KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Thursday, the Netherlands became the third nation to pick Kansas City for its base camp during the World Cup tournament, one day after England announced Kansas City as its base camp site. As the city prepares to welcome visitors from the Netherlands and England, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art already showcases masterpieces from both countries.
The gem of Kansas City is prepared to welcome a world audience with a world-class collection of art.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has a collection of art from around the world that spans 5,000 years.(KCTV5/Betsy Webster)
In a gallery dedicated to the Golden Age of Dutch art, you can revel in a Rembrandt portrait. A young man is shown in a dark, blackish-green cloak with a dark, soft, wide-brimmed hat.
Rembrandt van Rijn, “Young Man in a Black Beret” (Dutch, 1606-1669) ca. 1662 (Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust(KCTV5/Betsy Webster)
“He is a master of light and shadow,” said curator Stephanie Fox Knappe. “Rembrandt really excelled at drawing us to his face by using a play of light and shade — that kind of halo around his face — set off by that white collar.”
Knappe likes to playfully juxtapose the 17th-century subject with modern day sport fans.
“How he would stand out in his dark cloak against all of the orange in the stands, rooting for the Flying Dutchmen,” she mused.
Other featured artists may not have the same name recognition, but a guided tour offers what you might call Easter eggs these days. Take the painting by Jan Steen, shown below.
Jan Steen, “Fantasy Interior” (Dutch, 1626-1679) ca. 1659-1660 (Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust(KCTV5/Betsy Webster)Jan Steen, “Fantasy Interior” (Dutch, 1626-1679) ca. 1659-1660 (Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust(KCTV5/Betsy Webster)
“What I love about this painting is that it really signals a lot of the themes of Dutch Golden age art,” Knappe said as she pointed out details. “You’ll see that there is a skeleton on top of the fireplace. That’s a reminder that death is coming. You can enjoy the pleasures of life, but death is just around the corner. Inscribed on that harpsichord is an inscription that says that music can take cares away. So, I like to think about this as a portrait that tells you enjoy life while you can.”
For a look at how the English enjoyed life a century later, look no further than the museum’s The Burnap Collection of English Pottery. It is the largest collection of English ceramics outside of England. Knappe pointed to what looked like a tea pot imitating a cauliflower and described it as a punch pot.
One item on display is a punch pot circa 1765-1770. British sailors brought the punch recipe back from India. It was a mixture of sugar, citrus, red wine, rum and brandy.(KCTV5/Betsy Webster)
“This would have been filled with a mixture of water and citrus and sugar, rum, brandy and red wine,” Knappe said.
She explained that English sailors brought the punch recipe back from India.
“I like to think about what it would be like to celebrate a Three Lions goal instead of with a pint, with something from this punch pot,” she said.
According to Museum Wales, punch became incredibly popular in Britain by the turn of the 18th century. A letter published in 1736 captures the spirit: “…we hope nothing will ever hinder a Man drinking a Bowl of Punch with his Friend, that’s one of the greatest pleasures we enjoy in the Country, after our labour.”
Admission to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is free. They are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There is now a museum stop on the streetcar line.
World Cup Base Camps
The Oranje will train at the Kansas City Current’s facility in Riverside. Current owner Chris Long says the fit is natural.
“I mean, the shared philosophy extends on the pitch, but also off the pitch. I mean, the way in which our fans celebrate the passion, it’s very similar to the Sea of Orange. And in many ways, we want to emulate a lot of what we see in the traditions that the Netherlands have that are now so ingrained,” Long said.
The team has matches in Dallas and Houston before ending the group stage right here in Kansas City against Tunisia.
England will train at Sporting KC’s Swope Soccer Village, and the defending champs, Argentina, will practice at Sporting’s KCK training facility. All three of those teams are in the top ten of FIFA’s world rankings.
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More Information
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art4525 Oak St., Kansas City, MO 64111Hours: Closed Tuesdays and WednesdaysAdmission: FreeWebsite: nelson-atkins.org
World Cup 2026 Base Camps in Kansas City:
- Netherlands: Kansas City Current facility, Riverside
- England: Sporting KC’s Swope Soccer Village
- Argentina: Sporting KC’s KCK training facility
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