The name (meaning 'A view into the pot' or 'Looking into the pot') originates from an early 17th century redoubt (redoute in French), which offered a splendid view on the area. Many modifications in the defense system followed.
The municipality of Bergen op Zoom managed to buy the grounds in 1979 and decided to transform them into a park, designed by Pieter Germeraad, some twenty years later.
Several artists participated in the decoration of the park, which remained an open space after a part in the northwest became a residential area with names reflecting the former military functions in this part of town such as Escarp, Saillant, Coupure, Poterne and, of course, Redoute.
A modern interpretation of the former fortifications by artists Auke van der Heide and Jan Wessendorp. All photos: © Albert Hagenaars, December 2014.
A view on the Slikschans (Mud flat sconce) or Veldschans (Field sconce), also a design by Auke van der Heide and Jan Wessendorp, based upon a similarly shaped fortress on this spot. They commissioned poetry for the walls from author Albert Hagenaars, who shared the assignment with his colleague Bert Bevers. They realized two poems together, meaning they came up with mixed texts. Each word by one was followed by a word by the other.
The main text reads:
Jij die hier verdwijnt
doorzie dit niemandsland vol iedereen
Translated:
You who vanish here
see through this no man's land full with everybody.
These lines reflect centuries of military action, many victims. So, one could also read: every body in the sense of corpse.
A detail from the second poem:
door tij & tijd bestendigt
deze verschansing woorden
die zich niet laten kennen:
strijd roert ons tot wie we zijn
in de dunte der dagen.
became:
through tide & time
this entrenchment perpetuates words
that refuse to speak:
struggle moves us until we are who we are
in the thinness of the days.
A sculpture with three crabs (1980) by Kees Keijzer (1927, Heerle - 1990, Wouw) who studied at the academy of arts St Joost in Breda. This monument was originally placed in front of the civic centre at the corner of Sint Annastraat and Kortemeestraat, which was replaced by an apartment building including shops.
Keijzer specialized in working with iron. His sculptures can be seen in several towns, in Bergen op Zoom alone four.
The crab is one of the strongest symbols of Bergen op Zoom. It can be seen everywhere, especially during carnival. Most people believe it has to do with the estuarium of the nearby Oosterschelde. There is however a solid theory which links the word 'krab' to the beet madder, meekrap in Dutch. The roots of this plant provided dye for the textile industry. Thanks to the cloth manufacturers Bergen op Zoom experienced periods of wealth, mainly in the Middle Ages.
Within the boundaries of the Slikschans the artist's group Bozaar, founded by Frits Sonnenberg and others in June 2001, realized a concrete strip with so-called time capsules. Individuals as well as companies can fill a steel cylinder with messages, objects, documents pictures and so on in order to be opened in the future. Each cylinder is linked to a notarial act.
The first capsule, filled with contributions of the group was sponsored by Jos Krijger Painting Business. The text on the cover is by Jos Steegstra (1940 Groningen - 2002 Tholen), a teacher and a poet. His main themes were archeology and history.
The question on the cover, chosen by Mrs. Hendriks - Van Gogh, can be translated in various ways, for example: Where did time go to? And: It is such a long time ago...
The text says " Each effort provides something". It's a reference to the Bible (Proverbs).
In both Polish and Dutch this quote states: "It's all about touching'.
The company Royal Nedalco was present in the old harbour district in the period 1899 - 2005. It shifted its activities to Sas van Gent. Some buildings were left as industrial monuments for a new neighbourhood.
www.alberthagenaars.nl
