This painting is about the ‘Day of Hearts’ as it would have been celebrated around 1900 in Zeedijk and Warmoesstraat .The Zeedijk is now known for its Asian influences and a concentration of gay bars.
‘Day of Hearts’ has now become a three day street festival. On Saturday, the Night of Romance starts with performances and music. On Sunday, the day is filled by a neighbourhood brunch and the opening of the ’Days of Hearts’ with a dragon dance on the tables throughout the street. On Monday, those tables are used for the candidates, dressed up as queens and hearts, to parade along. The jury looks on from various windows along the whole Zeedijk. Last year, I had the honour of being one of those jury members.