A bird’s eye view on Amsterdam featuring work by Janneke Viegers

Tim Killiam Prize 2025

Janneke Viegers has been announced as the winner of the Tim Killiam Prize 2025.

Each year, the Tim Killiam Foundation awards this prize to an artist, photographer, or architect who has made a significant contribution to the visual representation of Amsterdam.

This prize is an initiative of the Tim Killiam Foundation, which manages the legacy of the architect, illustrator, and photographer of the same name. Tim Killiam (1947–2014) became known as the creator and publisher of the Amsterdam Canal Guide. The prize includes a cash award and an exhibition at theMuseum of the Canals.

From a Unique Perspective

From the jury report: “In an era where Google Maps and Google Earth allow us to zoom in on every detail, Janneke Viegers brings mystery to our image of the city.”

The series of works referenced by the jury, titled Exteriors, was started by Viegers even before Google Maps existed. The series consists of large canvases, measuring 2 x 2 meters, in which Viegers depicts the city from above in a so-called bird’s-eye perspective—similar to how a drone would capture it today. They offer an original view of the city.

Janneke Viegers

Janneke Viegers (born 1952) studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Arnhem and later taught there, as well as at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. Since 1990, she has lived and worked in Amsterdam.

Initially, Viegers focused on portraits and smaller works, but from the 1990s onwards, with the Exteriors series, she also created large-format canvases. Her impressive body of work, comprising more than 2,500 pieces, can be found in both public and private collections worldwide.

The exhibition will be on display in the Ball room and Red Salon of the Museum of the Canals from April 3 to July 6, 2025.