Designer: | Lavies, Jan (1902-2005) |
Country: | Benelux |
Decade: | 1920 |
Year: | 1929 |
Dimensions: | 100 x 62 cm | 39.37 x 24.41 inches |
Condition: | Good | | B |
Publisher: | Niederländische Eisenbahnen |
Printed by: | J.Smulders & Co., Den Haag |
Category: |
Railroad Travel |
This original vintage travel poster, created by the celebrated Dutch graphic artist Jan Lavies around 1929, was commissioned by the Dutch Railways and the Dutch Tourist Board in The Hague to promote tourism across Holland. The poster highlights the newly introduced 8-day rail pass, which allowed for unlimited train travel throughout the Netherlands—especially attractive to foreign tourists seeking to explore the country's diverse attractions.
Rather than relying on typical Dutch motifs, Lavies took a more playful approach. The image shows a young sailor waving the Dutch flag from atop a golden sand dune, overlooking a lively beach scene filled with swimmers, sunbathers, and sailboats. The bright primary colors and clean, modern lines give the work a sense of joy and movement, perfectly capturing the leisure and freedom of interwar European travel.
The poster includes printed information in German about rail pass pricing and was designed with a blank section at the bottom for local agents or custom messaging. It remains in good condition, showing only light edge wear and small pinholes in the corners—expected signs of age that do not detract from its visual impact.
This is a charming and rare piece of European travel history, blending graphic innovation with a romantic vision of beach holidays and rail journeys in 1920s Holland.