IJmuiden, the gateway to the Netherlands

IJmuiden is a small town at the North Sea canal. The port of IJmuiden is the gateway to the Netherlands. Many ships going to Amsterdam will dock at IJmuiden. IJmuiden is also known for its steelworks construction industry and blast furnaces.

In early 2000 I needed a break from Amsterdam and rented a the top floor of a deserted building in IJmuiden. There the light is enchanting. The colors are hard and sharp it looks as if they stand out against a dark background. From my studio I could see the blast furnaces against incredibly beautiful skies. I tried to grasp that light in my work that was abstract however the main theme were those blast furnaces. During that time in IJmuiden I made powerful paintings that I still like a lot.