At the Jan Vermeerstraat in the Schilderswijk district of Venlo, a stunning new mural now brings color and wonder to the neighborhood. Created by artist Paul Watty, “The Greenhouse of Vermeer” is far more than a mural – it’s a story about collaboration, imagination, and deep respect for local history.

From idea to reality

Residents of the Jan Vermeerstraat apartment building longed to bring more color and life to their surroundings. Their wish was heard by housing corporation Antares, which invited curator Vincent Huijbers to help find the right artist. After reviewing several portfolios, the residents themselves chose Paul Watty – a decision driven by admiration for his professionalism, creativity, and artistic vision.

The search for meaning

At first, the residents wanted the iconic Venlo carnival figures Valuas, Flujas, and Guntrud to be portrayed. Yet Paul Watty felt some hesitation. Known for his photorealistic depictions of natural landscapes, he strives to create images that unite rather than divide – works that evoke beauty without judgment or controversy.

But commissioned art is always a conversation, and from that dialogue, something new began to grow.

During a residents’ meeting, memories surfaced of the area’s history – the days of agriculture and horticulture, when greenhouses and test gardens filled the neighborhood. Many residents had even worked in those greenhouses. That was the moment when the seed of a new idea was planted: The Greenhouse of Vermeer.

A Venlo masterpiece

Through his research, Watty discovered that the Venlo greenhouse holds a special place in horticultural history – much like the windmill does in the Zaan region. Invented in Venlo, this greenhouse design is now used all over the world. Combined with the name of the street, it inspired the concept for The Greenhouse of Vermeer – a tribute both to Venlo’s agricultural heritage and to the Dutch master painter Johannes Vermeer.

In this mural, nature, technology, history, and art intertwine. Local fruits and vegetables form the vibrant heart of the composition, rendered in a style that echoes Vermeer’s famous mastery of light and atmosphere.

A diptych full of life

The final design became a diptych: one greenhouse filled with vegetables, the other with fruit. Because of the complexity of the composition, Watty decided to realize the artwork in two stages. The first part – the vegetable greenhouse – was completed in October 2025. The second, depicting the fruit greenhouse, will come to life in March 2026.
Together, they form a harmonious whole: a celebration of growth, of people and nature, of past and future.

Respect and wonder

Standing before The Greenhouse of Vermeer, you can feel the calm precision and craftsmanship behind Paul Watty’s work. Every detail, every reflection, every glimmer of light reveals a masterful command of technique and composition. But above all, this mural shows how art can connect – artist and resident, history and modern life, humanity and the world around us.

“The Greenhouse of Vermeer” is more than a mural.
It’s a window into Venlo – and into the boundless imagination of an artist who sees what others might overlook.