The Oort Cloud Fountain
The fountain is an ode to the world-famous astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort, who was born in Franeker. His assumption that a ‘cloud’ of billions of comet-like objects is moving around our solar system was a breakthrough in astronomy. The fountain is designed as a series of waterfalls that flow into the water basin from a bowl, along a vertical chain of night-coloured pearls. One of the pearls is silver-coloured, like the colour of the moon, another is gilded, the colour of the sun. ‘The Oort Cloud’ fountain itself is a mist of fine droplets falling from a gold-coloured mesh into the bowl.
Jean-Michel Othoniel
Jean-Michel Othoniel (1964) became well known for his experimental use of glass from Murano (Italy), with which he designs multicoloured sculptures in the form of large ‘beads’. His numerous works in public spaces illustrate unexpected aspects in the history of the location, or of the city, and create a magnificent atmosphere infused with colour and light. He designed a fountain based on the dance steps of Louis XIV for the Palace of Versailles.
Tip: Combine your visit to the 11fountains with a city walk. A walking route through Franeker along all the highlights of the city that you must have seen during your visit.
