Joopie
Schrijver
19 jan. 2023
Graffiti: to some, it’s an eyesore; to others, it’s the purest form of modern art. Whatever your opinion, one thing is certain: it is a deep-rooted and vibrant global (youth) culture that has become an inseparable part of the urban landscape. From the raw tags in the New York subways of the '70s to the massive, hyper-realistic murals we see on skyscrapers today, graffiti has evolved from a rebellious cry for attention into a respected art form.
In the Netherlands, the scene is buzzing like never before. However, there is always a certain tension hanging over the spray can: legally speaking, the line between creativity and vandalism is razor-thin. Fundamentally, applying paint to someone else's property is prohibited and can lead to hefty fines or a referral to Bureau Halt. But for the artist who wants to focus on technique, color theory, and artistic growth without constantly looking over their shoulder, there is a perfect solution: the Hall of Fame.
What is a Hall of Fame?
A Hall of Fame is a location designated by the municipality or a private owner where it is officially permitted to apply graffiti—also known as a legal graffiti wall or "legal wall." These are the 'safe havens' of street art. You often find these walls under overpasses, near skateparks, or in abandoned industrial areas. Here, the time pressure of illegal work disappears. While a 'piece' in the night might have to be finished in minutes, at a legal spot, you can spend hours refining your shading, pulling the cleanest outlines, and experimenting with different caps.
The beauty of these places is the social dynamic. They are meeting points where young talent learns from the kings (the seasoned veterans of the craft). An unwritten code of honor prevails: you don't spray over a work that is better than yours unless the paint is already starting to peel. This way, the walls remain a living, constantly changing museum.
Room for Creativity
The Netherlands currently has over 130 of these legal locations. That may seem like a lot, but with the growing popularity of street art and graffiti, the demand for walls is higher than ever. Municipalities are increasingly realizing that facilitating legal walls not only reduces nuisance elsewhere but also contributes to local identity and makes grey public spaces more colorful.
Whether you’ve just bought your first spray can or have been perfecting your style for years, knowing the right spots is essential. In this article, we take you through all the legal graffiti spots in the Netherlands, organized alphabetically, so you can focus entirely on what really matters: the art.
5 Large Legal Graffiti Halls of Fame in the Netherlands:
- Rijnkade Arnhem
- Flevopark Amsterdam
- Berenkuil Eindhoven
- Berlijnplein Utrecht (Note: Only 1 side currently in use)
- Maastricht
*Graffiti artist at work on a legal graffiti wall in Nijmegen (Vasim)
Find legal graffiti walls in the Netherlands
A
- Almelo
- Almere
- Alphen aan den Rijn
- Amersfoort – Graffiti Tunnel
- Amersfoort – Vathorst Skatepark Graffiti Wall
- Amstelveen - Praam
- Amstelveen - Beneluxbaan tunnel
- Amsterdam - Flevopark
- Amsterdam - Noord NDSM
- Amsterdam - Java Eiland
- Anna-Paulowna
- Apeldoorn
- Arnhem Zuid
- Arnhem Rijnkade
- Arnhem Geitenhof (Newly added 2026)
- Assen – Skatepark
- Assendelft
B
C
- Capelle aan den IJssel – Capelsebrug
- Capelle aan den IJssel – Couwenhoek
- Capelle aan den IJssel – Skatepark
- Capelle aan den IJssel
D
- Den Bosch – Graffiti Tunnels
- Den Haag – Binck36
- Den Haag – Zuiderpark
- Den Haag
- Deventer
- Delft
- Dordrecht
- Doetinchem
- Drachten
E
- Edam
- Ede – Hall of Fame
- Elburg
- Enkhuizen
- Enschede – Performance Factory
- Enschede Zuid
- Eindhoven - Berenkuil
G
- Geleen – Hall of Fame
- Goes – Freerun park
- Goes – Skatepark
- Groningen – De Wijert
- Groningen – Noordzeebrug
- Groningen
H
- Haaksbergen
- Haarlem – ’t Landje
- Harderwijk – Skatepark
- Heerenveen
- Heerhugowaard
- Heerlen – Kissel
- Hengelo – De Til
- Hengelo – Sporthal
- Hoogeveen Noordscheschut
K
L
- Leeuwarden - Stephensonviaduct (north)
- Leeuwarden - Stephensonviaduct (south)
- Leeuwarden - Dokkumer Ee
- Leeuwarden - Camminhaburen
- Leeuwarden - Petting Zoo
- Leeuwarden - Bridge under Kanaalweg
M
N
O
P
R
- Roosendaal – The Loods
- Rotterdam – Crooswijk Schuttersveld
- Rotterdam – Overschie Tunnel
- Rotterdam – Prinsepark Graffiti Wall
- Ridderkerk Bolnes (Newly added 2026)
S
T
U
V
W
Z
- Zaandam - Hall of Fame
- Zoetermeer – Graffiti Tunnel
- Zoetermeer – Skatepark
- Zoeterwoude
- Zutphen
- Zwaag – Graffiti Tunnel
- Zwolle – Retaining Wall
Legal graffiti walls in Amsterdam
Graffiti is very popular in Amsterdam. The city has an active graffiti and street art scene, with many artists creating murals and other forms of graffiti throughout the city. There are also several galleries in Amsterdam that exhibit the work of local and international artists.
Additionally, Amsterdam has several legal graffiti spots where artists can create their work without fear of prosecution, such as the Graffiti wall on Java-eiland and the Noord - NDSM - Graffiti Wall.
*Berlijnplein Utrecht
Graffiti spots in Leeuwarden
And last but certainly not least: Leeuwarden. This city has many different legal graffiti spots where you can practice your skills.
- Stephensonviaduct (north)
- Stephensonviaduct (south)
- Dokkumer Ee
- Camminhaburen
- Petting Zoo
- Bridge under Kanaalweg
The information in this article has been collected from various sources, such as Legalwalls.net and municipal websites. Always consult the municipalities to check if a location is indeed still legal.
Are we missing any legal graffiti spots on the list, or is there a spot included that is no longer legal? Let us know at cantastic.nl@gmail.com.