Bicycle path under colored light
Photo: Fenestra Ateliers

OPENING VAN GOGH-ROOSEGAARDE CYCLE PATH 12 NOVEMBER 2014

Angela van der Burght

As with the first steps on the moon, yesterday evening I found myself in the piths dark on the bike path in the middle of now where between Nuenen and Eindhoven. Uncomfortable walking first, getting further away from the brightly lit party tent, I found the luminous waves of stones in the concrete path.
Lit by small UV lights shone the daytime charged paint the light into the dark.
Then came driven from the other side the first bikes and the first hikers with their dogs looking surprised to the strange spectacle. In the low fog, an incredible sense of belonging to Van Gogh, the landscape in which he lived and worked and the Brabant country-site where -such as Daan Roosegaarde said in his press conference- so many brave initiatives are turned into insanely exciting projects were experianced.
Coming back on my steps, the official party arrived for the official opening by Princess Laurentien of Orange and together with the mayors of Nuenen and Eindhoven Daan Roosegaarde switched of all unnatural light making the whole scenery visible.

This track is part of the Van Gogh Cycle Route, which connects several Van Gogh heritage sites across 335 kilometres.

Posted 14 November 2014

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As part of the projects developped by Heijmans and Roosegaarde Smart Highway is an innovative concept for smart roads of tomorrow. A programme of innovation that links a different way of looking at things with innovative ideas that apply the opportunities offered by new technologies in smart ways. Smart Highway is the result of an intensive collaboration between builder and developer Heijmans and designer Daan Roosegaarde. The themes sustainability, safety and perception are key to the concept and are manifested in the newest technologies in energy and light.		Prinses Laurentien Photo: Heijmans


Van Gogh: Starry Night, 1889, detail		Van Gogh bicycle path Innovative bicycle path with a unique design comprising thousands of sparkling stones, creating patterns that charge during the day and emit light during the evening. The Van Gogh bicycle path makes use of the light-emitting techniques of the Smart Highway concept. An interplay of light and poetry and a modern interpretation to Vincent van Gogh. Cultural heritage and innovation merge in this new, public landscape.

“ For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.
Vincent Van Gogh
”


Opening Van Gogh-Roosegaarde Cycle Path 12 November 2014 This cycle path has been constructed by Heijmans from a design by Daan Roosegaarde and forms part of the Van Gogh cycle route in Brabant. The opening of this unique cycle path marks the start of the Van Gogh 2015 international theme year. Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s work, it combines innovation and design with cultural heritage and tourism. The Van Gogh-Roosegaarde cycle path will be opened in Eindhoven on 12 November. This cycle path has been constructed by Heijmans from a design by Daan Roosegaarde and forms part of the Van Gogh cycle route in Brabant. The opening of this unique cycle path marks the start of the Van Gogh 2015 international theme year. Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s work, it combines innovation and design with cultural heritage and tourism.		Portrait Daan Roosegaarde Photo: Studio Daan Roosegaarde en Heijmans

Photos: Studio Daan Roosegaarde en Heijmans


Techno-poetry The cycle path will be open to the public from 13 November. After dark visitors will be amazed by a design of light and colour, inspired by the world-famous painting The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. Together with the artist Daan Roosegaarde, Heijmans developed special innovative technology with which the path will be illuminated by thousands of twinkling stones. This will create a play on light and poetry. Roosegaarde: ‘I wanted to create a place that people will experience in a special way, the technical combined with experience, that’s what techno-poetry means to me’. Innovation through co-creation The Van Gogh- Roosegaarde cycle path is based on the light-emitting technology of Smart Highway, the concept for intelligent, interactive roadways and joint innovation program of Heijmans and Studio Roosegaarde. This unconventional collaboration brings the best of two very different worlds together and creates new solutions for the mobility of tomorrow. Central to the concept are the themes of sustainability, safety and experience. These are developed into the latest technologies in the field of energy and light. More information: www.heijmans.nl https://www.studioroosegaarde.net		Photos: Studio Daan Roosegaarde en Heijmans

Also launched is the extensive Van Gogh 2015 year:
Van Gogh 2015
The opening of the cycle path on 12 November will mark the start of the Van Gogh 2015 international theme year. In 2015, the 125th anniversary of the death of Vincent van Gogh will be commemorated with a comprehensive cultural programme on the theme 125 years of inspiration. The cycle path forms part of the Van Gogh cycle route that connects the Vincent van Gogh heritage locations in Brabant, Vincent’s Homeland. With the completion of the Van Gogh-Roosegaarde cycle path, the area of Brainport East will gain the impulse to develop as a country park.

