Party around the start of the 100 days of cultural spring in Wiede Wold, cultural prize goes to FoodFestival Ruinen

The ladies of the organization, who presented themselves in the press last week, were visibly surprised. “We just won,” co-organizer Margriet Steenbergen exclaimed in alarm. With the prize of 2,500 euros, the ladies, mainly from the Middle East, can serve very luxurious international snacks on Saturday, May 18 during the second edition.

It was the final chord of the official part that was held indoors and was opened by Mayor Inge Nieuwenhuizen. Wiede Wold is about the future of the countryside, former city resident Nieuwenhuizen emphasized that after 2.5 years in De Wolden she feels extremely at home there. “But we are also really challenged not to think too much in the short term, but about themes such as climate, migration and circularity. We must dare to step over our shadow, think of 2050, how do we keep it livable?”

Sung along with all my heart

According to the mayor, culture can play a major role in this. “Culture ensures good conversation.” And for beautiful music, because that was proven with the presentation of the Wiede Woldlied. It became clear that not everyone had listened to the song via the Wiede Wold website, which was made by the quartet Ronald Buld, Sven Jansen, Hendrik Slagter and Trijnie de Boer. Buld explained to everyone in detail how the song works and he was accompanied on keyboard by his musical comrade Sven Jansen. People were already singing along at the top of their lungs, but the song could easily become a Wolder hype if music associations, musicians, choirs and anyone else put their own spin on it.

Rising temperatures

Those present also received a short preview of Atropos, the theater spectacle that will be shown from May 25 in the waste cathedral near Koekangerveld. “We have been working on this for four to five years, it will really be a spectacle,” said Dirk Bruinsma, artistic director of the PeerGroup. He is also very happy with the rising temperatures. “Especially on Thursday we were chilling in the cathedral,” he recalls. The advantage now is that the circular structure is provided with an envelope and the wind is therefore less of a nuisance. Chief architect Rob Wolswinkel was present at the waste cathedral between three and five o’clock to provide explanations to curious people.

While the Wiede Woldmarkt was in full swing, a time capsule was placed near a work of art a little further in the forest, to be buried there later with another capsule. Mischa Brendel from Tin Art in Zuidwolde previously received five groups of primary school students who were able to indicate what he thinks De Wolden will look like in 25 years. “They have all come up with stories and you can find them in a crystal ball. There will be a second time capsule with stories and drawings from children from all over the Netherlands who stay at the holiday park. It is nice to see how differently children from the city and the countryside think,” says Brendel.

Creations by leading designers in and around Echten can be viewed

Of the seven artists who contribute to the designer program, six gave an insight into their creation on Sunday afternoon. These can be found in and around Echten. Vera Vos was there with Maartje Jansen, because her regular companion Julia Roozenbeek (Vos & Rooz) is currently traveling in the Far East. “The great thing is that Maartje and I are also on the same page,” says Vos, who, after the official part, finished the fiberglass booth directly next to Westerbergen with Maartje and creative assistant Sara Straathof. In Ruinerwold there is already a painted house behind Het Ambacht, four more will follow after Echten, starting with Oosteinde.

Fifty black gates

The other designers present all come from a different part of the country, but indicated that they have studied the countryside and De Wolden in particular. In recent weeks they have all spoken to residents of De Wolden or even held workshops. All their work can be found in and around Echten, such as the fifty black gates with fluttering colorful fabrics by Antoine Peters. “You can wander through it wonderfully,” he assured the audience.

Nikki Gonnissen from Amsterdam called the disconnect between city and countryside terrible. “I felt that people don’t know what is going on in the countryside.” She made a dovecote with messages for the future written on ribbons. “There is a kind of quiet place in the house and everyone can write their message there on colored ribbon.”

Interactive installation

Liselore Frowijn made a sculpture of a worm in the front garden of Tea Time. According to her, the worm is an exponent of the fertile soil, and contributions about the future can be listened to on site. Nienke Hoogvliet and Tim Jongerius created an interactive installation at the Swedish home of Marius Klein and Anneke van Proosdij, which is inspired by the nature of the Echtenerzand, among others. Arne Hendriks talked about his chamber of wonders at Huize Echten, where Hieronymus Baron van Slingelandt’s historic chamber theater is the starting point. A contemporary version of the landscape can be viewed on site. All the art can now be viewed, and a walking route has also been created that starts at Westerbergen. All designers will be present at their creation on May 11 and 12.

All information can be found at www.wiedewold.nl