Amsterdam Canal House Santa

In 2014, Gary and Judi hosted a Viking River Cruise to share their Christmas experience with collectors by visiting Christkindlesmarkts. Since 2014, the Vaillancourts have shared numerous more experiences with hundreds of collectors sailing along the Rhine, Danube, and Elbe rivers. Visiting many countries along the way (the 2023 trip, which is sold out, will start in Germany and end in Hungary), these trips also have become important for Judi to find inspiration for both the Retail Gallery and her chalkware designs.

This year, one of the most celebrated pieces is the Amsterdam Canal House Santa. At the start of one of the Viking River Cruise trips, Gary and Judi spent time in the Netherlands’s capital. Amsterdam, boasting a vibrant artistic and cultural culture, is characterized by its historic canal-lined streets that serve as a backdrop for a rich tapestry of world-class museums, eclectic galleries, and cutting-edge contemporary art spaces. The city’s open-mindedness and progressive spirit foster an atmosphere where traditional Dutch heritage harmoniously merges with innovative creativity for artistic expression and cultural exploration. While Gary and Judi spent countless hours at the famous museums like the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, it was in the Centrum neighborhood where something different caught Judi’s eye.

While strolling down Westerstraat, Judi noticed that the house numbers jumped from 54 to 70 and within the 4-inch gap between the buildings lies a charming piece of artwork: seven miniature houses painted with stunning architectural detail. These hand painted houses pay homage to houses that once were accessible through a courtyard that no longer exists.

Although you won’t be able to find these buildings in Amsterdam anymore—as they were removed over the past few years—the charm of them continues to live on through this chalkware Santa.