Iconic winter landscape by Avercamp to return to the Netherlands for good

Joint acquisition by Rijksmuseum and Mauritshuis

15 Sep 2026

The Mauritshuis and the Rijksmuseum have jointly acquired Hendrick Avercamp’s Colf Players on the Ice, painted c. 1625. The acquisition signals the return to the Netherlands of one of the most important winter landscapes in Dutch painting. The 17th-century masterpiece will be shown first in Kampen, the town of Avercamp’s birth, where it will be on display from 3 October at Avercamp Back in Kampen: the 17th Century through the Eyes of Hendrick & Barent. It will then alternate between the Rijksmuseum and the Mauritshuis. The acquisition is an exceptional addition to the Dutch national art collection.

Taco Dibbits, Director General of the Rijksmuseum: ‘Ice and winter fun have been inextricably associated with each other for centuries here in the Netherlands. Few things bring everyone in the country together like those two things. As soon as the canals, rivers and lakes freeze, we take to the ice en masse – young and old, rich and poor. This painting by Avercamp is among the loveliest of winter landscapes.’

Martine Gosselink, General Director of the Mauritshuis: ‘The image evokes memories of the Netherlands’ great love of icy winter days. It also invites us to reflect on mobility, sport, national identity and, of course, climate change. Harsh winters are becoming increasingly rare, so Avercamp’s masterpiece has even more significance nowadays. This is the first time that the Mauritshuis and Rijksmuseum have purchased an artwork together. We are proud that it is such a quintessentially Dutch scene.’

Martine Gosselink and Taco Dibbits at the new painting. Photo: Rachel Ecclestone

Masterful winter scene

Colf Players on the Ice is regarded as a highlight of Avercamp’s oeuvre. Unlike in his earlier winter landscape teeming with human figures, the artist focuses here on a small group in the foreground. The low vantage point makes us feel that we too are on the ice, and part of the scene. The focus is on two men playing colf – one of the oldest ball games in the Low Countries, and a forerunner of golf – as fishers, passers-by and other spectators watch the game. The painting is therefore not only a fabulous wintry scene, it is also the earliest known depiction of colf.

Colourful picture of the times

The painting also presents a vivid image of daily life during the ‘Little Ice Age’, a period between circa 1575 and 1625 which saw bitterly cold winters. Avercamp depicts both the pleasure of the skaters, hikers and people sledging, and the harshness of winter. The clothes worn by the figures in the painting also present a colourful impression of fashions in the early to mid-17th century. The details and the evocative characters make this painting one of Avercamp’s most intimate and innovative compositions.

New research

The many surviving preliminary studies for this painting tell a similar story. Drawings by Avercamp in Dresden show how carefully he developed the composition, making changes during the painting process to make the image more expressive. Specialists at the Mauritshuis and the Rijksmuseum expect materials analysis to teach us more about his process.

Avercamp

Hendrick Avercamp (1585–1634) was born in Amsterdam and worked in Kampen. He is regarded as the father of Dutch ice scenes. He was the first artist to specialise almost exclusively in winter landscapes depicting people from all levels of society coming together on the ice. His paintings, some of the best-known images of Dutch winter culture, still appeal to the imagination more than four centuries on.

Significance for the Netherlands

The acquisition is very important for the Netherlands. Although several paintings by Avercamp are in Dutch public collections, almost all of them are early works. Colf Players on the Ice, on the other hand, shows the innovative nature of his mature style, and is thus an essential addition to the Dutch national collection.

Avercamp Year 2026

Following the acquisition, the painting will be shown first at Stedelijk Museum Kampen, the town where Avercamp worked for the majority of his career. It will go on display on 3 October as part of Avercamp Year 2026 and the major exhibition Avercamp Back in Kampen: the 17th Century through the Eyes of Hendrick and Barent. It will then be shown alternately at the Mauritshuis in The Hague and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, so that visitors to both museums can enjoy this extraordinary masterpiece.

Collaboration between Rijksmuseum and Mauritshuis

The joint purchase underlines the Mauritshuis and Rijksmuseum’s close collaboration on Dutch 17th-century painting. For many years, the two institutions have worked together on research, conservation, exhibitions and loans. The joint acquisition of Colf Players on the Ice is a further manifestation of the idea of a Dutch national art collection managed, studied and shared for the benefit of the widest possible audience.

Avercamp Back in Kampen: the 17th Century through the Eyes of Hendrick and Barent
Stedelijk Museum Kampen
3 October 2026 – 10 January 2027