A Life Shaped by the Sea Born in Rotterdam amidst the salt and bustle of the Dutch wharves, Albert van Beest lived a life as restless as the tides he so loved to paint. His early years were spent near the water, where the movement of ships and the rhythm of the docks likely planted the seeds of his maritime obsession. It was not long before his talent for sketching caught the eye of Prince Henry of the Netherlands. This fortunate connection brought the young artist onto the decks of the Dutch fleet, allowing him to witness the Mediterranean sun and Moroccan street scenes firsthand during summ…