Artist Daan Roosegaarde has finished his project Icon Afsluitdijk. In it, he shows with works of art how special and its surroundings are. Light is central to every work.
It is advisable to visit the Afsluitdijk in the dark one day. Then as soon as you drive up the dike, you will immediately see the first work. With Gates of Light, Daan Roosegaarde has provided the lock towers on both sides with reflective strips. During the day they are not visible on the white towers, but in the dark, they emphasize the art deco design of the towers. This work by Roosegaarde will be on permanent display on the Afsluitdijk, a nice addition to a famous monument.
In addition, there are now two temporary works of art on the Afsluitdijk. These will not just be visible during a quick drive over the dike. For the one, you will have to drive a little slower than the permitted 130 kilometers per hour. For the others, you even have to stop and get off at the Casemate Museum. Glowing Nature is on display in this museum.
Luminous algae
In one of the bunkers, a floor is provided with countless light-emitting algae. Because there is a plastic layer on top, you can walk across the floor. At the places where your feet touch the ground, the floor will light up thanks to the algae. Studio Roosegaarde is currently investigating whether this technique can also be used to illuminate cycle paths, among other things.
Energy-generating kites
The other temporary work of art is the Windvogel installation. This is a tribute to Wubbo Ockels. It consists of 3 kites that can generate energy. If you look carefully, you will see the green-lit cables at Den Oever to which the kites are attached. The cables can generate energy through the movement of the kites. This technique was once devised by Wubbo Ockels, who wanted to carry out the project on the Afsluitdijk. This artistic version of this is a nice ode to the scientist.