With the arrival of the Tour of Spain to the Netherlands, the Breda city park Valkenberg will be adorned from May 31 with thirty paintings from the famous Prado museum in Madrid. The canvases, full-size copies, will be hung on the fences around the park and tell about the relationship between Breda, the Netherlands and the Spaniards.
The arrival of the Tour of Spain, La Vuelta, to the Netherlands ensures that a special collaboration has arisen between Breda, the Breda’s Museum and the world-famous Prado museum in Madrid. Breda is the start and finish place for the third stage on 21 August and the city wants to use and use the sporting event for all kinds of purposes. The cultural sector is now also involved.
“The paintings tell the story of Breda, the Netherlands and the Spaniards.”
It is from that idea that the world-famous Prado National Museum print thirty of their paintings on canvas in full size for Breda. The cloths are resistant to wind and weather and will be hung on the fencing around Valkenberg city park.
“The paintings tell the story of Breda, the Netherlands and Spain,” says Breda alderman Daan Quaars. “Then we are talking about history and in particular the Eighty Years’ War. The highlight is the painting Las Lanzas (the spears) by Diego Velázquez from 1634/35 about the surrender of Breda to the Spaniards. Everyone will soon be able to see that history in the Valkenberg see.”
“The Prado is not just a museum, just like the Vuelta is not just a cycling race.”
According to alderman Quaars, the exhibition fits in completely with the project La Vuelta Holanda, the Tour of Spain with the Breda-Breda stage. He is as proud as a peacock in both cases. According to him, La Vuelta is bigger than just the cycling race.
“Of course we don’t physically get the real paintings in Breda and that makes sense,” says Quaars. “But this collaboration with the Prado is unique and we didn’t even dare to dream of it. The Prado is not just a museum, just like the Vuelta is not just a cycling race.”
The exhibition in the Valkenberg city park will be opened on May 31 by alderman Marianne de Bie and will last until August 21.
