Nils Westergard’s New Mural: Inspired by Amsterdam’s Oudezijdskolk canal
Nils Westergard, the Belgian-American street artist now firmly based in Amsterdam, has unveiled a striking new mural in the heart of the city. Known for his monumental portraits that fuse realism with allegory, Westergard has steadily become part of the city’s cultural fabric, not only through his walls but also through his ongoing photographic project documenting Amsterdam’s cyclists.
His latest work towers over the Oudezijdskolk, one of Amsterdam’s oldest canals, weaving portraiture and place into a single living image.
Nils Westergard, Amsterdam 2025. Image copyright Nils Westergard
The mural presents a weathered old skipper, pipe in hand, his features unmistakably Dutch. Painted in monochromatic blues, the figure is spectral yet solid, a guardian of memory. Within his chest, the canal itself appears as an echo of the water that has shaped the city for centuries.
Nils Westergard, Amsterdam 2025. Image copyright Nils Westergard
Behind him, a vast cosmic backdrop unfurls. A crescent moon against a midnight sky, while a fiery orb of pinks and oranges evokes both dawn and dusk, attributed to fellow Belgian street artist Nean Kingdom.
Nils Westergard, Amsterdam 2025. Image copyright Nils Westergard
This dreamlike backdrop elevates the skipper into myth, bridging the intimate and the infinite. It is a reminder that Amsterdam, while anchored in its waterways, is always looking outward, toward horizons unknown.
Nils Westergard, Amsterdam 2025. Image copyright Nils Westergard
As the mural settles into the urban landscape, it offers a portrait not just of a man, but of a city itself: timeless, reflective, and still very much in motion.
Nils Westergard, Amsterdam 2025. Image copyright Nils Westergard
Nils Westergard’s studio works are available in our online store. From limited editions to unique originals, this collection offers an intimate encounter with the artist’s vision and a rare opportunity to collect a part of his evolving legacy.