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Official unveiling of the artwork De Waterwolf in Haarlemmermeer

Halfway through the Boseilanden (Spaarnwoude Park) in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, a new art object has been placed on the green slope along the Driemerenweg. Artists Maree Blok and Bas Lugthart van Bloklugthart have managed to express the history of Haarlemmermeer in art. With the twenty meter long and six meter high creation, called 'The Waterwolf', the artist duo has managed to create a tangible reminder of the turbulent and rich history of Haarlemmermeer. Councilor Marja Ruigrok (Culture) unveiled the artwork, together with the artists, on Friday, June 28 at 14:00 PM.
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The Water Wolf 

The history of the municipality of Haarlemmermeer is inextricably linked to De Waterwolf. The current Haarlemmermeer was once a peat area with small lakes. By excavating peat, one of the largest lakes in the Netherlands was created from the small lakes in the mid-sixteenth century. This Haarlemmermeer was popularly called De Waterwolf because it caused dangerous situations. Villages were flooded and the agricultural lands of Amsterdam, Haarlem and Leiden were threatened by the lake. With the reclamation, the Haarlemmermeerpolder was created here in 1852 and the once so ferocious Waterwolf was subdued. 

The Waterwolf, made of corten steel, is now resting on top of the slope and watches the many motorists, cyclists and walkers passing by. Anyone standing near the belly of The Water Wolf hears the softly rippling water flowing. On the table in the belly it is described how the Water Wolf got its name and it is briefly told about the reclamation of the former Haarlemmermeer.

The initiative for De Waterwolf was taken by the Sounding Board Group for Visual Arts in Public Space of the municipality of Haarlemmermeer.