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Right, Van Gogh famous painting “Starry Night”. Below, the new cycle path.
NEW VAN GOGH CYCLE PATH IN EINDHOVEN The Eindhoven region has now the first innovative bicycle path in the Netherlands. urope’s lowlands are becoming the mecca of solar-powered bike paths. The newest one of which aims to make bike commuting safer - and much more beautiful. The Van Gogh-Roosegaarde cycle path officially opened in Eindhoven on 12 November 2014. The glowing route is the second iteration of Roosegaarde’s Smart Highway project, whose mission is to build smart, interactive highways. The opening of this unique path marks the start of the Van Gogh 2015 international theme year. It is constructed by Heijmans from a design by Daan Roosegaarde and forms part of the Van Gogh cycle route in Brabant. Together with the artist Daan Roosegaarde, Heijmans developed special innovative technology thanks to which the path is illuminated by thousands of twinkling stones. This creates
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a play on light and poetry. The light stones are used to make patterns that charge during the day and emit light during the evening. After dark visitors can be amazed by the design inspired by the world-famous painting The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. Roosegaarde says: «I wanted to create a place that people will experience in a special way, the technical combined with experience, that’s what techno-poetry means to me».The cycle path forms part of the Van Gogh cycle route that connects the Vincent van Gogh heritage locations in Brabant, Vincent’s home land. The world-famous artist produced his first masterpiece, The Potato Eaters, in Nuenen and the Opwettense and Colse watermills featured in his paintings. The path links the two watermills, bridging the gap between contemporary design, innovation, cultural heritage and tourism
in the region. «It’s a new total system that is self-sufficient and practical, and just incredibly poetic», adds Roosegaarde. In 2015, the 125th anniversary of the death of Vincent van Gogh (Zundert, 30 March 1853 – Auvers-sur-Oise, 29 July 1890) is commemorated with a comprehensive cultural programme on the theme 125 years of inspiration. The programme has been devised by Van Gogh Europe, comprising the Van Gogh Museum, Kröller-Müller Museum, Van Gogh Brabant, Mons 2015 and French partners. Museums, heritage locations and cultural events pay attention throughout the year to the work, life and inspirational sources of Van Gogh. The theme year is an initiative of NBTC Holland Marketing, together with RBT KAN and VisitBrabant. Chicca Magri
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