Partners
The Van Gogh-Roosegaarde cycle path is a joint initiative of Routebureau Brabant, VisitBrabant, Van Gogh Brabant, the Province of Noord-Brabant and the Community of Eindhoven. The cycle path has been made possible by a subsidy from the Province of Noord-Brabant. Technical development and realisation is by Heijmans and Studio Roosegaarde. Daan Roosegaarde developed the concept and the design.
http://vangogheurope.eu

The 125th anniversary of Vincent van Gogh’s death commemorated
On 29 July 1890 Vincent van Gogh (1853) died in Auvers-sur-Oise. The 125^th anniversary of his death will be commemorated in 2015 with a many-faceted cultural programme using the motto 125 years of inspiration. This programme will take place not only in the Netherlands but also in Belgium and France through a unique collaboration Van Gogh Europe. The year of commemoration is being coordinated by museums and heritage locations which are in some way connected with his work, his life and his sources of inspiration. There is also a special programme concentrating on the influence that Van Gogh has on contemporary painters, artists and amateurs to this very day: from

Keukenhof
to the Flower Parade in Zundert and from the cycle track developed by Daan Roosegaarde to Vincent the Musical.

Museum highlights in the Netherlands
Museums where Van Gogh’s work is kept and displayed are offering a lively public programme in which visitors will be introduced to the sources of inspiration and Van Gogh’s contemporaries. They can also experience how Van Gogh inspires artists to this very day.

Kröller-Müller Museum
25.04.15 – 27.09.15
Van Gogh & Co.
Still lifes, natural motifs, cityscapes and Van Gogh’s human figures will be compared to works by contemporaries using similar genres. More than fifty of Van Gogh’s paintings and drawings will be on display together with a multitude of works by other artists before and after Van Gogh’s time.

Van Gogh Museum
25.09.15 – 17.01.16
Munch: Van Gogh
Despite the many striking parallels in their oeuvres and artistic ambitions, and the fact that they are often considered to be each other's counterparts, these titans have never before been brought together in one exhibition.

Het Noordbrabants Museum
24.01.15- 26.04.15
Design from the country of the potato eaters: Designers meet Van Gogh
The most unusual works by designers who have connections with Brabant are linked to three famous works by Vincent van Gogh.

Highlights in Vincent’s homeland
Vincent van Gogh’s roots lie in Brabant. Vincent was born and grew up there. He produced his first masterpiece The Potato Eaters there. There are still traces of Vincent’s unique life and work at five locations in Brabant. The programme for Brabant – Vincent’s homeland is extensive. In addition to extra exposure for the permanent presentations at the Van Gogh locations, numerous activities will be organised for all ages. Zundert will stage The World of Van Gogh (12.10.14 - 08.03.15) and Robert Zandvliet – A piece of nature (30.03.15 -
30.08.15). Nune Ville in Nuenen will be presenting The Vincent Affair (01.04.15 - 01.10.15) and children can take part in the educational talent programme The New Vincent in Tilburg

Vincent as a source of inspiration
The 125th anniversary of his death has prompted numerous organisations and initiatives to consider Van Gogh as a source of inspiration. Keukenhof will be paying special attention to Van Gogh in 2015 by planting tulip arrangements inspired by Van Gogh’s self-portraits.
At the initiative of the community of Ede, the nature, art, culture and food of the Veluwe will be combined in a varied programme entitled ‘Taste of Van Gogh’. The Tuinen van Appeltern gardens will be designing ten Van Gogh gardens in 2015. Works of art inspired by Van Gogh will be on show during the GLOW light festival in Eindhoven and Festival Boulevard in 's-Hertogenbosch will give young theatre producers the chance to develop Van Gogh programmes. Even the Flower Parade in Zundert, the Redhead Days in Breda and dance event Wish Outdoor are taking inspiration from Van Gogh.

Musical finale
As a musical finale to the Van Gogh Year, the premiere of the musical Vincent will take place in the Autumn of 2015. A musical extravaganza produced by Albert Verlinde.

Belgian programme
The Mons 2015 European Capital of Culture foundation will be organising the exhibition Van Gogh in the Borinage, birth of an artist from 25 January to 17 May 2015 in the BAM (Fine Arts Museum). About 70 of his paintings and drawings from various international collections will be on show, including significant loans from the Van Gogh Museum and the Kröller- Müller Museum. To celebrate Mons 2015,the house where the artist lived in Wasmes (now Colfontaine) will be open and attention will be paid in various ways to the arrival of film producer Vincente Minnelli in the Borinage in the 1950s for the filming of Lust for Life about Vincent van Gogh.

French programme
The various Van Gogh locations in France will also be involved in Van Gogh Europe. From September 2014 there will be a new guided tour of the Montmartre of Van Gogh in Paris and the Fondation Custodia will stage the exhibition Between Goltzius and Van Gogh. Drawings and paintings from the P. and N. de Boer Foundation from 13 December 2014 to 18 March 2015. The Fondation Vincent van Gogh in Arles will dedicate an exhibition about Van Gogh’s drawings from 17 May to 30 August 2015. Saint-Rémy has compiled an extensive programme including an exhibition, lectures and a film programme. In Auvers-sur-Oise, the town where Van Gogh died in 1890, there will be a cultural season as there was in 2014, In the footsteps of Van Gogh (4 April to 30 August 2014) on the theme of Van Gogh.

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Photos: Studio Daan Roosegaarde en Heijmans

Click here to download the file "brochure_vangogh_europe_web.pdf".