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With fresh eyes

What happens when contemporary artists take a fresh look at the history of the Zuiderzee? Discover it in the anniversary exhibition With Fresh Eyes and prepare to be surprised by works that bring history back to life.

For twenty years now, the Zuiderzee Museum has been inviting artists, (fashion) designers and photographers to draw inspiration from the rich culture surrounding the former Zuiderzee. This has resulted in work that provokes, surprises and moves. In this exhibition, you’ll see a selection from the sub-collection, alongside the historical sources of inspiration. This includes clothing inspired by historical traditional dress or photographs based on paintings from the past. The artists bring traditions, crafts and stories from the past into the present, giving them new meaning. The collection showsthus  that history remains a source of inspiration today.

Artist Nynke Koster next to her own design - water cellar Zuiderzeemuseum, picture Guillaume Groen

Latest addition

In the Schathuys’ courtyard garden, you can discover the latest work in the collection: In the silence of the deep water cellar. For this unique artwork, Nynke Koster drew inspiration from the historic water cellars beneath the building, places normally inaccessible to the public. She made a cast of the brick walls of one of these cellars. Subtle discolourations and the old water level remain visible, making the past tangible. The work is approximately 65% of its original size. The chosen materials and a special audio layer create an impressive experience that enters into a dialogue with the space.

What to expect?

The exhibition is organised thematically and, alongside the new work, showcases many historical sources of inspiration. The artists drew inspiration from the waters of the Zuiderzee, craftsmanship, traditional regional dress and personal experiences. One standout work is Aluminium Foil (2012) by Hendrik Kerstens: a modern interpretation of the iconic Volendam hul, crafted from aluminium. The result? A powerful image that seamlessly bridges tradition and the present day.

Links: Emile Charlet (1851-1910), Terugkeer van de markt, Nunspeet, 1885, Olieverf op doek, Collectie Zuiderzeemuseum | Rechts: Jimmy Nelson (1967) | Alie, Nienke & Rhodé | Noordwest-Veluwe, Gelderland | The Netherlands, 2021, Collectie Zuiderzeemuseum Enkhuizen

Want to discover more?

Would you like to see even more? Follow the design trail through the historic setting of the Zuiderzee Museum. At more than fifteen locations in the Zuiderzee village and the Schathuys, you’ll discover how artists were inspired by Zuiderzee culture.

  • The Flax Project by Christien Meindertsma (craft: rope-making)

  • Knip & plak, Zuiderzee – Stop-motion films by Lyske Gais (origins of buildings)

  • Tot stof by Studio RENS (mourning and traditional dress)

  • Deining by Zoro Feigl (on the hazardous work of a fisherman at sea)

  • From April 2026, the museum will highlight one artwork each month. The series kicks off with The Blue Fish Vendor by Hugo Kaagman (tiled living rooms).

Credits headerfoto: Hendrik Kerstens, Aluminium foil, 2012