This work is inspired by the local history. In Medieval times the city of Groningen was a lot smaller. There was a city wall all around the city with several portals. At the end of the 19th century the wall and portals were taken down. They disappeared never to return.

The front of the only remaining portal, the 'Herepoort', moved to Amsterdam. This one was related to the area of the mural. In Medieval times his area used to be just behind the 'Herepoort', outside of the city. People were growing fruits and vegetables there for the people living in the city.

Nowadays many things have changed, but people still feel sorry for the loss of the Herepoort. Several attempts to bring it back from Amsterdam have failed, and this probably will never happen. That's why I decided to bring it back in a mural.

My painting style was inspired by the works of Anno Smith, a ceramic mosaic artist who made a lot of memorial stones in the city, just after World War 2. He depicted people working a lot.