23 Amazing Murals by 'Jan Is De Man' That Made His City Smile

Author image for John Summers
John Summers • Contributor
Sep 17, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

Are apartment buildings boring? Apparently not for Jan Is De Man. This Dutch muralist is out here doing God's work - transforming anonymous bland buildings into talking bookshelves, giant eyes that stare back at you, and realistic looking illusions so perfect you'll swear the paint is opening up a window.

What sets Jan apart is how his murals don't just slap pretty colors on concrete - they belong to their place. He uses the shape of walls, windows, and neighborhoods as part of the art. He has painted bookshelves filled with locals' favorite books, given houses faces, turned façades into stacked shelf illusions, and made giant cheerful 3D giraffes that interact with trees. His work is playful but precise; whimsical but grounded.

With these 23 amazing murals, you'll see everything from optical illusions and book-filled façades to subtle commentary and bursts of color where none existed before. These are the folks whose cities I want to take a walk through—just to soak in the walls.

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  • 01
    ° P
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 02
    Toca Menten Dummie Mummie Super Jan SPORKIE on FORD DOLEJE ONTVOERD BEALSTON AMARI SPEL DER MAGIE Het Ministerie van Oplossingen CRINDELING يكتور هيجه - FORTNITE RATTLE ROYALE
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 03
    HOLD BIBLE IWANIT ebody New! GOOD MOON George Giving Are You Don't do that, GREAT ADVENTUR My Mother? itty Kilroy ARTEN PT25
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 04
    ANIS DEMAN 2025
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  • 05
    Tartt Donna DE MEESTE MENSEN DEUGEN BUTGER MAN DC DE VERBORGEN GESCHIEDENIS Anna Caspar PINK SANDER VELDE Hoe ik water OUNTY Op de kracht van de wind GEORGE ORWELL WELOM SOUTH 1984 PETER R. DE VRIES De ontvoering van ALFRED HEINEKEN De blikken dominee VUYK PAKE SE Ik ben lekker stout Annie MG Schmidt םם ננ
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10555388672
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  • 07
    JANIS DE MAN... CAREFUL
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  • 08
    ADE ENET SLINGERSL MUTS Loser EN FREDLIVER DOG MAN LOS Droverk & Vin & Link nocondes dieds FREN PY-FEDEN HAY NAWEZAAR BECOMING DE GORGELS Manx EEN SCHREEUW ON LEC MINNE leven is MANDARYN The Color Purple Pluk TANTE Pettaflet TROELA STEPHEN KING ON WRITING DEEP WORK
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10555389696
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 10
    Teufelsbrück IONALER JOHN le CARRE S URBAN ROMANTIC DAVID LODGE OUT OF THE SHELTER Jagoda Marinić DE NAMEN LOSG 1 FWF Anders Tege SERGATE DEE VON AN LE BAITA VE Fear of Hying Sophie Mereau Amanda ded Der Vorlesser Bernhard Schlink MANDEL STAM HEIDELBERG Des Knaben wunderbon Im Falschen Licht STAY FRY FROM GRETCHEN EINE UNLICHE LIERE SUSANNE ABEL
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 11
    ANISDEMAN
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 12
    T
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  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10555390976
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10555391744
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 15
    SAN IS DE MAN F
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  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10555391232
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  • 17
    Berger de l'Avent PROPHETTE DES ANDES cher connard LES RAISINS DE LA COLERE ESPRESSO -STEINBECK 20 La nature &la physique L'insoutenable légereté de l'être BA LES FLEURS MAL Tolst
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 18
    MAN SOMAN 23
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  • 19
    XIN-XN-98
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 20
    NYL JAIS DO MAN
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 21
    Flakkeesestraat JANIS DE MAN
    via JanIsDeMan
  • 22
    CORIN DE ZEVEN ZUSSEN Alles over...ER PAS
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  • 23
    NEVER ENOUGH JANIS DE MAN...
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  • 24

    Jan Is De Man

    Cheezburger Image 10555392256
    via JanIsDeMan

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