s word and used Christian principles to advocate for the abolition of slavery. They published a journal called Bijdragen tot de Kennis der Nederlandsche en Vreemde Koloniën, Bijzonder Betrekkelijk de Vrijlating der Slaven (Contributions to the Knowledge of Dutch and Foreign Colonies, Particularly Regarding the Emancipation of Slaves). In this journal themes such as the harsh cruelty of slavery and the British emancipation movement of the early 19^th century were discussed.

The values of the NMBAS operated within the politics of their time. For example, they raised money to free enslaved people, but still promoted the idea that freed people would remain just as ‘productive’ as when they were enslaved. Through this, the NMBAS opposed the argument that productivity should be an impediment to freedom, a prominent stance in colonial societies. Although people like Beets stepped away from the idea that Black people were naturally inferior, they still argued that Christianity was morally superior and that Black and people of colour needed Christian education to become civilized.