Art on the map
In Purmerend, you will find no fewer than 60 works by renowned artists in public spaces. This walk will take you through Purmerend's town centre and past 18 beautiful works of art.
The route starts at the Purmerends Museum and is not (yet) signposted. Get the free leaflet with map at the VVV Museum Shop.
Want to see more art in Purmerend? Then check out our other art routes!
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Making love - Hans Bayens (1980)
On the Cheese Market in front of the Purmerends Museum stands the bronze sculpture Freeing Couple. Sculptor Bayens is also known for the sculptures of Multatuli, Theo Thijssen and The Titans in Amsterdam, among others.
Making love - Hans Bayens (1980)
On the Cheese Market in front of the Purmerends Museum stands the bronze sculpture Freeing Couple. Sculptor Bayens is also known for the sculptures of Multatuli, Theo Thijssen and The Titans in Amsterdam, among others.
Plaques architects - Jeroen Spijker (2017, 2018 & 2019)
Jeroen Spijker immortalised the famous Purmerend architects Ko Oud, Jan Stuyt and Mart Stam on these bronze plaques fixed to the façade of the Purmerends Museum.
Plaques architects - Jeroen Spijker (2017, 2018 & 2019)
Jeroen Spijker immortalised the famous Purmerend architects Ko Oud, Jan Stuyt and Mart Stam on these bronze plaques fixed to the façade of the Purmerends Museum.
For more information, visit Jeroen Spijker's website.
Good governance - Marijke Visser and J. van Rooyen (1965)
The sandstone relief above the doors on the steps of the Purmerends Museum shows a family relaxing under the sun. Below it, you can see two drivers. One looks thoughtful, the other dubious.
Good governance - Marijke Visser and J. van Rooyen (1965)
The sandstone relief above the doors on the steps of the Purmerends Museum shows a family relaxing under the sun. Below it, you can see two drivers. One looks thoughtful, the other dubious.
The Drama Player - Frank Rosen (1998)
On the facade of Theatre De Purmaryn is this appliqué of coloured glass.
The Drama Player - Frank Rosen (1998)
On the facade of Theatre De Purmaryn is this appliqué of coloured glass.
Earth and Water - Nic Jonk (1976)
The bronze sculpture on the square in front of Theatre de Purmaryn depicts a stylised female figure (Earth), reclining on the back of a dolphin, wrestling with the surge of the water.
Earth and Water - Nic Jonk (1976)
The bronze sculpture on the square in front of Theatre de Purmaryn depicts a stylised female figure (Earth), reclining on the back of a dolphin, wrestling with the surge of the water.
Sculptures by Nic Jonk can be found in some 250 places in public spaces in the Netherlands, as well as elsewhere in Europe and the US. Museum and Sculpture Garden Nic Jonk in Grootschermer can be visited daily.
Cow - Jans van Baarsen (2001)
The bronze cow's head was placed on the facade of the building at the corner of Dubbele Buurt and Kalversteeg in 2001.
Cow - Jans van Baarsen (2001)
The bronze cow's head was placed on the facade of the building at the corner of Dubbele Buurt and Kalversteeg in 2001.
Behind the statue is a time capsule, with visions of what people thought Purmerend will look like in 35 years. In due course, a notary will hand over the key to the capsule to the municipality.
Cows - Hans Kuyper (2009)
This bronze sculpture group on Koemarkt evokes memories of the former cattle market and has now become an icon of the city.
Cows - Hans Kuyper (2009)
This bronze sculpture group on Koemarkt evokes memories of the former cattle market and has now become an icon of the city.
There are three cows and a calf; one of the cows stands on a milking stool on top of a column shaped like a corner post of the old market fences.
Mart Stam - Mart Stam (1926) and Hans van Houwelingen (2010)
This monumental, concrete bench stands on the footpath behind City Hall.
Mart Stam - Mart Stam (1926) and Hans van Houwelingen (2010)
This monumental, concrete bench stands on the footpath behind City Hall.
The original 1926 design by Purmerend architect Mart Stam, has been rescued from oblivion by Hans van Houwelingen. Stam made this bench in memory of GP Dr Maats. For more information, visit the Oneindig Noord-Holland or Wiseguys website.
Close to the Mart Stam bench you will find the Ellipsoid - Herman Makkink (1994): The ellipsoid made of fired clay depicts the world, the steel ring the city.
Pride - Modern Murals (2022)
The rainbow was applied to the wall of the bicycle tunnel via print technology and contains the text of Article 1 of the Constitution, the equality principle. With this, Purmerend shows that it is against the...
Pride - Modern Murals (2022)
The rainbow has been applied to the wall of the bicycle tunnel using print technology and contains the text of Article 1 of the Constitution, the principle of equality. With this, Purmerend shows that it is against the exclusion of any group.
