Artists
From paintings and sculptures to digital installations and interactive works – each artwork offers a new perspective on our living environment.
Participating artists: Atelier NL, Frank Bloem, Suzette Bousema, Linhuei Chen, Jonat Deelstra, Xandra van der Eijk, Annemieke Fierinck & Esther Hessing, Sami Hammana & Harpo ‘t Hart, Folkert de Jong, Tim Knol, Daan Koens, Valerie van Leersum, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, Sientje Mesdag-van Houten, MUST (Ziega van den Berk en Sebastian van Berkel), Anke Roder, Thijs de Zeeuw and Anne Jesuina (location STROOM).
Some artists explore the color or scent of the water, show the contrast between healthy and damaged reefs, or reveal the surprising versatility of beach sand. Others focus on the consequences of climate change and the vulnerability of coastal areas.
The contemporary artworks are interspersed with 19th-century seascapes and dune landscapes by Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Sientje Mesdag-van Houten. This creates a dialogue between then and now: between the Mesdags, who advocated for nature conservation with their panorama, and today's artists who reflect on today's ecological challenges.
First artwork
Singer-songwriter Tim Knol sings "For Tomorrow's Sake" especially written for DRIFT, amidst the iconic Panorama of Scheveningen.
For Tomorrow’s Sake is the first artwork in the controversial DRIFT program, in which 22 leading artists reflect on the relationship between humanity and nature. With lines like "Let’s mend our ways before they break, for tomorrow’s sake," Knol strikes a chord.
The text is an ode to the dunes, the sea, and the future of our landscape – themes that resonate well with the ideas of the artist couple Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Sientje Mesdag-van Houten. They were already committed to nature conservation in the 19th century – artists with a mission that remains relevant today.
For Tomorrow's Sake
Public Programme
In May 2025, as a prologue to DRIFT, the museum organized a series of unique cultural walks through the Meijendel dune area, led by musician Tim Knol. There, in the places where the Mesdags once painted, nature, music, and stories converged – while Knol's song "For Tomorrow's Sake" resonated impressively among the dunes.
Tim Knol: "I've been to the Panorama Mesdag Museum often these past few months. The Panorama and the stories about the Mesdag couple and their love for nature (and conservation) inspired me to write a new song. It's especially special that we'll soon be going for a walk in the dunes that are also featured in the Panorama. I'm really looking forward to going out and, in addition to other songs, playing my new song."