11/26/2025
In 1965, Ben and Ann Massar moved to North Texas from the Netherlands, where they owned a grocery store. The same year, Ben opened up the original Dutch Art Gallery near White Rock Lake. A year later, he moved the business to its current 7,000-square-foot location in Northlake Center.
The Dutch Art Gallery’s name was originally a bit more than just an ode to the background of its owners. While newer collections tend to feature bluebonnets over tulips and mesas over windmills, Ben Massar first stocked his store with artwork bought directly from Dutch painters, a form of patronage which his family furthers through exhibitions and shows featuring individual artists. In recent years, the collection has trended toward original and modern art to reflect younger clients’ changing tastes.
Ben and Anna died in 2000 and 2010, respectively. Before they stepped away from the business, they handed the gallery off to Pam Massar, the wife of their son Hans. “My parents would be very proud of what we’ve done with the business,” Hans says in a voice cracking with emotion. “And I have to thank Pam for that, since she’s just taken it, she has a passion for this.”
In her role, Pam manages day-to-day operations, oversees the gallery’s collection of over 10,000 prints, consults with artists and guides buyers. Original works make up about 98% of the collection found on the gallery floor and are often sourced from Southwestern states like Texas, Arizona and California.
https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/2025/10/24/the-dutch-art-gallery-celebrates-60-years/
📷️: .the.photographer
At the Dutch Art Gallery, it’s not rare for memories to become encased underneath a pane of glass. In addition to its large, curated collection of original artwork, the gallery specializes in custom framing. Mementos are a specialty for staff, who have preserved Air Force caps, a Native American c...
