At The Usual, art isn’t just decoration; it’s part of our DNA. Step inside our hotels in Rotterdam and Brussels, and you’ll find walls, corners, and spaces filled with one-of-a-kind artworks that tell stories of creativity, sustainability, and community.
Every piece is created by local artists who share our vision: giving materials a second life and making beauty out of what would otherwise be waste. Here’s a little peek into the stories behind the artworks you’ll discover during your stay.
1. The Woven Wall Tapestry
📍 The Usual Rotterdam, The Library
Rotterdam-based textile artist Simone Post found her muse in a pile of discards. While interning at Dutch textile giant Vlisco, she was struck by the mountains of misprinted fabric, stunning, high-quality textiles destined for the landfill. Simone didn’t see waste; she saw a rich, colourful library waiting to be woven.
Her breathtaking tapestry is a vibrant resurrection of these textile rejects. By reworking Vlisco’s iconic patterns, she gives them a powerful second life that’s as bold and graphic as it is responsible.
2. Samurai Spirit
📍 The Usual Rotterdam, The U Bar
Designer Amy Lewis drew inspiration from the protective, layered construction of ancient Japanese Samurai armour. Her powerful Samurai Spiritpiece is a contemporary warrior made of materials you’d never expect: repurposed sunscreen materials and cotton braids.
Amy collaborated with local firms to salvage this tough material, braiding it into an art piece that symbolises durability and grit. It’s a brilliant reminder that even the most unlikely items can be turned into something beautiful.
3. Plastic Mine Mirrors
📍 The Usual Rotterdam, The U Bar
What happens when two designers are fascinated by reflections and the way materials stretch? For Iris van Daalen and Ruben Thier of Studio Thier & Van Daalen, industrial waste is pure inspiration.
Their striking Plastic Mine Mirrors are crafted from excavated lumps of industrial plastic. These unique pieces take dull, discarded scraps and turn them into dazzling, light-catching mirrors. They elevate the discarded into the divine.
4. Tinctorial Frames
📍 The Usual Rotterdam & Brussels, The Rooms
In every single room, we invite you to drift off surrounded by nature’s true colours. Our custom Tinctorial Frames, a collaboration between Raw Color and The Invisible Party, feature textiles dyed using natural pigments extracted directly from vegetables.
This is proper alchemy: the colours are captured using an innovative process that keeps them intense without any harsh chemicals. It’s a daily, soothing reminder that the earth provides the loveliest palette.
5. Overlaps Trio
📍 The Usual Brussels, The U Bar
Textile designer Emma Terweduwe creates woven pieces that feel inherently honest and organic. Her Overlaps Trio is made from a conscientious blend of leftover wool, cotton-linen, and natural dyes.
Emma’s work is deeply tactile, celebrating the purity of natural fibres while using bold, graphic elements to bring the ancient art of weaving firmly into the modern day. It’s sustainability woven with serious style.
6. Studio Jet
📍 The Usual Rotterdam, Game Room
Meet Mariëtte Scholtens-de Jongh (the creative force behind Studio Jet). She’s a "creative entrepreneur" who captures the soul of the city with a bit of a stubborn, playful twist. In our Game Room, you’ll find her signature Art Prints, modern, cartoonish illustrations of iconic landmarks. But these aren’t your average posters. Mariëtte’s work is intentionally "imperfect," with buildings that joyfully jump out of their frames, reflecting her own spirited approach to art.
True to The Usual’s sustainable ethos, her prints are created digitally on an iPad (no wasted paper or chemical paints during the drafting process!) and then brought to life on eco-friendly, sturdy paper that feels just as good as it looks. Whether it’s a famous bridge or a local statue, her work celebrates the places we’re proud of, printed with a deep respect for the trees.
Come and find your favourite from sunscreen to vegetable dye; our art challenges us to see the potential in everything we encounter. These six pieces are more than just decorations; they are the heart of The Usual’s philosophy.
We invite you to stay with us, explore the hotel, and take a moment to touch, reflect, and enjoy the ingenuity woven into our spaces.
Come and see the story for yourself at The Usual.
