From a train trip to Amsterdam to a sea life collection
- Dominique Janssens
- Jun 1, 2021
- 3 min read
It’s around half past eleven in the morning when I leave Amsterdam Central Station on a warm, sunny day. Because I’m not in a hurry anyway, I decide to walk slowly to my destination. Although The Netherlands is just a small country, the differences between the Burgundian south and the more watery north west are easily and quickly to be seen…
Where the south is famous for its fairy-tale forests, the landscape immediately changes when crossing this natural, watery border, known as the Meuse and Waal, near Geldermalsen. It almost looks like old Dutch paintings with all those meadows, small water areas, ditches, rivers, mills and here and there some houses on the dike. It’s always surprising how much you see while travelling by train.
Typical sounds of the coast
While I’m walking through Amsterdam, all cliches of north-western Holland come together: noisy seagulls, ship bells, light breaking waves in the canals and a large crowd of people. To follow even one conversation is almost harder than mixing water with oil or to count blades of grass of the quick passing meadows...
They are the typical sounds of a city near the coast. And I love it. It’s like the opposite of where I come from, but, because it's typical Dutch, it’s also very recognizable. And again, I love it.
We all, yes I do too, tend to travel abroad to look for the best new places and beautiful adventures. Understandable, because our planet has many wonderful cities. But, that doesn’t mean that your own place can’t be that amazing as well. That even in your own country, you can discover so many new things, even if that means that you discover those places over and over again, just because it never seems to disappoint.
And, to put in some kind of perspective: a Dutch herring is just as ‘exotic’ for someone from Brazil than a common, tropical fish from the Caribbean Sea for us Europeans. So, I thought it was time to create a typical Dutch collection. Very recognizable and all ours!
Sea life prints
That being said, it was time to make that real. It took me a while before it really came on paper, mostly because of my other artistic activities. But, in April 2021 my ‘memory from Amsterdam’ started to come alive and a few weeks later, the collection Atlantis became a fact.
The Dutch herring, the Atlantic mackerel, but also the lobster, seagull and crab: all of them are now available on products. And, in the meantime, I’ve also worked on some new family members…
The nautical style
A very popular style, mostly to be seen in interiors near the coasts, is the nautical style. The collection Atlantis is the more playful type, especially because of the bright colours of animals like the shrimp and lobster. But, also for those who are more into earth tones, they can find their favourites in this collection.
Think about the soft tones of the salmon and seagull or the chic, navy colours of the humpback whale and bottlenose dolphin. Or, what about a Caribbean flamingo or green sea turtle for a tropical touch? With this versatile collection, because of the neutral look, you can match it will many types of interior styles.
From pillows to wall art
A reddish brown lobster on an off-white throw pillow or a big green sea turtle on a big wall circle made of dibond as an eyecatcher for the living room: go for a statement piece or subtle decoration, like pillows, for a lounge set or on a boat. Your back will be happy with you!
And, what the next collection will be? I will let myself being surprised again! In the meantime, my travel card is ready for new adventures…
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