NS Commission DDNG
Museum Series
Public art commission for Dutch Railways
Marieke Van Diemen is working on a public art commission for the Dutch Railways (NS) for the new Intercity train: Double Decker Next Generation (DDNG).
Sixty new trains, a unique combination of single-deck and double-deck carriages, are being built by CAF in Spain and will be operational in 2029. Van Diemen was invited to continue NS’s tradition of integrating art into their trains.
A selection of ten photographic works from her Museum Series, in which projection and reflection play a central role, will be incorporated into the trains, on walls, glass screens, doors, and partition walls.
The artworks invite passengers to observe more consciously and question the obviousness of perception. The works focus on the inherent presence of both the digital screen and the train window, which share a striking formal similarity, and the connection between looking ahead and reflecting.
The integration of art in NS trains is a long-standing tradition, which began with reproductions of well-known artists and later evolved into integrated works by contemporary Dutch artists. Van Diemen’s artwork aligns with the concept of travel and connection and offers a new perspective on the world around us.
Project Details
Title Public Art in Dutch NS trains
Skills Photography
Location The Netherlands
Date 2023 – 2029
NS Press Release Quotes
Presentation of Double-Decker New Generation
On March 5, 2025, NS presented its new train: the Double-Decker New Generation (DDNG). As in all NS trains, art plays a prominent role in the DDNG.
Marieke Van Diemen designed the artwork for the DDNG, driven by her desire to encourage people to observe more consciously.
“On the train, we often look at a screen or this other screen—the train window. I hope to invite people to observe more consciously from time to time and to question the obviousness of our perception. There is so much beauty around you once you see it.”
-Marieke van Diemen
This selection from the Museum Series has been incorporated in the design of the new train:
