Art Zuiderzee is an initiative by Petra Hart in which she connected 64 local, national and international artists with 32 heritage locations around the former Zuiderzee, including 14 museums. Drawing on the history and identity of each location, Hart paired artists with specific places and stories.
The Art Zuiderzee Route was conceived as an art route of approximately 420 kilometres around the former Zuiderzee. Visitors could experience the route on foot, by e-bike, sailing boat or through small-scale bus tours. On a historical map of the Zuiderzee, Hart connected the participating locations with lines. Gradually, these lines formed the shape of a fish, which became the visual identity of the route.
Due to serious illness, Hart had to postpone the further realisation of Art Zuiderzee. One of the ideas she had already developed was to connect artist Nynke Koster with the water cellars of the Zuiderzee Museum. With Hart’s permission, the museum proceeded with this concept and collaboration ahead of the wider project. The resulting work was later acquired by the Zuiderzee Museum.
The further realisation of Art Zuiderzee was ultimately set aside. The original concept, the route and the connections between artists and heritage locations have remained, leaving room for a possible future continuation.
Art Zuiderzee developed from Hart’s earlier projects in which she connected artists with distinctive locations. In 2014, she organised the first edition of AMFAD in the Amsterdam Houthavens. In 2021, a new edition followed at Hotel Spaander in Volendam, a location with a long history as an international artists’ colony.
