Johannes Hermanus Barend Koekkoek (1840–1912) was a Dutch painter renowned for his marine and coastal scenes. Born in Amsterdam in 1840 as the third son of the celebrated marine painter Hermanus Koekkoek Sr., Jan H.B. was part of the illustrious Koekkoek family dynasty, which profoundly shaped 19th-century Dutch landscape and maritime painting. Like his brothers, he received his initial artistic training from his father, whose influence is evident in the meticulous detail and romantic style of his early sea and river views..

In 1864, Koekkoek moved to Hilversum, a region associated with the Laren School, and his style evolved. He began adopting a looser brushwork influenced by the Hague School, shifting focus from dramatic maritime scenes to more relaxed depictions of fishermen, their families, and everyday life by the sea. This transition marked a move from the romantic tradition towards a more naturalistic and atmospheric approach, while still maintaining a keen eye for detail and composition.

Koekkoek debuted at the Exhibition of Living Masters in 1859 and enjoyed a successful career, exhibiting widely and earning commissions throughout his life. He was a member of Arti et Amicitiae, an artists’ society in Amsterdam.

The beach became a central theme in Koekkoek’s mature work. He was particularly drawn to the fishing villages and coastal landscapes of the Netherlands, including Egmond, Zandvoort, Scheveningen, Katwijk, and the shores of the Zuiderzee. His paintings from the 1880s and 1890s often portray fishing barges, shell gatherers, and the daily routines of coastal communities. These works capture the interplay of light, air, and water.

Koekkoek’s beach scenes are notable for their lively atmosphere and vibrant color palette. He was able to convey the unique mood of the Dutch coastline—sometimes serene and sunlit, other times dramatic and windswept—while maintaining a sense of narrative and connection to the people who lived and worked there.