In September 1866, the thirteen-year-old Vincent van Zevenbergen moved to Tilburg to continue his education at the Rijks-HBS. At that time, Tilburg was not yet a built-up city, but a succession of hamlets, so-called herd corridors. In between are lands where shepherds let their sheep graze. The most important industry is the wool industry. Over a quarter of the population is employed in it. In the center of a herdgang is a water place where sheep can drink and wool is rinsed. One such place is the Korvel, where Vincent finds a boarding house with the Hannik family.
The Hanniks are from Dutch Reformed homes. They live at Korvel 57, today's Sint Annaplein 18-19. The original house was demolished around 1920. A bronze plaque by sculptor Niel Steenbergen, depicting a self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh, was installed in the facade of the current building in 1972.
