The BatÂ
Bats are intriguing, useful animals, crucial to the ecological system for their insect hunting. In Asian culture, the bat symbolises wealth, happiness and the blessings of old age. For us he symbolises both dark forces and a positive, saving force - think of Batman, or the facades of great cathedrals where, in the form of gargoyles, bats keep the demons at bay. This image fits beautifully with the burnt Broerekerk. The staircase up the bat’s back invites the visitor to symbolically overcome the bat. And, in so doing... to transcend him/herself.
Johan Creten
Johan Creten’s (1963) ceramic and bronze sculptures tackle a range of subjects, from impressive birds and fearsome cuttlefish to woman’s torsos covered with sharp-edged roses. Their symbolically rich power is never unambiguous, and swings back and forth between temptation and fear, strength and vulnerability, the sacred and the demonic. With his Catholic background and his sense of drama, Creten perfectly captures the loaded history of Bolsward.
Tip: Combine your visit to the 11fountains with a city walk. A walking route through Bolsward along all the highlights of the city that you must have seen during your visit.
