When organizing high-end itineraries, our ability to offer clients an immersive experience of the Netherlands can be increased by understanding of its rich artistic heritage. This blog post aims to condense the most important Dutch artistic movements to help you, as a travel advisor, sell the Netherlands like a pro.
By delving into these key artistic periods—from the grandeur of the Dutch Golden Age to the bold abstractions of De Stijl and the dynamic expressions of contemporary installations—you'll be able to craft itineraries that not only showcase the country’s artistic achievements but also enrich your clients’ travel experiences with profound cultural context. Whether your clients are history buffs, art enthusiasts, or simply curious explorers, this guide will help you highlight the Netherlands' artistic legacy with confidence and expertise.
The Dutch Golden Age (17th Century)
The Dutch Golden Age, spanning the 17th century, was a period of unprecedented wealth, cultural achievement, and artistic flourishing. This era saw the rise of genre painting, still life, landscapes, and portraiture, driven by the burgeoning middle class and the Protestant Reformation.
Renowned for his masterful use of light and shadow, Rembrandt van Rijn's works, such as The Night Watch and The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, exhibit his exceptional skill in capturing human emotion and drama. These masterpieces can be viewed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and Maurtishuis in Amsterdam.
Celebrated for his exquisite use of light and color, Johannes Vermeer's intimate domestic scenes, like Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Milkmaid, offer a glimpse into the quiet moments of 17th-century Dutch life and can be seen at the Mauritshuis in The Hague and the Rijksmuseum respectively.
Known for his lively and spontaneous portraits, Frans Hals' works, including The Laughing Cavalier and Malle Babbe, are characterized by their loose brushwork and vivid realism, displayed at the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem. Jan Steen's humorous and often moralizing genre scenes, such as The Merry Family and The Feast of Saint Nicholas, depict the daily lives of Dutch citizens with a lively, narrative quality and can be seen at the Rijksmuseum.
Paulus Potter, famous for his depictions of animals, is best known for The Bull, which showcases his remarkable ability to render detailed and lifelike animal figures. This masterpiece is housed in the Mauritshuis.
Frans Post, one of the first European artists to paint landscapes of the New World, particularly Brazil, offers a unique glimpse into the early colonial landscapes with works like View of Olinda and View of Pernambuco, both viewable at the Mauritshuis.
The Hague School (Late 19th Century)
Emerging in the late 19th century and often referred to as the Second Golden Age of Dutch art, the Hague School was influenced by the French Barbizon School and focused on naturalistic landscapes and everyday rural life. This movement emphasized realism and the beauty of the Dutch countryside.
Jozef Israëls, often called the "Dutch Millet," poignantly depicted peasant life in works such as Alone in the World and The Cottage Madonna, conveying deep empathy for his subjects. Anton Mauve, known for his tranquil pastoral scenes, created masterpieces like The Return of the Flock and Morning Ride along the Beach, which reflect his mastery in capturing the serene beauty of rural landscapes. Jacob Maris' atmospheric landscapes, including The Bridge and The Mill, are characterized by muted tones and delicate brushwork, capturing the essence of the Dutch environment with a poetic sensibility.
De Stijl (Early 20th Century)
Founded in 1917, De Stijl (The Style) was a radical movement that sought to achieve pure abstraction and universality by reducing art to its essential forms and colors. This movement was marked by the use of geometric shapes and primary colors, aiming for harmony and order. A central figure in De Stijl, Piet Mondrian's works, such as Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow and Broadway Boogie Woogie, epitomize the movement's principles with their grid-based compositions and use of primary colors. These works can be viewed at the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague.
As a co-founder of De Stijl, Theo van Doesburg's works, including Counter-Composition V and Simultaneous Counter-Composition, expanded on the movement's aesthetic, incorporating diagonal elements and exploring architectural applications. His works are displayed at various Dutch museums, including the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
Another key figure was Bart van der Leck, whose use of flat planes of color and minimalistic approach greatly influenced the movement. His works, such as Composition 1917, exemplify the Concrete Art principles of abstraction and purity. These artists' works can be seen in the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
CoBrA (Mid-20th Century)
Formed in 1948, CoBrA was an avant-garde movement named after the home cities of its founding members: Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam. CoBrA artists sought to break free from conventional artistic norms, embracing spontaneity, experimentation, and a childlike sense of creativity.
