Ebbing Shores, Flowing Memories

In the heart of The Hague lies the Panorama Mesdag, an immersive circular painting created by Hendrik Willem Mesdag in 1881. This artwork transports its visitors to the 19th-century Dutch seaside town of Scheveningen, enveloping them in a seaside experience that evokes a sense of nostalgia through the ebb and flow of their memories This raises the question: How do the immersive elements of the Panorama Mesdag recreate the seaside environment and evoke nostalgic feelings in visitors that parallel those experienced at authentic seaside locations? To address this question, the study employed the diary method to capture the emotional and reflective responses of 20 participants who visited the Panorama Mesdag. This approach facilitated a detailed exploration of participants' personal experiences and the nostalgic sentiments evoked by the immersive seaside environment. The findings indicate that the immersive elements of the Panorama Mesdag, including the entry process, faux terrain, visual illusions, and the provision of props, were effective in recreating the seaside and evoking strong emotional responses. However, while auditory stimuli were present, the absence of other sensory experiences inherent to an authentic seaside—such as the sensation of wind and the smell of salty air—was a significant limitation for many participants, preventing them from feeling fully immersed. Despite this limitation, the study concludes that the Panorama Mesdag's immersive elements effectively recreate the nostalgic sentiments experienced in authentic seaside environments. By evoking a longing for simpler times, childhood adventures, and loved ones who are no longer present, the Panorama Mesdag enables visitors to relive personal memories and emotions associated with the seaside. Future research should explore how contemporary immersive technologies can replicate the seaside experience, maintaining emotional, sensory, and nostalgic connections, which will be increasingly important for environments threatened by climate change.