east wing

Jan Roos – On the Borderline of Land and Sea

February 21 – June 7, 2026

Jan Roos (1951), born and still residing in Harlingen, is one of the most important Frisian painters. His work is deeply rooted in the harbor and landscape of his hometown. From February 21 to June 7, 2026, Museum Belvédère will present the exhibition Jan Roos – On the Borderline of Land and Sea, showcasing an extensive selection of monumental harbor scenes from the artist's studio. Most of these works have never been shown in a museum before.

Roos studied at the Vredeman de Vries Academy in Leeuwarden and the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht. In the 1970s, he was influenced by the German art movement Die Neue Wilden, but unlike these artists, who often dealt with contemporary issues and activism, Roos focused on painting from observation, directly in the open air.

Back in Harlingen, he found his major themes in the harbor areas of his city—from the shipyard near his home to the industrial harbor, the fish auctions, floating docks, and piers.

To work quickly on location, Roos swapped oil paints for acrylics, which dry faster, and canvas for sturdy ship packaging paper that he found in the harbor. He often painted on the ground, bent over or sitting on his knees, literally placing himself in the moment, surrounded by the sounds, smells, and sensations of the harbor.