From September 12 upto December 13, 2020
Ode to Maas and Waal
There are few places in the world where the landscape is as diverse as in the Netherlands. The area of Maas and Waal is beautiful. It has a reason that people have lived here for centuries. Fertile clay soils, high (and therefore dry) banks, rivers full of fish. Rivers provide protection against external attacks and are important traffic and trade routes at the same time.
In Roman times, the Rhine/Waal forms the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, called the Limes. We owe a lot to the Romans, but they did not change much to landscape between the rivers. This also applies to the Merovingers and Carolinians in the early Middle Ages. It remains border area.
Our cultural landscape has been largely shaped by human hands since the Middle Ages. This can be seen in the Land of Maas and Waal. In 1327, Count Reinoud II, Count of Gelre, issued his land and dike letter, which governs the government and management of the dikes. However, it will be centuries before the area is safe from dike breaches and flooding.
The exhibition ‘Ode to Maas & Waal’ is a hymn to (living with) the rivers. A beautiful collection of paintings, photographs, sculptures, etchings and drawings from museums and private collections show this unique landscape.
Experiencing the Land of Maas and Waal like a fairy tale? Take a walk through nature in a special experience room, decorated by studio Maartse Hazen. Discover the animals that live in this area up close. Fun for young and old!
The exhibition can be seen in the Coach House of Wijchen Castle and museum garden De Tuun.
Favourite place?
Do you have a favourite place in the Land of Maas and Waal? Send a picture of this place to contact@museumwijchen.nl with a short explanation. The photo gets a place in the exhibition.