Ode to the Shore
Eight students from the Han Fortmann (Trinitas College) in Heerhugowaard were inspired by the VisKringloop in the Wieringermeer as an exam for the subject of Drawing. They walked along the dikes, became fascinated by the new nature and climbed the watchtower for an overview. The works of art became an Ode to the Bank.
A panel of judges from the school and the Water Board selected a Top 3 from the eight works. From these Top 3, the public determined the final winner. That became Dominique Deen's piece of work.
FishCircle
The VisKringloop is a recently constructed nature reserve in the Wieringermeer. A meadow the size of 34 soccer fields turned into a wetland for fish with kilometers of nature-friendly banks. Here all the aquatic life that migrates between salt and fresh, such as baby eels, is given space. The Fish Circle is an enrichment for biodiversity as a whole and is already populated by numerous rare birds and insects.
Design
The unusual design of circles with water and dikes was conceived by artist Pé Okx in collaboration with bureau HOSPER and ecologist Cor ten Haaf. It refers to the time before the reclamation of the Wieringermeer in 1930, when the Zuiderzee still ruled here. The design is based on the perfectly round water ripples created when you throw two stones side by side into a pond. The shape intentionally contrasts with the straight lines in the Wieringermeerpolder.
Prices
The reason for choosing precisely the VisKringloop as a subject for the students' examinations was public interest in the exceptional qualities of this project. In 2022, the VisKringloop won the Arie Keppler Prize for best design in the category 'North Holland DNA'. There was appreciation for the landscape incorporation and design of a habitat for fish, as 'land art' in the polder. On top of that, the project received a nomination for the prestigious Dutch Design Awards.
Collaboration
This is the seventh time the Water Board has partnered with Han Fortmann (Trinitas College) in Heerhugowaard. Each time, the Water Board gives a water-related exam assignment. The results are part of both a digital and a physical exhibition in the offices of HHNK.