FIVE TIMES SOUTH-HOLLAND

South Holland is a province full of beautiful cityscapes that have inspired painters and artists throughout the centuries. From the charming city of Delft to the bustling city of Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland offers countless artistic inspirations. There are many artworks based on the cities in this province, and a visit to Zuid-Holland offers the perfect opportunity to discover these works and enjoy the beauty of the cityscapes. We however hope that our collection can take you on a virtual journey through the beautiful cities that Zuid-Holland has to offer. We have specifically chosen to show Delft, Dordrecht, The Hague, Leiden, and Rotterdam. Besides being the largest cities in the province, these cities also historically shaped the character of the province.

DELFT

Delft, for example, is a relatively small city with only 104,572 inhabitants (in 2022). Nevertheless, the city is world-famous for its beautiful canals, historic buildings, and the production of the iconic Delft Blue pottery. Numerous painters have been inspired by this charming city, including Johannes Vermeer, one of the most famous painters of the Golden Age. The city continues to celebrate this beautiful history, while at the same time, it is also at the forefront of numerous new developments. Delft, as the home of the Delft University of Technology, is the city of technology and innovation. The city has developed into an important center for the development of robotics and artificial intelligence, attracting companies and researchers from all over the world.

THE HAGUE

The Hague, a bit larger than Delft with 553,417 inhabitants, is the political capital of the Netherlands. The city has a beautiful city center with many historic buildings and squares. Here you can also find numerous sights such as the Binnenhof, the Peace Palace, and the Mauritshuis. The Hague has been an inspiration for many years, as can be seen in the work of painters such as Jan van Goyen and Willem Maris. The Hague is also a city that focuses on modernization and sustainability. The city has an ambitious plan to be climate-neutral by 2040, with sustainability and automation going hand in hand. The Hague has already taken many steps towards becoming a sustainable city, such as building 'smart' buildings and using advanced technology to optimize energy consumption and traffic flow.

ROTTERDAM
With 655,468 inhabitants, Rotterdam is the largest city included in our collection. It is a modern city with an impressive skyline and an important port. After the bombing during World War II, the city was rebuilt with modern architecture and advanced infrastructure projects. The city got a new skyline, with high-rise buildings and iconic structures such as the Erasmus Bridge and the Markthal.
The city is not only known for its modern architecture and cosmopolitan atmosphere, but also for innovation. Maasvlakte 2 is a great example of this. This area located in the largest port in Europe is an extension of the Rotterdam port that was put into use in 2013. It is a huge piece of new land that was created in the North Sea, west of the existing Maasvlakte. The development focused heavily on innovation, with features such as a large wind farm, a smart way of managing wastewater, and one of the most advanced fully automated container terminals. Attention was also given to climate, environment, and innovation. The Erasmus University located in Rotterdam contributed to this innovation as well, conducting research on the ecological impact of the new land and ways to reduce CO2 emissions.

DORDRECHT

Dordrecht, with its 121,563 inhabitants, is a relatively small city. However, it has a rich history and cultural heritage. Dordrecht was granted city rights in 1220 and is therefore the oldest city in South Holland. In the Middle Ages, the city developed as an important trading center and transshipment point. At that time, it was one of the largest cities in Holland. Although other cities have since surpassed it in size, the rich past can still be seen in the beautiful architecture that can be found in the city.

Dordrecht is also innovating itself. The city has joined forces with surrounding cities, forming a collaboration called Smart Delta Drechtsteden. It is now considered the heart of the Dutch maritime manufacturing industry, a central link in a vibrant network of innovative maritime companies that operate globally in shipbuilding, water management, and inland shipping.

LEIDEN

Finally, there is Leiden, a beautiful university city with 127,046 inhabitants, rich cultural heritage, and a charming city center. With its university founded in 1575, Leiden has been a typical student city for centuries. In addition to numerous inventions that have emerged from the university and its students, the BioScience Park has also largely emerged from the university. This life science park is one of the largest in Europe, with over 150 companies and 20,000 employees. It is a leading location for research, development, and innovation in biotechnology, life sciences, and medical technology.

The small descriptions above already show that within the five cities in South Holland, the rich history is intertwined with innovation and new developments. Combined with the fact that we, the makers, were born here in South Holland makes this province ideally suited for the first collection of FORAL. We combine the beautiful historic cityscapes with innovation and new developments, in the sense that we convert the cityscapes into unique contemporary images of these cities. We offer our art in a limited edition of only 20 copies per artwork, at €399 per work. All our works are 40x100 cm. The art is made in a unique way, combining craftsmanship and automation, allowing us to draw our images with utmost precision.

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