diff --git a/knime_extension/pixi.toml b/knime_extension/pixi.toml
index 5654d6e5..dae6d547 100644
--- a/knime_extension/pixi.toml
+++ b/knime_extension/pixi.toml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ pygeoda = "0.1.2.*"
 pointpats = "2.5.1.*"
 pulp = "2.8.0.*"
 keplergl = "*"
+contextily = "1.6.2"
 
 [pypi-dependencies]
 ipinfo = "==5.1.1"
diff --git a/knime_extension/src/geospatial_ext.py b/knime_extension/src/geospatial_ext.py
index 8a6938ef..151da69b 100644
--- a/knime_extension/src/geospatial_ext.py
+++ b/knime_extension/src/geospatial_ext.py
@@ -30,6 +30,21 @@ def __initialize_pyproj():
 __initialize_pyproj()
 
 
+def __initialize_gdal():
+    """
+    Set GDAL_DATA environment variable to avoid rasterio warnings
+    """
+    import os.path as os
+
+    gdal_path = os.join(knut.get_env_path(), "Library\share\gdal")
+    if os.exists(gdal_path):
+        import os as os_env
+
+        os_env.environ["GDAL_DATA"] = gdal_path
+
+
+__initialize_gdal()
+
 # Fake the libpysal.examples import to prevent it from downloading data from the internet which might cause problems
 # in environments without internet access: https://github.com/spatial-data-lab/knime-geospatial-extension/issues/165
 # class __LibpysalExamplesModuleMock:
diff --git a/knime_extension/src/nodes/visualize.py b/knime_extension/src/nodes/visualize.py
index e4dc1e77..55e9d818 100644
--- a/knime_extension/src/nodes/visualize.py
+++ b/knime_extension/src/nodes/visualize.py
@@ -357,6 +357,30 @@ class BaseMapSettings:
     )
 
 
+@knext.parameter_group(label="Base Map (contextily)")
+class StaticBaseMapCxSettings:
+    """Contextily-only base map setting for the static matplotlib view."""
+
+    base_map = knext.StringParameter(
+        "Base map",
+        "Select a contextily base map to render as background. Set to 'Don't show base map' to disable.",
+        default_value="Don't show base map",
+        enum=[
+            "Don't show base map",
+            "OpenStreetMap",
+            "CartoDB Positron",
+            "CartoDB DarkMatter",
+            "Esri WorldImagery",
+            "Esri WorldStreetMap",
+            "Esri WorldTopoMap",
+            "Esri WorldTerrain",
+            "Esri WorldGrayCanvas",
+            "Stamen Watercolor",
+        ],
+        since_version="2.0.0",
+    )
+
+
 @knext.node(
     name="Geospatial View",
     node_type=knext.NodeType.VISUALIZER,
@@ -988,6 +1012,9 @@ class ViewNodeStatic:
 
     legend_settings = StaticLegendSettings()
 
+    # Contextily-only basemap settings for static view (advanced, default off)
+    basemap_cx_settings = StaticBaseMapCxSettings()
+
     def configure(self, configure_context, input_schema):
         self.geo_col = knut.column_exists_or_preset(
             configure_context, self.geo_col, input_schema, knut.is_geo
@@ -1117,17 +1144,40 @@ def execute(self, exec_context: knext.ExecutionContext, input_table):
         map.set_title(self.figure_title, fontsize=self.figure_title_size)
         if self.set_axis_off:
             map.set_axis_off()
-        # knut.check_canceled(exec_context)
-        # cx.add_basemap(map, crs=gdf.crs.to_string(), source=cx.providers.flatten()[self.base_map])
 
-        # create the output image
-        import io
+        # Add contextily basemap if selected (contextily-only options)
+        if self.basemap_cx_settings.base_map != "Don't show base map":
+            import contextily as cx
+
+            label = self.basemap_cx_settings.base_map
+            if label == "OpenStreetMap":
+                source = cx.providers.OpenStreetMap.Mapnik
+            elif label == "CartoDB Positron":
+                source = cx.providers.CartoDB.Positron
+            elif label == "CartoDB DarkMatter":
+                source = cx.providers.CartoDB.DarkMatter
+            elif label == "Esri WorldImagery":
+                source = cx.providers.Esri.WorldImagery
+            elif label == "Esri WorldStreetMap":
+                source = cx.providers.Esri.WorldStreetMap
+            elif label == "Esri WorldTopoMap":
+                source = cx.providers.Esri.WorldTopoMap
+            elif label == "Esri WorldTerrain":
+                source = cx.providers.Esri.WorldTerrain
+            elif label == "Esri WorldGrayCanvas":
+                source = cx.providers.Esri.WorldGrayCanvas
+            elif label == "Stamen Watercolor":
+                source = cx.providers.Stamen.Watercolor
+            else:
+                source = cx.providers.OpenStreetMap.Mapnik
 
-        fig = map.get_figure()
-        out_image_buffer = io.BytesIO()
-        fig.savefig(out_image_buffer, format=self.image_type.lower())
+            if gdf.crs is not None:
+                cx.add_basemap(map, source=source, crs=gdf.crs.to_string())
 
-        return (out_image_buffer.getvalue(), knext.view_matplotlib(fig))
+        # create the output image
+        view = knext.view_matplotlib(map.get_figure(), self.image_type.lower())
+        output_image = view.render()
+        return output_image, view
 
 
 ############################################