Ode to the Shore
Eight students from Han Fortmann (Trinitas College) in Heerhugowaard were inspired by the VisKringloop in Wieringermeer for their art exam. They walked along the dykes, were fascinated by the new nature, and climbed the observation tower for a panoramic view. The artworks became an Ode to the Shore.
A jury consisting of representatives from the school and the water board selected the top three entries from the eight submissions. The public then chose the ultimate winner from these top three entries. The winner was Dominique Deen's entry.
Fish Recycling
The VisKringloop is a recently created nature reserve in the Wieringermeer. A meadow the size of 34 soccer fields has been transformed into a wetland for fish with kilometers of nature-friendly banks. Here, all aquatic life that migrates between salt and fresh water, such as baby eels, has room to thrive. The VisKringloop enriches biodiversity as a whole and is already populated by numerous rare birds and insects.
Design
The unique design of circles with water and dykes was conceived by artist Pé Okx in collaboration with the HOSPER agency and ecologist Cor ten Haaf. It refers to the time before the reclamation of the Wieringermeer in 1930, when the Zuiderzee still ruled supreme here. The design is based on the perfectly round ripples that form when you throw two stones next to each other in a pond. The shape deliberately contrasts with the straight lines in the Wieringermeer polder.
Prices
The reason for choosing the VisKringloop as the subject for the students' exam was the public interest in the exceptional qualities of this project. In 2022, the Fish Cycle won the Arie Keppler Prize for best design in the category 'North Holland DNA'. The project was praised for its integration into the landscape and its design as a habitat for fish, as 'land art' in the polder. In addition, the project was nominated for the prestigious Dutch Design Awards.
Collaboration
This is the seventh time that the water board has collaborated with Han Fortmann (Trinitas College) in Heerhugowaard. Each time, the water board sets a water-related exam assignment. The results are part of both a digital and a physical exhibition in the HHNK office.