Last week, a photo of my mural in the garden of Zaltbommel’s historic Stadskasteel was featured in Volkskrant Magazine as part of a special reportage on Fiep Westendorp and Zaltbommel. Fiep Westendorp, one of the Netherlands’ most beloved illustrators, is renowned for her iconic drawings in countless children’s books.

In 2025, I transformed a plain grey wall into a vibrant tableau celebrating the town’s rich heritage. Inspired by the timeless cobalt blue of Dutch tile art, the mural is a contemporary homage to the traditional tile panels found in the museum’s cellar. It reimagines objects and stories from Zaltbommel’s past as a grid of 36 hand-painted “tiles,” each measuring approximately 62 x 62 cm. Integrated into the mural are images of the characteristic birds that Westendorp loved to draw.

Together, these tiles form a cohesive visual narrative, offering viewers an accessible and engaging way to explore the town’s history. The mural was commissioned by Museum Stadskasteel Zaltbommel and realized in the summer of 2025.

Location: Inner courtyard, Stadskasteel, Nonnenstraat 5, Zaltbommel
Visiting Hours: The garden is freely accessible from 1–5 PM, Tuesday through Sunday.