Vibrant Street Art Scene

Heerlen is a city in the south of Limburg that is often described as the street art capital of the Netherlands, and a walk through the centre is the way to see why. The city has a long history as a Roman settlement and, later, as the centre of the coal mining district, and after the mines closed in the 1960s and early 1970s it had to find a new identity. Over the last decade, murals and other works of street art have become a visible part of that reinvention, painting new life onto walls that were once plain or neglected.

The murals are spread across the centre, on the sides of buildings, car parks and alleys, and they range from huge, multi-storey images that can be seen from a distance to small, witty works at street level. Many were created as part of the Heerlen Murals project, which invites artists from the Netherlands and abroad to paint in the city, often working with residents and local organisations, so that the pictures reflect local stories and themes. Subjects range from mining history and portraits to fantasy and abstract designs, and the styles vary from photographic realism to graffiti lettering and cartoon.

The art changes. New pieces appear regularly, older works are painted over or fade, and festivals and events bring fresh walls into play. A number of guided tours and printed or digital maps are available, which help to find the main works and explain the artists behind them, and they are a good way to explore the centre. Walking takes you through shopping streets, squares and quiet backstreets, and you will often come across a piece you did not expect. The International Breakdance Event, held in the city, adds to the creative scene, and the Limburgs Mooiste is another local promotion of the region.

Other sights in Heerlen fit well into the same walk. The Oranje Nassau I shaft building and the nearby mining museum tell the story of the coal industry, the Thermenmuseum shows the remains of a Roman bathhouse from the time when the settlement was called Coriovallum, and the Glaspaleis, a modernist building from the 1930s, is an architectural landmark. The compact centre has cafes and terraces that make good stops.

The street art suits art lovers, photographers, families and anyone curious about how a post-industrial city reinvents itself. It is free to see at all times, daylight is best for photos, and the walk takes one to two hours.