Herons of Amsterdam

This is an editorial illustration assignment for the Dutch newspaper Het Parool and their weekly magazine PS. The illustrations accompany the article Vlegels met Vleugels by Caroline ten Kate, exploring an unexpected shift in the behaviour of one of Amsterdam’s most familiar residents: the heron.

If you have ever visited Amsterdam, you might have noticed them: tall, grey, slightly awkward birds standing on sidewalks, looking straight at you as if they belong there. That presence feels typical of the city now, but it is actually quite recent and unique. In most other places, herons remain much more reserved.

The article dives into this shift. For centuries, herons were shy and almost invisible. Then, around the 1970s, Amsterdam’s herons began to change. Not in numbers, but in attitude. They stopped migrating in winter, settled in large colonies in city parks, and started appearing throughout the city. Some even wait near fish stalls as if they are regular customers.

Translating that transformation into illustrations was an absolute joy. From their shy arrival in the city to their transformation into a real Amsterdam local, I focused on their attitude and presence. There is something almost human in the way they sit and observe, with their hair slicked back, simply hanging out on a typical Amsterdam street pole, known as an “Amsterdammertje”.