artist: Herman de Vries
located in: Natuurgebied ‘de Weerribben’,
client: Stichting Kunst & Cultuur Overijssel

In north-eastern area of Overijssel there are two watery nature reserves: the Wieden and the Weerribben. As part of the Ecological Main Structure these areas will eventually be connected by means of a strip of new nature reserves, an ‘ecological connecting zone’ situated on former agricultural land. Back in 1993, at the invitation of the Overijssel Art and Culture Foundation, philosopher, artist and biologist Herman de Vries proposed the idea of a “water estate� for this new area. Together with the landscape architect Kees Kloosterman from the Countryside Agency, he worked out the idea for a section of the area and presented it in a brochure published in 1999. As soon as the funding has been finalised, it will be incorporated into the province of Overijssel’s Strategic Green Project for North-West Overijssel.