A few kilometers from the center of Bydgoszcz lies the village of Brzózki, which was established at the end of the 18th century. It was a so-called tavern settlement, meaning it had a tavern around which village life revolved. Known by its German name Birken, it was a Prussian colony. After World War II, the German population left the village, and the number of inhabitants dropped to around 120.

By 2010, the village, which had been falling into decline, became part of an experimental revitalization initiative. Residents first began creating sculptures during workshops, representing the trades of former villagers. Later, Łódź-based artists Grzegorz Ilski and Dawid Chmielecki started painting murals inspired by the works of the Dutch master Vincent van Gogh. This marked the beginning of the village’s transformation into Van Gogh Village, which now attracts thousands of visitors during its annual festival.