Follow-up ‘Slotjes van Sint-Oedenrode, 7 waarvan 3’

Slotjes van Sint-Oedenrode, 7 waarvan 3’
The goal of the project is to once again make the original structure and the cultural heritage of the village visible and tangible. To this end landscape architect Paul Roncken was commissioned to explore the history of the village and how it developed from being a historically booming center of trade and culture to the rural village it is today. Roncken zooms in on a key period in history, a time when Sint Oedenrode could have grown into an influential city since it was the most important place in the Peel area. Indeed, at that time the village featured no less than seven castles of which three now remain. This piece of history has practically been forgotten and hardly any evidence of it can be found in today’s village. Roncken documented his research in the publication, Slotjes van Sint-Oedenrode, 7 waarvan 3, in which he exposed a wide range of themes, while allowing himself some poetic license. These themes served as starting points for five art projects that aim to forge a relationship with the historical heritage of Sint Oedenrode. To specify, myths, actual historical facts, cultural relics and contemporary natural scenery will be the ingredients of the five art projects.

Het wandelpad (the walking track) - Paul Roncken
The landscape between Sint-Oedenrode, Boxtel, Liempde, Schijndel and the nearby villages and hamlets is still relatively rugged and unspoiled. The small Dommel river meanders through the consolidated landscape, its banks eroding and silting according to the flow of the current. Landscape architect Paul Roncken, who is the artist and visionary behind the project ‘Slotjes, 7 waarvan 3’, designed a track from which one can experience the historical landscape surrounding the village, an area that wasn’t previously open to the public. Many characteristic tracks and boundaries dating back to the time of the castles are hard to distinguish amongst the buildings that were erected after World War II. The track winds its way between the castles and manors dating back to 1234, intersects with historical landmarks in the village, injects new life into the Rooi to Eerschot route and crosses the Dommel river by means of new bridges. In short, the landscape opens itself up to those who are willing to take the trouble to carefully tread through it by means of the unique elevated wooden platform.

Twee bruggen (two bridges) – OMA/ Floris Alkema
The track features two new bridges, which were designed by architect Floris Alkema, who is affiliated with OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture). One bridge will span a section of the Dommel river that runs through the center of the village and the other will be built next to the Ahrend factory’s parking lot. The first bridge will be placed in a historical area where, from the Middle Ages until World War II, there was a sluice that allowed people to walk to the center of the village. The Ahrend bridge will establish a new link between the Henkenshage castle and its green environs.

Both bridges are unique in their shape. Indeed, the purpose of most bridges is to allow people to cross something as quickly as possible. However, these bridges seek to prolong the crossing moment in order to turn it into an experience that literally makes one linger. Moreover the bridges don’t span the water in a straight line but, rather, in geometrical patterns that feature a seating element. The bridges tie in well with the meandering walking track, which was intended as a detour to allow people to turn away from life in the fast lane and head towards the rich history that has been waiting for centuries to receive visitors. The name ‘Aesopus’ has already been chosen for the bridge behind the Ahrend factory and the name of the other bridge will be chosen by means of a competition in which children from Sint Oedenrode’s elementary schools can take part. For this competition they will be asked to think up a name for the bridge.