178 Bottles, 1 Message Installation

Emerging from Amsterdam Sloterdijk station, the 178 Bottles, 1 Message installation greets you. This isn’t just a random collection of bottles. It’s a powerful symbol of unity and diversity, reflecting the 178 nationalities that called Amsterdam home in 2014. The 178 Bottles, 1 Message installation stands proudly on a large sea buoy, a fitting base for a city with a rich maritime history. This type of buoy, known as an “uiterton,” served as the last beacon before the open sea or the first sign of safe harbor for returning ships. The artwork itself consists of these illuminated bottles, each containing a red LED light, arranged in the shape of a heart. At night, the heart glows, projecting the flags of all 178 nationalities. The artists, Saskia Hoogendoorn and Lieuwe Martijn Wijnands, known as De Tijdmakers, created this piece for the 2014 Amsterdam Light Festival. Originally floating in the Amstel River in front of the Stopera, it later traveled to Brussels before finding its permanent home here at Sloterdijk. Inspired by the words of former Amsterdam alderman Floor Wibaut – “There is only one country: Earth. There is only one people: Humanity. There is only one religion: Love” – the 178 Bottles, 1 Message installation embodies this sentiment. It serves as a reminder of Amsterdam’s history as a melting pot of cultures and its ongoing commitment to inclusivity. The artists later created a similar work, 195 Bottles, 1 Message, for Bangkok in 2015, representing all the countries in the world. As you stand before the 178 Bottles, 1 Message installation, take a moment to appreciate the message it conveys. It’s a message of hope, a message of unity, a message of love in a world that often feels divided.