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Outside Together (Samen buiten)

Stijn Valentijn

About this artwork.

Anyone who has visited the playground on Vooronder in Lewenborg since April 2025 can hardly have missed it: opposite houses 10 to 15 is a cheerful mural by artist Stijn Valentijn.

The Groningen-based artist’s work is characterised by bright colours and bold outlines. Valentijn prefers to work intuitively, so he began without a fixed plan. Holes in the brick wall gave him an idea: he saw little mouths in them. This led to a series of playful portraits reflecting the cultural diversity of the neighbourhood.

Local residents actively contributed to the work as it took shape. One of the children playing nearby, for example, asked the artist if he could paint some flowers. And where there are flowers, there are bees, so they found their way into the mural too. The final panel features a bird which, according to the artist, was unconsciously inspired by the spring rider in the playground.

Valentijn’s mural blends naturally into its surroundings by incorporating colours already present in the area, such as the red of the window frames, the green of the playground equipment and the yellow of the spring rider. This connects the mural to its setting while still adding a striking and cheerful touch.

Even the concrete traffic barriers, which prevent motorists from cutting the corner, were given a colourful makeover. Children from the neighbourhood painted them together with Valentijn. In this way, the project became a work of art by and for the local community: a place that encourages children to play outside together and brings people together.

Part of route.

Location.

Vooronder 52

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Facts & Figures.