Waterlanders

In the municipality of Dijk en Waard, the new railway underpass at the Zuidtangent is taking on a distinctive appearance. Where until recently a busy level crossing interrupted the connection between Langedijk and Heerhugowaard, construction is now underway on a new underpass and an artwork that makes water and landscape visible: Waterlanders, a collaboration between Mothership (concept), artist Gabriel Lester (design), and Royal Tichelaar (supplier).

Langedijk and Heerhugowaard share the same origin: a landscape shaped and defined by water. From the elevated pedestrian and cycling bridge between the two centres, this contrast is clearly visible. On one side lies a mosaic of ditches and parcels — the Realm of a Thousand Islands — while on the other side the water has almost disappeared, hidden behind pumping stations and sewers that keep the land dry. With the future merger of the two centres in sight, the municipality no longer wants to see the in-between area as a dividing line, but as a link. Where the railway once formed a physical barrier, the new underpass will instead become the main connection between the two places.

To give meaning to this transition, the municipality of Dijk en Waard asked Mothership to develop an artwork that would do more than decorate the space: it needed to make the soul of the landscape tangible. This led to Waterlanders — part of a larger collaborative project with ProRail, KuiperCompagnons, and IPV Delft. The work brings water back into the city, both literally and symbolically, as a reminder of the past and as a symbol of connection between both sides.

The artwork consists of thousands of specially made ceramic tiles covering the tunnel walls. Subtle water droplets appear in relief, glowing in the dark through a refined lighting design. The droplet forms the guiding motif of the design. Each droplet catches the light in a different way, making the walls shimmer like ripples on water. By day, the work appears calm and organic; by night, the underpass transforms into a flowing stream of light. The overlapping water rings symbolize the merging of the former municipalities of Langedijk and Heerhugowaard. The title Waterlanders refers to their residents, who since 1 January 2022 together form the new municipality of Dijk & Waard.

For the Zuidtangent railway underpass, we set out to find something unique — something that complements and accentuates both the architecture and its surroundings. At the same time, there was an ambition to create an artwork that is activated by passing traffic: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. In collaboration with Royal Tichelaar, the historic ceramics factory from Makkum, an exclusive tile was developed in which glass fragments are fused into water droplets on ceramic tiles.

This base material is applied to the walls of the railway underpass, designed by the architectural firm IPV Delft. The result is an enchanting artwork that, like a brilliant jewel or chandelier, gives the underpass a distinctive character. The glass droplets can be positioned like pixels to create shapes and patterns. These three-dimensional elements capture light and movement while simultaneously reflecting their surroundings. The surfaces and figures formed by the droplets thus create a drawing of shadow, light, and reflection. At the same time, the headlights of passing traffic cause the wall artwork to sparkle like a dazzling diamond.

The design was commissioned by the municipality of Dijk en Waard, with Mothership as creative and technical producer and Gabriel Lester as the artist. Further contributors to the realization include IPV Delft and Royal Tichelaar. Over the past months, various mock-ups and lighting tests have been carried out to find the right balance between sheen, colour, and reflection. Installation of the tiles in the tunnel has now begun, making Waterlanders truly visible for the first time as a new icon for Dijk en Waard — an artwork that brings together the movement of water and people.