Explore the Dutch Golden Age: Old Master Paintings That Inspire Modern Travel

M ention of the Netherlands conjures transcendent associations, such as floating down serene waterways and gazing upon tulip-flecked fields stretching far beyond the horizon. But even the most elaborately detailed descriptions of the country’s landscapes fail to encapsulate the full scope of their distinctly verdant beauty; the same goes for the sumptuous architectural treasures that populate its cities.

This is especially true of the trove of Netherlandish Old Master paintings from the Lester L. Weindling Collection, featured in a monumental sale on 5 February 2026 at Sotheby's New York – an event that beautifully bridges the worlds of art and travel, much like the journeys offered by Qatar Executive.

Sotheby’s is delighted to present this immense sale in partnership with Qatar Executive, a name synonymous with elegance, innovation, and the spirit of discovery. As one of the world’s leading private aviation operators, Qatar Executive specializes in ultra-long-range travel, connecting global connoisseurs to the world’s most inspiring destinations. Their modern fleet and refined service echo the artistry and ambition of the Dutch Masters - each journey, whether by canvas or by air, is a testament to the pursuit of excellence.

Visitors to the exhibition of artworks – which will be on view at Sotheby’s London galleries from 28 November through 3 December before heading to New York in 2026 – have a rare chance to glimpse how talented Old Master artists found inspiration in the placid landscapes, towns, and spiritual institutions peppered throughout present-day Netherlands and Belgium. Ranging from studies of cathedral interiors to scenes of boats bobbing pleasantly on an estuary, these Netherlandish painters of the 16th and 17th centuries elevated real places in the then-Dutch Empire — some of which still exist today — to the realm of sublimity during a golden era for landscape and maritime painting.

The five paintings highlighted here were inspired by real places that still exist today – Weesp, Woudrichem, Ghent, Delft, and Antwerp – offering not only a window into the past but also a uniquely elegant itinerary. These destinations, rich in history and artistic legacy, are precisely the kind of refined experiences that appeal to Qatar Executive passengers – travelers who value exclusivity, cultural depth, and journeys that transcend the ordinary to bring them closer to the sublime.

Qatar Executive stands at the forefront of aviation innovation, renowned for delivering bespoke experiences to its guests. As the first operator of the world’s largest commercial fleet of Gulfstream G700 jets – capable of flying an ultra-long-range 7,750 miles at the industry’s lowest cabin altitude – Qatar Executive enables travelers to discover the beauty of the Netherlands and Belgium unparalleled comfort, no matter where their journey begins.

L et's start the journey in present-day Antwerp and experience the magnificent interiors of the Cathedral of Our Lady, which took nearly two centuries to build. When the church finally opened its doors in 1521, the house of worship became the largest gothic cathedral of its kind in Belgium – a distinction it still holds presently.

But the cathedral’s unveiling did not just call to those seeking spiritual relief. When he gazed upon the Antwerp cathedral’s interiors during his lifetime, the Flemish landscape painter Abel Grimmer felt pulled to study its dramatic arches and checkered floors. In a remarkable painting of the cathedral, Interior of the Antwerp Cathedral (1595), Grimmer situated figures in contemplative moments of prayer while milling about an entryway. His painting nods to the simultaneous individual and communal potency of spirituality, while highlighting the design feats that made the interiors of this religious temple so transcendent.

Johannes Coesermans’ Interior of the Nieuwe Kerk, Delft (1663) also explores the ravishing interiors of a different church, the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) of Delft, a short distance north of Antwerp. For his artwork, Coesermans worked in pen, graphite, and brown ink – a perfect medium for the mesmeric, almost rapturous detailing he provides of the church’s mighty columns and support beams inching heavenwards.

Grimmer’s cathedral painting and Coeserman’s ink drawing of the church are both indicative of how the 16th and 17th centuries ushered in momentous change within the Dutch Republic. As much of society had begun to urbanize throughout Europe starting around the 15th century, Old Master artists picked up their brushes and documented these cultural shifts into their art that was, as The Met describes, “rich in associations, ranging from God and all of nature” and often featured “the sheer pleasure of physical sensation: fresh air, daylight, wind, moisture, cold and warmth, colors, textures – all of which was seen as God’s creation, and, however immediate, of fundamental or universal significance.” Yet The Potters’ Fair at Ghent, by the Baroque painter and printmaker David Teniers the Younger, captures a different feast for the senses. The extravagantly detailed oil on oak panel depicts a picturesque waterside scene with hundreds of townspeople converging during a lively community craft fair at Ghent.

Other pieces in the sale find inspiration away from the larger cities of the Dutch Republic, making them great stops to slow down at the end of a bustling itinerary. Take inspiration from Salomon van Ruysdael’s River View with the Town of Weesp (1650), which immortalizes the small municipality of Weesp from the vantage point of a ship drifting along in the adjoining river Vecht. Van Ruysdael’s view of Weesp shows it as an important trading hub, with a modest and growling skyline, in a brief moment of tranquility. Jan van Goyen’s Estuary Scene with a Distant View of Woudrichem wades a bit further into the water, focusing on an estuary with the charming city of Woudrichem just barely visible behind ships milling about.

The range of bustling cities, quaint towns, and quiet waterways depicted in these paintings make for a captivating view of the Dutch Republic at the cusp of significant social change.

Just as the Old Masters captured the spirit of their age through innovation and vision, Qatar Executive embodies these same qualities in modern travel. Their commitment to bespoke service and technical excellence ensures that every journey is elevated, seamless, and unforgettable.