Gazing up at this metallic marvel, you’re standing before “Maan over Ameland”. This isn’t just another sculpture. It’s a conversation between earth and sky, crafted by Bert de Laaf. Commissioned in 1969 for a bridge over the Oosterdoksdoorgang, “Maan over Ameland” was inspired by de Laaf’s trip to the island of Ameland. Imagine a 22-meter-high stainless-steel structure, a gleaming disc and towering antenna reaching skyward. This was de Laaf’s vision, finally realized in 1971 on the south side of the bridge. However, it wasn’t quite as he envisioned. The sculpture was perched on a small mound. This wasn’t de Laaf’s original plan. He had collaborated with the bridge’s architect, Sier van Rhijn. But the complexities of the massive bridge structure, 385 meters long and nearly 24 meters wide, led to this compromise. The ever-changing cityscape led to the removal of “Maan over Ameland” in 2002. It was stored away, almost forgotten, until de Laaf’s persistence paid off. With the completion of the new bridge 485 in 2012, the sculpture found its rightful place. Now on the north side, it’s bolted directly onto the bridge, exactly as de Laaf intended. Here at this bustling intersection where De Ruijterkade meets Piet Heinkade, the artwork truly comes alive. The disc, a resonating sound chamber with an eye, and the antenna, a receiver and transmitter, communicate with the wind. Constructed from rust-resistant RVS304 stainless steel by NV Machinefabriek St. Antonius in Maasbracht, this 5500-kilo artwork stands as a testament to de Laaf’s artistic vision. “Maan over Ameland” isn’t just a sculpture. It’s a conversation, a whisper between the island of Ameland and the bustling heart of Amsterdam.
Royal Tropical Institute
From a colonial museum’s humble start in Haarlem in 1864, the Royal Tropical Institute blossomed in Amsterdam. Its journey began