Dutch towns Aalsmeer and Winschoten unveil murals amid vandalism and tribute

In Aalsmeer, the community artwork titled “Wanneer de lente komt”, commissioned by the municipality and created by artist Femke Kempkes with the help of local volunteers, was defaced by a graffiti tagger of Eastern‑European origin. The tag obscured many of the thousands of residents’ names painted on the wall, prompting Kempkes to seek contact with the vandal to explain the damage and request cleaning.

In Winschoten, graffiti artist Merijn Jansse completed a large wall mural on the former Sint Lucasziekenhuis building. The piece honors Rudi Wolf, a well‑known local figure who died on 25 July after a serious illness. Jansse said the work is meant to keep Wolf’s memory alive for his family, friends, and the town, which also hosts the annual Middeleeuws Winschoten historic festival.