A monthlong open-air exhibition called BlowUp Jubilee has taken over The Hague, featuring 24 giant inflatable artworks installed in parks, on buildings, and even in a train station. Highlights include a 7-meter-tall stew pot floating in front of the Mauritshuis museum, home to "Girl with a Pearl Earring," and works by artists such as Eugenie Boon, who created a piece inspired by Curaçaoan culture, and British artist Steve Messam, whose red spiked sculpture Crested sits atop a parking garage entrance. The exhibition is curated by Mary Hessing and runs until June 21.
The project matters because it was born from the Dutch government's massive renovation of the Binnenhof complex—which includes both the Mauritshuis and the Parliament building—that closed the historic site to the public in 2021. By staging accessible, large-scale inflatable art in public spaces, the city aims to keep cultural life vibrant and engage a broad audience during the renovation. The 2026 jubilee edition marks the return of all previous installations plus new additions, demonstrating a sustained commitment to temporary public art as a tool for urban placemaking and community engagement.