His training under Jan Weenix influenced his technical approach. Valkenburg applied the precision of Dutch still-life painting to the structures and topography of the Surinam colonies. He focused on the geometry of the architecture. His works depict sluices and boiling houses with a focus on clarity. He avoided the romanticised tropes common in later colonial art. Instead, he produced literal records of the plantation layouts and the surrounding environment.

Modern collectors value these works for their historical accuracy and clean compositions. The paintings function as both art and primary source documents. They offer a clear look at 18th-century industrial and domestic architecture in a tropical setting. The muted colour palette and structured perspective make these prints suitable for contemporary interiors. They provide a sense of order and historical depth without the use of visual clutter.