The Museum Murals project has seen 20 leading Dutch museums team up with world-renowned street artists to create a stunning, open-air gallery.
It’s an initiative of the Mauritshuis. Made possible by those taking part in the VriendenLoterij which is the Dutch lottery dedicated to culture. It has transformed walls across the country. An unprecedented collaboration between the worlds of museum art and modern street art. Bringing masterpieces inspired by museum collections directly into the public space.
Where Museums Meet Murals
The Museum Murals project has taken art beyond gallery walls. Installing massive murals in residential neighborhoods, along railway tracks, and on factory walls. They are pieces aimed at enriching urban spaces with art that meaningfully connects with local communities.
Inspiration for all artworks have been taken from traditional museum collections. These are then translated on the wall by some of the world’s best street artists. By combining the old with the new. It’s a project that offers a fresh perspective on how art can be experienced. Blurring the line between the classical and the contemporary.
Mix of International and Dutch Talent
This unique collaboration features a mix of international and Dutch talent. Featuring renowned artists like Apolo Torres (Brazil), ONUR (Switzerland), and NeSpoon (Poland). They have worked alongside celebrated Dutch names such as Telmomiel, Super A, and Studio Giftig.
A Vision for Art in Public Spaces
Peter Ernst Coolen, the project’s artistic advisor, highlighted the significance of the Museum Murals initiative:
“Street art was once viewed with hesitation by the traditional art world. Now, it’s fully embraced by museums across the Netherlands. This project is a testament to the power of collaboration, diversity, and creative freedom. It has elevated the Netherlands’ already rich street art history. Showcasing the strength of its local talent while welcoming voices from around the globe.”
The participating artists were given exceptional creative freedom. Allowing them to craft murals that were rooted in the stories and collections of the museums. This freedom has resulted in works that feel both personal and universally accessible.
Museum Murals in the Netherlands
Museum de Fundatie x ONUR (Switzerland)
Location: Bicycle and rail tunnel, Oude Hessenweg, Zwolle
Description: ONUR transformed the bicycle and rail tunnel in Zwolle with two murals. It blends contemporary street art with classical themes. “I had the opportunity to paint both sides of a tunnel and dedicating this concept to the creative process itself” said ONUR on his instagram.
“One side’s ending becomes the beginning of the opposite. Creating a seamless flow that mirrors the progression of artistic work. Each side features three stages. Sketch, underpainting, and final image. With each stage evolving slightly to capture the transformation inherent to the process.
One side of the tunnel draws inspiration from Isaac Israels’ “Modinettes”. It celebrates the liveliness of his figures. The other side is inspired by Jan Voerman’s landscape paintings, honouring his natural vistas.
Batavialand x Taxis (Greece)
Location: Agoraweg 1, Lelystad
Description: Street artist Taxis drew inspiration from the origins of Flevoland. From pre-history to the Zuiderzee and the new land created by man. Saying, “I was surprised by the shipwrecks that were found on the seabed here. It illustrates an important part of history”.
Drents Museum x Nina Valkhof (Netherlands)
Location: Dotterbloemstraat, Assen
Description: Nina Valkhof’s mural is inspired by nature in two works from the Drents Museum. The weed comes from the ‘Weed Burning Farmer’ by Van Gogh. The fish and patterns are inspired by a golden bowl from Johanna Van Eijbergen. Her work often features vibrant flora and fauna, bringing a touch of nature and colour to urban settings.
The Roman Museum x OZMO (Italy)
Location: Coriovallumstraat 7, Heerlen
Description: Italian artist OZMO’s mural draws from the Roman heritage showcased in The Roman Museum. “I was inspired by the bathhouse of Coriovallum. The Roman settlement that was located here about 2000 years ago” he said on instagram. “The bathhouse was not only a place to wash and relax, but also had a social function. Here you could talk to people, meet friends and do business. In my work even Venus, goddess of love, is getting ready to take a bath.”
Kröller-Müller Museum x Fred Battle (France)
Location: Car park Willem Marislaan, Ede
Description: Fred Battle’s mural in Ede was inspired by the impressionist paintings from the Kröller-Müller Museum’s collection. Impressionists would paint light, nature and everyday life. In the mural Fred paints a seacape seen through a studio window. A way of capturing the inside world with the nature outside.
Museum Kaap Skil x Sidney Waerts (Netherlands)
Location: Car park on the Vlamkast, Oude Schild, Texel
Description: A mural inspired by a dress. One that was found in a 17th century shipwreck in the Wadden Sea. That dress is now in the museums collection. “I prefer to transform large, unattractive walls into something beautiful” says the artist. “Which you have to think about at the same time”.
Museum Arnhem x Apolo Torres (Brazil)
Location: Willemsplein 1, Arnhem
Description: Brazilian artist Apolo Torres created a mural inspired by ‘Rites of Passage 2’. A compelling portrait of a young adult by Anya Janssen. He explains: “I feel connected to this painting because I like to make work about themes such as identity. I find it intriguing to discover who you are or want to be in this world.”