For more information, visit Dominic Brown's website.
Gate and Fish - Han van Wetering (1990)
Gate and Fish is a bronze sculpture group of a fish jumping towards a gate. There are three shells on the gate and a boat on top.
Gate and Fish - Han van Wetering (1990)
Gate and Fish is a bronze sculpture group of a fish jumping towards a gate. There are three shells on the gate and a boat on top.
The sculpture group originally stood at a different spot on Waterlandlaan and symbolised the connection between Purmerend's two town offices. The artwork lost its symbolic value when the offices were merged and were therefore moved to this spot in 2005.
Phone call - Cephas Stauthamer (1950)
The stone relief on the façade of the former telephone exchange shows a man with phone to his ear in a factory setting.
Phone call - Cephas Stauthamer (1950)
The stone relief on the façade of the former telephone exchange shows a man with phone to his ear in a factory setting.
Next to it a woman answering the phone, at home with cat and plant. Between them a telephone pole.
Daffodil - Denise Holtkamp and Gert Engels (2000)
The metal, stylised daffodil on dashing stem refers to the nearby Flower District.
Daffodil - Denise Holtkamp and Gert Engels (2000)
The metal, stylised daffodil on dashing stem refers to the nearby Flower District.
For more information, visit Denise Holtkamp's website.
Wolthuis bridge - IBA and Henk Meijer of Kerste-Meijer Architects (2008)
This bridge was the first in the Netherlands to be constructed with Very High Strength Concrete.
Wolthuis bridge - IBA and Henk Meijer of Kerste-Meijer Architects (2008)
This bridge was the first in the Netherlands to be constructed with Very High Strength Concrete.
Connection to meandering cycle and footpaths gave rise to the swinging character of the bridge, which can also be seen in the railing with 'lianas' winding around the balusters.
A design that harks back to Art Nouveau. The 'lianas' are made of matt stainless steel, into which 'leaves' of glass fragments are incorporated.
Dancer - George van der Wagt (1971)
This bronze sculpture on a white plinth features a dancing human figure. Through its wavy lines, the work depicts movement.
Dancer - George van der Wagt (1971)
This bronze sculpture on a white plinth features a dancing human figure. Through its wavy lines, the work depicts movement.
Fairground Organ Claxonate - Hans Muller (1997)
A music pattern has been carved into the facade of the car park, which is constructed of exclusive ceramic tiles.
Fairground Organ Claxonate - Hans Muller (1997)
A music pattern has been carved into the facade of the car park, which is constructed of exclusive ceramic tiles.
It represents a barrel organ book score: the savings in the facade are the holes in the organ book. The musical piece is a sonata for horned cars in a traffic jam. For one tile tableau, all the ceramic tiles, before being fired, have a tyre track in the wet clay.
For more information, visit Hans Muller's website.
Milk - Façade advertising (1907/2011)
This facade advertisement was commissioned by milk liquor dealer Klaas de Boer. He established a milk saloon in this building in 1907. The advertisement was reinstalled in 2011.
Milk - Façade advertising (1907/2011)
This facade advertisement was commissioned by milk liquor dealer Klaas de Boer. He established a milk saloon in this building in 1907. The advertisement was reinstalled in 2011.
Battems Tea, Coffee & Cocoa - Façade advertising (1900)
The gable advertisement was installed around 1900 by the then owner P. Battem Jzn.
Battems Tea, Coffee & Cocoa - Façade advertising (1900)
The gable advertisement was installed around 1900 by the then owner P. Battem Jzn.
Poem by the Waterland Poets’ Circle
Poetry in public spaces has an added value. You stand still for a moment, it can surprise you, put a smile on your face or make you daydream. In Zuidersteeg, a permanent poem hangs on the poetry wall. Poets from the Waterland Poetry Circle write poems for it.
Poem by Dichterskring Waterland
Poetry in public spaces has an added value. You stand still for a moment, it can surprise you, put a smile on your face or make you daydream. In Zuidersteeg, a permanent poem hangs on the poetry wall. Poets from the Waterland Poetry Circle write poems for it.
The Poetry Circle works together with the Dijklander hospital and Zorgcirkel Waterland on the project 'Poetry in public spaces'. Each year, poems are hung on banners in the hall of the hospital and various nursing homes, which rotate among themselves. From 2019, a new poem will hang on the Eggert Shopping Centre (opposite bookshop Het Leesteken in Zuidersteeg) every year. Since the beginning of 2023, the poem in Zuidersteeg will be moved after a year to the side wall of Villa Zuidwijk in Zuidoostbeemster. A new poem will then appear in Zuidersteeg. Until 2018, the poems hung on the side of Proeflokaal Bakker.
