The occurrence of Viburnum lantana in the Netherlands is discussed, with reference to the identification of a shrub belonging to this species in the painting 'Dunes by the Sea' (1648) by Jacob van Ruisdael and its naturalness in the dunes near Haarlem (Ashton c.s., 1982). Although Van Ruisdael worked most accurately in depicting trees and shrubs, he took many liberties in the composition of a painting. As V. lantana was already cultivated in his century, it is possible that he saw the species in cultivation and then 'introduced' it in 'Dunes by the Sea'. All other records of the species in the vicinity of Haarlem point to an origin as garden escape.