Seeing the Light in the Netherlands
Artists and writers of the 19th century waxed poetic about the light in the Netherlands. There was a special quality to Dutch light, they believed, that imbued the paintings of the revered Dutch Golden Age with magical properties. It was in the sweeping landscapes of van Ruisdael, Cuyp, and van de Velde, and in the luminous portraits of Rembrandt, Hals, and Vermeer.
Home base at Zoku
We spent weeks embedded in the Netherlands during both the summer and fall working on AARP’s publication The Journal. From a personal standpoint, this assignment was a welcome opportunity to see with our own eyes the country and culture that had birthed the art that emerged during this 17th century period of Dutch economic, political, and artistic dominance.
Maybe Dutch light doesn’t actually contain magical qualities, but we did notice a distinctly Dutch palette and sensibility to the images we captured. Maybe it has something to do with the geography — the Netherlands has always been a place shaped by its relationship with copious amounts of water. We observed iconic landscapes of flat earth crossed with a labyrinth of manmade and natural waterways, explored museums containing the works of the old masters and contemporary artists, and soaked in the sights and colors of Amsterdam’s distinctive buildings, canals, and flowers.
More importantly, we came away with a better understanding of the Dutch outlook and way of life — their reverence for art and history with a constant eye on modernization; their practical and progressive approach to all facets of existence; their unflinching bluntness and willingness to tell it like it is.
The Van Gogh Musuem
A chat with Marthe de Vet, Head of Interpretation & Education at Van Gogh Museum
A trip to Mauritshuis in The Hague / capturing Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring
One of a number posters we purchased from the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
During our time in this small country, the Zoku hotel in Amsterdam served as home base while we traveled to other places, including The Hague, Groningen, Leiden, and Deventer. Dozens of interviews and visits to private homes, organizations and nonprofits, and businesses of all sizes gave us an insider’s view of this tiny country and the ways it is driving an outsized number of innovations. ⌁
Hanging out with the locals at a traditional dutch bistro
A visit to Groningen
The Eye Film Museum in Amsterdam
Dinner on the rooftop of Volks Hotel in Amsterdam
Chef Arjan Wennekes of John Dory in Amsterdam
John with Ultra
