A striking white synthetic sculpture resembling a bride dancing on the water in Westerpark undergoes a regular seasonal routine. Every winter, the artwork is pulled out of the pond and placed into storage before being returned in the spring.
The piece, officially titled Bruidsjurk (Bridal Dress), has become a recognizable feature of the park and a popular backdrop for wedding photography.
City workers remove the object as temperatures drop to keep it clean and to prevent damage from vandals, who could easily walk across frozen pond water to reach it.
From temporary art to permanent fixture
The floating dress has a unique history that began thirty years ago. It originated in 1993 as part of a temporary public art project created by Patchwork, an artist collective formed by Elleke Haspels, Karolien Helweg, and Joanneke Meester.
The three artists met while working as kitchen assistants at Café De Engelbewaarder along the Kloveniersburgwal.
For their initial concept, the collective soaked 20 ballgowns made of lace and net curtains in 2,000 kilograms of paraffin wax. The dresses were floated on the Hofvijver in Den Haag as a statement on the historical position of women, before travelling to Alphen aan den Rijn and Ghent.
However, the original wax creations melted in hot weather and eventually deteriorated, ending up in a landfill.
A local reproduction in Westerpark
Because Patchwork kept their workspace in Westerpark, local district officials decided to permanently recreate one of the pieces. The artists commissioned a durable plastic cast of a single dress, creating the permanent version that stands in the pond today.
While the original artist group disbanded years ago and is no longer involved in its upkeep, the municipality continues to maintain the sculpture. After a thorough cleaning over the cold months, the white gown is placed back out on the water each spring.
