Vintage cars on canvas: nostalgic exhibition in Franeker

Lover of vintage cars – of course – and art? Then there is now an exhibition that you do not want to miss. Until early 2026, the paintings of Martin Sijbesma – a Frisian painter with an unparalleled love of nostalgia – will be on display at Museum Martena in Franeker. His exhibition “Painter of the Past” will make you dream away with scenes full of romantic realism: think of vintage cars with picnic baskets on deserted country roads, dancing cornfields in the sun and still lifes full of antiques in which you can almost smell and taste the time. It is a world that no longer exists, but feels very much alive on Sijbesma's canvases.

Nostalgia on canvas in Frisian landscapes

In Sijbesma's paintings, classic cars come to life in idyllic settings. He paints vintage cars so realistically that they almost seem to drive off the canvas – gleaming pre-war saloons and 50s family cars that almost make you smell of petrol. At the same time, his paintings exude a peace and warmth that is reminiscent of times long gone. It is not without reason that connoisseurs call his style "romantic realism", with atmospheric compositions that evoke a sense of sheltered nostalgia.

The craftsmanship bursts from the canvas. Many works look like photographs at first glance, such is Sijbesma's painting technique. Only upon closer eye contact do you see the brushstrokes that suggest the shine on the bodywork of a classic or the texture of an old toy horse. This dedication to detail does not come out of the blue - Sijbesma works in an age-old glazing technique, layer upon layer, as the great masters did. No wonder that each painting exudes a timeless atmosphere, in which you as a viewer are transported back in time for a moment.

Martin Sijbesma, a painter from back then

For Martin Sijbesma, nostalgia is not just a theme, but a way of life. The 57-year-old Frisian lives with his wife Ytsje in a centuries-old church in the village of Kûbaard – a setting as rustic as his paintings. At home, he cooks on an old-fashioned kerosene stove and stokes the stove with coal. With Martin, you literally step into the past, and you can feel that in his art.

From a young age, Sijbesma knew he wanted to become a painter, even though his parents thought differently. At the insistence of his strict Christian father, he first dutifully trained as a house painter. He remained 'in the paint', so to speak. But the urge to make real art continued to gnaw. After completing this vocational training, Martin rented a draughty worker's house to fully devote himself to his passion - he practiced endlessly by copying old masters and found a teacher who taught him the craft further. His first breakthrough came with meticulously painted still lifes, with which he achieved commercial success at a local gallery.

Nowadays Martin Sijbesma is best known for his Frisian landscapes with classic cars, cars that used to define the street scene. With this unique niche – which he developed all by himself – he has put himself on the map as one of the most successful realistic painters in Friesland and far beyond. Yet Sijbesma remains modest about his timeless choice of subject: “I am a painter from the past,” he likes to say. That statement sums it up nicely – Martin paints yesterday, but with the craftsmanship and eye for detail of today.

Museum Martena: city castle full of history

Museum Martena is the historical city museum of Franeker, housed in a 16th-century city castle called the Martenastins. This unique location stimulates all the senses with stories from the past – very fitting for Sijbesma's nostalgic art. In addition to changing exhibitions such as that of Sijbesma, Museum Martena also brings the local history of Franeker to life. Visitors can wander through classically furnished rooms and, for example, admire the study of Anna Maria van Schurman, the first female student in the Netherlands, in the middle of what was once the university town of Franeker. The museum profiles itself as a 'slow museum' with a 19th-century atmosphere, where you are given all the time you need and personal attention is central. Good to know: Museum Martena is also a VVV information point – ideal to start your visit to Franeker or to get tips for a further route (perhaps a nice classic car or club tour through the Frisian landscape?).

Practical tips for visitors

The exhibition Martin Sijbesma | Schilder van Toen can be seen from 7 June 2025 to 4 January 2026 in Museum Martena in Franeker. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00 (from 1 April to 31 October also on Mondays). Parking in the city centre of Franeker is paid (maximum 2 hours near the museum on the Voorstraat), but parking lots just outside the centre are free. Prefer to travel by public transport? From Franeker station you can walk to the museum, which is located in the heart of the city, in about 10 minutes. Tip: combine your visit with other sights in Franeker - the famous Eise Eisinga Planetarium is just around the corner, and you can tour the surrounding Frisian villages in your classic car. For more information about tickets, prices and activities, please visit the website of Museum Martena.