Red variegated cow

De Koe is a work of art by the Dutch visual artist Gerry van der Velden in the dike village of Heesselt. Heesselt is located on the Waal in the municipality of Neerijnen, in the Dutch province of Gelderland. The statue stands in the bend of the Waalbandijk near the brick factory.

The image of a red-spotted cow was actually a playful expression of protest against the plans of Rijkswaterstaat to radically redesign the nature development area the Heesseltsche Uiterwaarden. In order to better protect the land behind the dikes from high water and to obtain new nature, the predominantly agricultural area will be redesigned. Opponents did not think the new nature was necessary at all and wanted the floodplain landscape to remain as it was. As a protest, the Neerijnen Art Foundation placed the metre-high cow in the floodplains in 2003. Rijkswaterstaat subsequently adjusted the plans in consultation with the population.

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