Known for his vibrant, expressive works, Karel Appel's paintings, such as Child and Beast II and Questioning Children, are characterized by their bold colors and dynamic forms. Constant Nieuwenhuys' imaginative and often abstract works, including New Babylon and Composition, reflect his interest in utopian urbanism and the intersection of art and architecture.
Corneille's playful and colorful compositions, such as Women, Birds and Stars and Le Grand Départ, showcase his affinity for fantastical and symbolic imagery. These works are prominently displayed at the Cobra Museum of Modern Art, in Amstelveen.
Contemporary Installation Art (21st Century)
In the realm of contemporary Dutch art, several artists and collectives are pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms, creating innovative and immersive experiences that challenge conventional perceptions. Here are some of our favorites:
Studio Drift, founded by Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta, blends nature, technology, and art to create immersive, kinetic installations. Their work, such as Fragile Future, which features delicate dandelion seeds affixed to LED lights, and Drifter, a floating concrete monolith, challenges perceptions of natural and built environments, exploring the intersection between organic and synthetic worlds. Their installations can be seen at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and various international exhibitions.
Theo Jansen, renowned for his kinetic sculptures known as Strandbeests (Beach Animals), constructs large, wind-powered creatures that gracefully walk along the beach, blurring the lines between art and engineering. These innovative creations, such as Animaris Umerus and Animaris Rhinoceros Transport, exemplify Jansen's unique ability to combine artistic vision with scientific ingenuity. You can witness these mesmerizing Strandbeests in action during special exhibitions and events along the Dutch coastline, or by watching the captivating video to your left.
Levi van Veluw, with his multi-disciplinary approach to create immersive installations that combine drawing, sculpture, installation, and photography. His work often explores themes of memory and perception, using meticulously crafted intricate patterns to transform spaces into surreal environments.
Berndnaut Smilde is renowned for his ethereal and transient installations, most notably his Nimbus series. Smilde creates indoor clouds, carefully controlling humidity, temperature, and lighting to achieve this mesmerizing effect. Smilde's work, blending science and art, has been exhibited globally, captivating audiences with its poetic and almost surreal quality.
BONUS:more Dutch Artists worth learning about
Here, we highlight artists who have undoubtedly left their mark on the Dutch art scene. While they may not belong to any specific art movement within the country, their contributions remain essential and noteworthy.
M.C. Escher, although not directly part of the Surrealist movement, created works that embody the movement's fascination with the bizarre and the impossible. Escher's lithographs and woodcuts, such as *Relativity*, *Ascending and Descending*, and *Drawing Hands*, are celebrated for their intricate details, mathematical precision, and mind-bending perspectives. His work explores concepts of infinity, symmetry, and the interplay between two and three dimensions, making him a unique and influential figure in the broader context of surreal and mathematical art.
Vincent van Gogh, one of the most iconic and influential figures in Western art, was born in Zundert, a small town in the southern Netherlands, in 1853. Van Gogh's prolific body of work, characterized by bold colors and dramatic, expressive brushstrokes, captures his profound emotional depth and turbulent inner life. Despite facing immense personal struggles and limited recognition during his lifetime, Van Gogh produced masterpieces that have since captivated the world. The largest and most comprehensive collections of his work can be found at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo.
Jan Schoonhoven, a prominent figure in the Dutch avant-garde art scene, is best known for his contributions to the Zero movement and his innovative white relief sculptures. Born in Delft in 1914, Schoonhoven's work is characterized by its minimalist approach, focusing on texture, light, and shadow rather than color or narrative. His works are celebrated for their contemplative quality and can be seen in prestigious collections, including the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum.
Experience Dutch Art Like Never Before
At Sapiens Travel DMC, our art specialists are passionate about immersing you in the vibrant Dutch art scene. We offer private tours to the most important museums in the Netherlands, providing an intimate, expert-led experience of the country's rich artistic heritage. From the masterpieces of the Golden Age at the Rijksmuseum to the modern marvels at the Stedelijk Museum, our tailored itineraries ensure your clients gain a deep and meaningful appreciation of Dutch art. Contact us today to book the perfect experience for your clients and let us help you sell the Netherlands like a pro.