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Most strollers along the Scheveningen boulevard will be familiar with them: the 'Fairy Tale Sculptures' by American artist Tom Otterness. Already at a great distance, at the height of 'Museum Beelden aan Zee', you can discern his 'Haringeter', a figure on meter-long, lanky legs, its convex head in the neck. Getting closer, you discover numerous similar creatures of all sizes and poses.

All turn out to refer to Scheveningen and fairy tales in one way or another: Hansel and Gretel, Jonas in the whale, a crying giant, they are recognizable to everyone. This is how Theo Scholte, the initiator of the museum, formulated the mission: high-quality art that would appeal to everyone from all over the world. Children in particular appear to see all kinds of things in it. They are also allowed to crawl all over it. 'Then they just shine more,' Otterness believes.

Making art for everyone is what Otterness had in mind. Initially, he made videos and magazines to reach the general public. When he discovered that plastic Elvis and Jesus figurines were in great demand, he realized that humor and recognition could make art more accessible. To that end, he sought simple, appealing forms suitable for serial production. The result were lanky creatures on long legs, inspired by cartoon characters from the 1920s.

Otterness has provided a variety of locations with his humorous creatures. Of these, Battery Park in New York is the most famous. There, very small figures light up the tiles. Otterness' images invite closer inspection. Then it is striking that there is also criticism hidden in them. For example, in Scheveningen you will notice the little man with a head shaped like a globe with a noose around his neck ... But Otterness does not force his opinion: 'A smile, that's what I do it for.'