The Torentje Enriched with Art: BlowUp Jubilee Expands to Madurodam

The Torentje Enriched with Art: BlowUp Jubilee Expands to Madurodam

The Hague – This year, BlowUp Jubilee is expanding to the theme park Madurodam. In addition to more than twenty monumental installations throughout The Hague’s Museum Quarter, inflatable artworks in miniature form will appear alongside iconic miniatures. During the art event, taking place from 22 May through 21 June, an inflatable artwork will be displayed at the Torentje, the Dutch Prime Minister’s office.

This installation was developed by British artist Steve Messam. Originally, he intended for the work to be installed on the actual Torentje, but realizing the piece at full scale proved impossible.

Curator Mary Hessing explains: “Back in 2022, when I was walking around the Binnenhof with artist Steve Messam, his eyes lit up the moment he saw the Torentje. Unfortunately, his ambitious plans turned out to be impossible to realize, but I never forgot them. This year, everything suddenly fell into place with this expansion to Madurodam.”

Sunset on the Veluwe

Other works are also being specially adapted to the scale of Madurodam. One example is Sunset in The Hague by Rodrigues-Rijnierse — previously exhibited on the Hofvijver during BlowUp Art 2022 — which will return in miniature form. At Madurodam, this ‘sun’ will set over the pond in front of the monumental Jachthuis Sint Hubertus, designed by Hendrik Petrus Berlage in 1915 on the Veluwe.

Hester Oerlemans, winner of the prestigious Wilhelminaring in 2025, is creating two iconic ‘balloon chairs’ in miniature for the gardens of Paleis Het Loo. Hessing continues:
“I have followed Oerlemans’ work for years. She is an exceptional artist who effortlessly combines sensitive tactility and humor with great confidence and strength. I am proud that she is part of BlowUp Jubilee this year.”

Monumental in Miniature

The collaboration with Madurodam creates an intriguing interplay between scale, context, and imagination. While BlowUp Jubilee transforms The Hague’s city centre with monumental inflatable art, Madurodam demonstrates how these works relate to the Netherlands as a whole.

BlowUp Jubilee will take place in The Hague’s Museum Quarter from 22 May through 21 June 2026 and is free to visit. Regular admission fees apply for entry to Madurodam.