Konijn van Olland Finds a Permanent Home at Salland
Standing two meters tall at the Kop de Vaart for two months instead of the initially planned two weeks, the Konijn van Olland art installation has relocated to the CS Vincent van Gogh location Salland, RTV Drenthe reported.
Artist Michel Velt created the towering rabbit in collaboration with the youth organization Begrip. The design draws inspiration from Lodewijk Napoleon. Legend holds that when Napoleon granted city rights to Assen, he proclaimed Iek ben konijn van Olland
while intending to say he was the king of Holland.
Community Popularity Drives Relocation
The artwork attracted heavy foot traffic and daily visitors long after the Kunst aan de Vaart weekend concluded, drawing school classes for history lessons. But we received so many positive reactions,
Kunst aan de Vaart chair Anneke Haar told RTV Drenthe.
Once the initial event permit expired, organizers petitioned the municipal college to preserve the rabbit at its original site. However, upcoming events like the Sinterklaas parade, the Christmas tree, and the TT-festival Ferris wheel made that location impossible.
Vincent van Gogh school hosts the rabbit sculpture
Organizers then approached the Vincent van Gogh school community to find a new spot. They asked if we might have a place for it,
art teacher Karin Kingma told RTV Drenthe.
School officials agreed because the campus already features a mural by Michel Velt. Students will soon craft large flowers out of waste materials under Velt’s guidance to surround the sculpture, turning the area into a museum-style plaza.
Common questions about the Konijn van Olland sculpture
Why did the Konijn van Olland stay longer than planned?
The artwork remained at its original location for two months instead of two weeks because it continued to attract heavy daily visitor traffic and positive community reactions long after the festival ended, according to Kunst aan de Vaart chair Anneke Haar.
Who built the giant rabbit sculpture?
Artist Michel Velt built the meters-high rabbit in collaboration with youth organization Begrip, using waste materials.
Where is the artwork located now?
The sculpture now stands at the CS Vincent van Gogh location Salland, where students will build large waste-material flowers to display around it under the artist’s direction.
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