Street Art in De Nieuwe Tuinderij-West, Zuidoostbeemster, Purmerend.
De Nieuwe Tuinderij-West in Zuidoostbeemster has gained a new artwork. Next to playground De Spelemei on Boerengroenstraat stands a small white utility house, part of the local fiber-optic network infrastructure from Delta. However, residents Bianca and her neighbor Pieter found the plain white box an eyesore. Together with village manager Robin Berkhout from the Municipality of Purmerend, they set out to transform it.
Bianca: “We have a direct view of the little house, and we really didn’t like it. Everything around here is focused on green and natural beauty. After discussing the possibilities, we were pointed toward Jan Stel. He’s already created beautiful street art, like the four large Rijkswaterstaat pillars near the Karwei store. Maybe he’d be interested in doing something with this bare white wall? We started by going door to door with a short survey, and everyone was immediately enthusiastic.” Stel, who works under the artist name Simbl, is a self-taught artist who has painted murals all over the Netherlands and abroad. His works on the pillars beneath the Korporaal van de mariniers Jeroen Houweling Bridge on Neckerstraat continue to attract attention and are photographed daily by passersby.
Into the Ditch Jan was invited to create a design that reflects the spirit of Zuidoostbeemster, featuring sheep, blossoming trees, and a small canal. Jan: “This is more or less how it used to look here.” He was well taken care of during the painting process, there was certainly no shortage of coffee. However, the location did pose some challenges. “If I take a few steps back with my cup of coffee to view the mural from a distance, I end up in the ditch. So I have to be careful,” he joked.
Proud Community neighborhood is proud of. The plain white utility building has been transformed into a vibrant Beemster landscape that everyone enjoys. Bianca and her neighbor Pieter are thrilled: “Everything was done in close consultation with us, and thanks to fellow residents and village manager Robin, our neighborhood has gained a little gem. We loved the entire process, and especially the final result.”
It’s such a joy to once again bring happiness to so many people with my work!
Read the whole article in Dutch at De Weidevenner Action photos by Piet Jonker / article by Conny Dijkstra.
