Horst

Around the Lankhorst junction, there is a striking number of place names ending in "-horst," such as Staphorst, IJhorst, and Schiphorst. A "horst" originally referred to a piece of higher ground within a marshy area. The first settlements were established on these dry elevations, eventually growing into the "horst" villages we see today.

To protect their livestock, the inhabitants of these early settlements surrounded them with fences made of interwoven branches. As a result, these "horsten" resembled oversized nests of birds of prey. It is no coincidence, therefore, that the term "horst" is also used in Dutch to refer to a bird of prey’s nest.

This dual meaning is brought together in this artwork. The steel nest, integrated into the corner structure of the house, conceals a nesting box for kestrels. Only time will tell whether they will choose this spot as their home.