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11fountains Stavoren

  • De grote visfontein in Stavoren tussen de de boten in de haven.

As you walk along the water, you suddenly find yourself face to face with it. A giant fish with its mouth wide open. Water pours out over its lips. It feels as though it might pull you inside. This is The Fish of Stavoren (De Vis voor Stavoren), the city's 11fountains artwork.

Artist Mark Dion immersed himself in the history of Stavoren and discovered stories of wealth, decline and new beginnings. That movement is reflected in this artwork. Large, direct and with a touch of humour.

Fish

The fish lies with its mouth wide open, as though it could swallow everything that comes near. The artwork refers to old stories and to an engraving by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, in which big fish eat little fish.

In Stavoren, this image takes on its own meaning. The city has experienced periods of growth and loss, always closely connected to the sea. The fountain makes this cycle visible. What arrives, what disappears and what remains.

📍 Stationsweg, Stavoren

Een man staat bij de 11fountains fontein in Stavoren.

Fish | Stavoren - nearby

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Starting point - for your city trip

In Stavoren, you can spot the fountain from afar. Its large, striking form stands proudly in the middle of the square. Along your route past the 11fountains, this is one of those places you naturally walk towards.

You pause for a moment and look at the mouth, the flowing water and the shape. The artwork changes the way you see it. Before you know it, you've spent longer looking than you expected.

More inspiration

The 11fountains artwork in Stavoren is called The Fish of Stavoren (De Vis voor Stavoren). It depicts a giant fish with its mouth wide open, with water flowing from it, and refers to the history of the city.

The fountain was designed by American artist Mark Dion. He is known for his research-based approach, combining history and nature in his artworks.

The fountain is located on Stationsweg in Stavoren, in a square near the water and the entrance to the city.

The fountain reflects the connection between the city and the sea. The fish represents both prosperity and threat, showing how deeply Stavoren has always depended on the water.

The open mouth immediately draws your attention and invites you to take a closer look. It also refers to the idea that larger forces consume the smaller ones, an image that appears repeatedly in historical stories and works of art.

The fountain was inspired by Stavoren's fishing history and by an engraving by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, in which big fish eat little fish.

Yes, the fountain in Stavoren is part of 11fountains, an international art project created in 2018 across the eleven Frisian cities.

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