Muskrat
In 2004, the Kunstgebouw Foundation and the Province of South Holland wanted a temporary sculpture to serve as mascot for the village of Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, located at the very lowest point in Holland, 6.86 meters below sea level. It is amazing how water is controlled there by waterworks and dykes, so this fact was taken as a starting point. The result was a giant alter ego of the muskrat, its dimensions also reflecting the size of the problem the animal is said to cause. The muskrat (ondatra zibethicus) is reputedly the biggest threat to the dykes because of its digging into them – and therefor the ‘most wanted’ animal in The Netherlands.
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