Text

Sculptor Aart van den IJssel owes much to J.J.P. Oud (1890-1963). This famous Dutch architect regularly invited him to embellish his buildings with art. Oud was considered an advocate and pioneer of new architecture. He strove to collaborate with other art disciplines in order to create a so-called Gesammtkunstwerk result. When Oud was commissioned for a Congress Building in The Hague in 1956, he first asked Van Den IJssel for an exterior work of art. Later they would also discuss the decoration of the interior. That didn't happen because Oud died before the building was completed. Son Hans Oud (also an architect) continued his work, but chose other artists to decorate the interior. For the Congress Building outside, Van den IJssel realized a special eye-catcher. He designed a 10-meter-high, narrow pylon that he allowed to protrude through the entrance canopy. At the opening in 1969, his Stork.

You could say that this is a city coat of arms, because both the municipality and the national government needed an international convention center in The Hague in those years. Van den IJssel did make the execution of that city crest completely to his liking. Like many of his other animal figures, this stork is armored and constructed of metal welded and riveted together. This time he provided his bird with a layer of gold leaf, so that it would shine above it in the sun.

When the Congress Building (later World Forum) was renovated after 45 years, the pylon including artwork was removed. In 2023, the bird returned to its "nest. Restored to its full glory, this Hague Stork looks out over the city's international zone from the roof.