The Hague, Dec. 11, 2023
To mark the 65th anniversary of the Mariahoeve neighborhood, Stroom Den Haag is launching a new art route on the website BuitenkunstDenHaag.nl, or BKDH.nl, on December 20. It is a bicycle tour that lets you experience how Mariahoeve - one of the most important reconstruction districts in the Netherlands - was built and what role art plays in it. You can follow the route online on your smartphone or download it for free to print yourself. Especially for the anniversary, the route is also printed on a foldable map that can be picked up for free at the Mariahoeve neighborhood council office, the library in Haagse Hout, the VVV at Central Station and Stroom Den Haag. Go out for the holidays and explore your own city!
The Mariahoeve district of The Hague is home to more than 30 outdoor artworks. Not counting the art in the schoolyards yet. The sculptures in Mariahoeve were largely created through the so-called percentage rule. In 1951, the central government earmarked 1-1.5% of the construction sum of new buildings for art commissions. In this way they helped artists find work and the city and residents received fine art in return.
That the family was seen as the cornerstone of society at the time can also be seen in the construction of Mariahoeve; six neighborhoods, each with a shopping plaza for daily groceries, schools close by and plenty of green and play space between all the flats and houses. There are also several bronze sculptures depicting a mother and child. At the same time, the layout of the neighborhood is very modern and austere. And this is also reflected in the art. For example, in the monumental work Untitled (Aerobic cubism) by Ferry Simonis.
Curious about more art in Mariahoeve and the rest of the city? Then take a look at BKDH.nl. Commissioned by the municipality, art institution Stroom Den Haag provides information about all the outdoor art on the streets, squares and parks. Art that is freely accessible to everyone 24/7, just like the information on the website. So you can see who owns the artwork in your neighborhood, what it is and why it is there.
Curious? Get on your bike and experience architecture, landscape and art in Mariahoeve. Or check out www.bkdh.nl and head out!