Art (Cycle) Tour

Art, Cycling & Community

On Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 June 2025, The Florian Hotel transformed into a vibrant hub of art, culture, and creativity. During this inspiring weekend, guests and visitors were invited to step inside our hotel and experience art in a relaxed, welcoming setting — completely free of charge.

With open doors and an open mindset, visitors could meet three talented Dutch artists, explore their work up close, hear the stories behind their creations, and enjoy the unique Florian vibe where design, sustainability, and creativity come together.

Organized in collaboration with Kunst Kring Haarlemmermeer, the Art (Cycle) Tour invited people to discover art in motion. Participants joined a cycling route around the Haarlemmermeer area, stopping at various locations hosting art exhibitions — with The Florian Hotel proudly being one of the selected stops.

The combination of cycling, culture, and local creativity made the tour a truly immersive experience, connecting people, places, and stories through art.

Diana Gorter – Finding Beauty in the Unexpected

@dianagorter_art - Step into her creative world here

The first artist to showcase her work at The Florian was the incredible Diana Gorter. A former mathematician turned visual artist, Diana creates mesmerizing mosaic-style artworks using everyday discarded objects — from plastic toys and bottle caps to beads and small forgotten items.

From a distance, her works form striking images; up close, they reveal hundreds of tiny details, each with its own story. Her art encourages viewers to slow down, look twice, and rethink the value of what we often throw away.

Diana’s vision aligns beautifully with The Florian Hotel’s sustainable spirit, making her presence a natural and meaningful match for our space.

Following this event, we continued our collaboration by organizing more inspiring events together.

Maxime Velthuis – Expressive, Bold & Personal

@maximevelthuis -  Explore her artistic ideas here

Our second artist, Maxime Velthuis, brought a fresh and vibrant energy to the tour. Young, expressive, and full of ideas, Maxime blends design, illustration, and emotion into artworks that speak directly to the soul.

Inspired by life, nature, music, and personal experiences, her pieces are playful yet thoughtful — always carrying a strong emotional core. Her bold and modern style fits seamlessly with The Florian’s creative energy and design-driven heart.

We were proud to welcome Maxime and invite our guests to step into her colorful, expressive world.

Cees Smit – Nostalgia with a Message

@smit.visch  -  Dive deeper into his nostalgic universe here

The third artist, Cees Smit, is a painter with a powerful story to tell. His work blends realism with nostalgia, capturing scenes that feel warm and familiar while addressing deeply current themes.

His latest series, featuring vintage gas stations, was inspired by his book “Surviving Hemophilia: A Road Trip Through the World of Healthcare” and a compelling article about Americans selling blood simply to afford groceries or fuel. The result is a collection that radiates retro charm while subtly confronting social realities.

Cees’ timeless aesthetic and meaningful storytelling fit perfectly within The Florian’s world — bold, thoughtful, and full of character.

A Weekend to Remember

The Art (Cycle) Tour was the perfect occasion for inspiring conversations, discovering beautiful artworks, and even finding a special piece to take home. Guests were welcomed with delicious drinks and pastries, keeping everyone energized for both the art and the cycling journey ahead.

We look back on this weekend with great pride and gratitude and hope to host many more creative events like this in the future. At The Florian Hotel, we love thinking outside the box — just like true artists do.

Take a look at the video from our event and sign up via the form below to be the first to hear about similar events.

Art Cycle Tour 2026

The Art Cycle Tour 2026 took place at The Florian Hotel on the weekend of Saturday 20 June and Sunday 21 June, from 09:00 to 17:00. For the second consecutive year, we were proud to serve as one of the official host locations for this inspiring cultural initiative that connects art, cycling, and the local community across Haarlemmermeer.

Art, Culture & Connection

For the second edition, The Florian Hotel proudly welcomed three special artists who showcased their work throughout the hotel during this vibrant weekend of creativity and cycling. Guests were able to explore the exhibitions at their own pace while enjoying a selection of drinks and tasty bites available throughout the day. Best of all, entrance to the event was completely free, making art accessible to all visitors.

Featured Artists 2026

We were delighted to welcome back Cees Smit, whose work continues to resonate with our guests and visitors.

Diana Gorter also returned this year with a powerful new piece: an original artwork of Steve Jobs, created entirely from electronic waste such as keyboards, old phones, cables, etc. Her creative approach transforms discarded materials into meaningful, thought-provoking art, highlighting both innovation and sustainability.

Melany Groothuis – Instinct, imagination and nature

@melany_groothuis_artist  -  See the world through her lens

This edition marked the debut of the incredible Melany Groothuis with us. Born in Amsterdam, Melany is a multidisciplinary artist and interior architect with a deep passion for painting. From an early age, her work explored women from the Golden Age, later evolving into portraiture, surrealism, and abstract expression.

Her creative process is intuitive yet intentional, blending brushwork, palette knives, and unexpected materials to create layered compositions full of texture, depth, and emotion. Her use of colour and form invites viewers into a world shaped by instinct, imagination, and a strong connection to nature.

We were especially excited to welcome Melany this year, as her experimental approach and her connection to nature align beautifully with The Florian Hotel’s atmosphere and values. At the moment, two of her artworks are on display at the hotel and available for guests to view and purchase. Each piece includes a QR code with additional information, pricing, and direct contact details for inquiries.

Music & Atmosphere

The weekend was made even more memorable by a live DJ performance from Shyrine Nadya, whose uplifting set brought energy and rhythm to the afternoon, perfectly complementing the artistic atmosphere. Shyrine previously performed during our Green Beats sessions at The Florian Hotel, once again proving her versatility and talent in creating immersive musical experiences.

A Celebration of Creativity

There is something truly special about seeing creative minds share their ideas, stories, and artworks with our guests and the local community. The Art Cycle Tour brings this spirit to life in a unique way, turning the hotel into a space for dialogue, inspiration, and discovery.

A heartfelt thank you to Cees Smit, Diana Gorter, and Melany Groothuis for sharing your talent with us. And a special thank you to Kunstkring Haarlemmermeer for organizing this incredible event and for bringing artists, visitors, and local businesses together through art.

At The Florian Hotel, we believe that art has the power to connect people, inspire conversations, and bring joy. We look forward to future editions and to continuing our journey in supporting artists and creative initiatives in our community.

Why Art Events at The Florian?

Following the Art (Cycle) Tour, we’re excited to continue organizing and hosting art-focused experiences at our hotel, from exhibitions and creative meet-ups to collaborations with artists and cultural partners.

If you’d like to participate in future art events, we invite you to subscribe using the form below and stay up to date with what’s coming next.

We also welcome inquiries if:

• You’re interested in purchasing artworks from one of the featured artists
• You’d like to include an art exhibition as part of a corporate event, meeting, or gathering at The Florian
  
• You’re an artist interested in exhibiting your work at our hotel

Simply fill out the form and share your interest with us. We’ll get back to you with all possibilities and details to create a meaningful and inspiring art experience — and to make your visit to The Florian even more memorable.

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