Legacy Art Court Westerpark Festively Opened!
“This Place Is Already Inspiring”
A special basketball court was opened under the shining sun in Westerpark: the 3X3 Legacy Art Court. The court brings together sports, art, culture, and social cohesion. “We’ve gained a new place in a space that already existed. That’s fantastic,” said Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki.
Mbarki was one of many attendees at the official opening of the 3X3 Legacy Art Court, alongside Olympic champion Worthy de Jong, a team from Basketball Club Amsterdam, local youth, artist Ruben Jonker, and many others. “I’m here partly out of self-interest,” Mbarki admitted. “Because as a city, we think it’s very important that there’s enough space to play sports.”
The 3X3 Legacy Art Court was made possible through a collaboration between the 3X3 Unites Foundation, Westergas Foundation, Nijha, and the West District of Amsterdam. Neighborhood residents voted on their favorite design, after which artist and 3X3 Leader Ruben Jonker, together with the Westergas Foundation, designed the court and created the artwork on it.
“By beautifying the environment, it also becomes more appealing,” said Ruben, standing on his own artwork and the life-sized 3X3 Unites logo. “These are patterns that you can duplicate and rotate next to each other. Some parts blend together, while others appear chaotic. The lines symbolize the different paths you can take—on a basketball court or in life.”
The idea for a Legacy Art Court in Westerpark came about after 3X3 Unites hosted the World Tour Amsterdam Masters at the Gashouder for two consecutive years. After that success, 3X3 Unites and the Westergas Foundation wondered what more they could do for the community. 3X3 Unites wanted to leave something lasting behind, while the Westergas Foundation aims to make art and culture accessible to all Amsterdammers.
With the support of Nijha and the West District, the Legacy Art Court was created: a place where sports, art, culture, and social connection meet. “This really makes me happy,” said Marjolein van Zanten on behalf of the Westergas Foundation. “We focus on three pillars: talent, community, and accessibility. This court checks all those boxes. It’s a public artwork that’s accessible to everyone.”
Learn more about the Westergas Foundation
Olympic champion Worthy de Jong wholeheartedly agreed. He came to Westerpark specifically for the opening. “Sports, art, culture, and music are all really important to me. These elements help build a community. This Legacy Art Court contributes to that—just like the Paper Dome does.”
De Jong himself started playing basketball on neighborhood courts. At some point, he lost the joy in 5-on-5 basketball. “Luckily, I rediscovered that joy in 3x3 basketball,” he told the crowd. “Enjoyment is the most important thing. That’s what makes you curious, eager to learn, and want to improve. I found my passion again at the place where it all started for me—on courts like this, in the streets.”
Thanks in part to his gold-winning shot at the Olympics, the basketball hoop at the Legacy Art Court is the same color as the medal De Jong received in Paris. The idea came from Nijha, a partner of 3X3 Unites and supplier of sports equipment, including basketball hoops. “When Worthy made the golden shot, we wanted to capture that piece of history,” said Frank Kroeze on behalf of Nijha. “Together with 3X3 Unites, we developed this golden hoop as a lasting reminder of that Olympic success.”
The 3X3 Leader Course also launched at the 3X3 Legacy Art Court in Westerpark. During this eight-week program, young people use 3x3 basketball to develop life skills, learn to build local communities, and work toward paid employment. It’s no coincidence that the motto of 3X3 Unites is: “From the streets to the top.”
While the sun was still shining and guests were enjoying refreshments, local youth and the team from Basketball Club Amsterdam immediately challenged Worthy de Jong to a game on the Legacy Art Court. “It’s amazing to see how much excitement this Legacy Art Court can generate,” said Van Zanten on behalf of the Westergas Foundation. “Every time I biked past recently, the court was in use. And it wasn’t even officially open yet.”
The Legacy Art Court will remain in Westerpark for at least two years. “This basketball court is a foundation to build on—not just for our community, but for the entire neighborhood,” said Mark Schuurman, co-founder of 3X3 Unites.
And Deputy Mayor Mbarki added: “I just spoke to someone from another district. He asked me if they could get a court like this in their neighborhood too. So you can already see how inspiring this place is. We’re going to explore how and where we can bring this concept to other parts of the city.”
Visit the Westergas Legacy Art Court page on our site to stay up to date with what is going on!