Museum Flehite x JanIsDeMan (Netherlands)
Location: Turpijnplaats, at the back of the flat, Amersfoort
Description: JanIsDeMan’s mural in Amersfoort is inspired by artist Mathias Withoos (1627-1703). Explaining the piece JanisDeMan said “Withoos was very religious. His paintings are very different from mine, but what I find interesting is his use of symbolism. There are hidden messages in every painting. For him, a snail is not just an animal, but a representative of ‘earthly life’, the counterpart of heavenly life.”
The Noordbrabants Museum x Studio Giftig (Netherlands)
Location: Marconistraat 52 t/m 74, ’s-Hertogenbosch
Description: Studio Giftig’s mural draws inspiration from The Noordbrabants Museum’s collection. In particular, ‘The Temptation of St Anthony by Jan Mandijn. “We translated the work into a contemporary work” they said on instagram. It features contemporary temptations as central to the piece. The temptations themselves were decided following conversations with local residents.
Watersnoodmuseum x Super A (Netherlands)
Location: Weidezicht, Goes
Description: Super A’s mural in Goes is inspired by the Watersnoodmuseum, which commemorates the 1953 North Sea flood. “For this mural I was inspired by the motto of the Flood Museum: remember, learn and look ahead” he says. “My great-aunt Riet experienced the flood disaster of 1953. She symbolizes the passing on of this story. My daughter Liv represents the future, so that we can prevent a similar disaster.”
Mauritshuis x Daiara Tukano (Brazil)
Location: Plein 29, Den Haag
Description: Brazilian artist Daiara Tukano’s mural in The Hague is inspired by ‘The Goldfish’ by Carel Fabritius. Explaining that “the fact that the goldfinch is stuck affects me. In my community, the Yé’pá Mahsã, birds are free. Hence the swallows. Birds that fly all over the world. The snake refers to the origin story of Brazil. Together they represent new encounters between Brazil and the Netherlands.”
Scheepvaartmuseum x Matthieu Pommier (France)
Location: Intersection Burgermeester van Leeuwenlaan & Burgermeester Röellstraat, Amsterdam
Description: Matthieu Pommier’s mural in Amsterdam was inspired by both the collection and the community. The different colours in the painting symbolizing the different backgrounds of the residents. Matthieu said “Painting for me started with graffiti. Graffiti allows you to think big and see the city in a special way. I look for places that have not yet been discovered by other graffiti artists”.
Museum Prinsenhof Delft x Beyond (Netherlands)
Location: Haydnlaan 3, Delft
Photographer: Plaatwerk Fotografen
Description: Beyond’s mural in Delft is inspired by the Museum Prinsenhof. Known for abstract geometric designs, Beyond’s work adds a contemporary touch to the historical context of the museum’s collection. This is a piece about connection. That moment when you are spending time with friends, family or neighbours. Beyond worked with local people to try and translate that feeling into his mural in Delft. It shows the hands of neighbours alongside the iconic blue Delft plates from the museum.
Fries Museum x NeSpoon (Poland)
Location: Rengerslaan 8, Leeuwarden
Description: Polish artist NeSpoon’s mural is inspired by the Fries Museum’s collection. Her work often incorporates intricate lace patterns, symbolising the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and modern art. “For this mural I was inspired by a Japanese, nineteenth-century dressing gown from the Fries Museum”… “I think the embroidery on this jacket is beautiful. The pattern fits this wall perfectly. Lace and embroidery are my great loves. I love those patterns: flowers, plants, butterflies, snowflakes. Everyone recognizes them.”
Zaans Museum x MonkeyBird (France)
Location: Ebbehout 31, Zaandam
Description: The MonkeyBird mural in Zaandam was inspired by Zaans landscape. “We want to celebrate the Zaan region” they said on Instagram. “Especially the pioneering spirit and the connection between sea and land. That is why explorers take centre stage, surrounded by windmills, boats and a hot air balloon. These icons represent knowledge, science and technology.”
National Museum of Photography x Dalal Mitwally (Jordan)
Location: Batavierenstraat, Rotterdam
Photographer: Wouter Vellekoop
Description: Dalal Mitwally’s mural in Rotterdam explores themes of identity and storytelling. Dalal Mitwally was inspired by a photo of Tuareg women. Nomads crossing the Sahara, in Mali (1958). The photo was taken by Violette Cornelius and is part of the Hall of Fame of Dutch photography. Dalal Mitwally investigates how the photographer influences the possible identity of the subjects. In the top corner of the mural words have since been added. Written in Arabic they say “Don’t portray me, don’t talk about me, don’t write about me’.
Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar x TelmoMiel (Netherlands)
Location: Alkmaar
Description: Artist duo TelmoMiel were inspired by poet and engraver Maria Tesselschade. Maria was born in 1594 into a writers family and was known to sing, write poetry and to carve glass. She was also known as a great beauty. The artists decided to create her portrait as there is no current image or portrait of her.
Dordrechts Museum x Floor Milou Smit (Netherlands)
Location: Talmaweg 1-95, Dordrecht
Description: Inspired by an extremely realist letterboard painting by Samual van Hoogstraten (1664). Letterboards were like 17th- century bulletin boards. You would hang important objects on them. In this contemporary version, ‘letters’ are cut out of layers and pasted paper. They are an ode to the (daily) lives of local residents.
The Museum Murals project was led by Mauritshuis with support from the VriendenLoterij. Is a nationwide initiative in the Netherlands uniting 20 museums and street artists to create a unique open-air art collection.
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