Tuesday, October 18, 2005

HET GEIN Mondriaan loved painting along the river Gein. His painting and drawings called 'Sloot bij Het Kalfje' were given that name by one of Mondriaan's friends. It is now generally accepted that those works were not made at Het Kalfje (which was a café near the Amstel), but along the river Gein. The picture left shows the present situation of 'Mondriaan's Ditch' as it is now called. Although some things have changed in more than a hundred years, the course of the ditch is still exactly the same as in 1900 when the painting (see below) was made. The farm Landvreugd (erroneously called Landzicht by Mondriaan and Jacob Olie) which was originally nearby, was later replaced by a new farm at nr. 15 Gein-Zuid. Let's have a walk along the Gein in the footsteps of Mondriaan. Over the ages the Gein has attracted many artists and writers, to name just a few: Jacob Cats, the Hague School (Willem Roelofs, Paul Gabriël), Jacob Olie, Piet Mondriaan, Simon Maris, Jac. P. Thijsse, Henri Polak, Nescio and Gied Jaspars (who actually lived in the Oostzijdse molen, the East-side windmill). The government has great plans with this small piece of paradise. It is planning a highway right across the Gein, the A6-A9 junction. The plans will have a devastating effect on the whole region, nature and environment, from Gein and Vecht to the Naardermeer. Protest actions are being organised by Spaar Het Gein and other organisations. We can't let the government ruin this beauty spot where nature and culture meet. 11:35:06 AM

© Copyright 2005 Hetty Litjens.