Hoofddorp Light Bridge

This light artwork is the result of a collaboration between Serge Schoemaker Architects and artist Siba Sahabi. It was commissioned by the municipality of Haarlemmermeer and financially supported by the Province of North Holland. Situated in the moat of Fort van Hoofddorp, the permanent light installation symbolizes both the connection between the fort and its surroundings and the relationship between the island’s past and present identity.

Between 2010 and 2020, the redevelopment of Fort van Hoofddorp took place. Led by Serge Schoemaker Architects, the site was transformed into a public park offering space for hospitality and cultural activities. Today, the fort functions as a meeting place in the heart of the Haarlemmermeer. Although the fort has been accessible via a dam for decades, there remained a strong desire to bring the historic bridge connection back into public awareness.

Originally built in 1904 as part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, the fort was completely surrounded by water. The mainland was connected to the fort island by a drawbridge, which could be pulled onto the island in the event of an emergency. The architect’s proposal to place a luminous artwork on the pillars of the former bridge was embraced by the municipality. It reinforced the central ambition of the redevelopment: to make this World Heritage site visible and accessible once again to the residents of Haarlemmermeer.

The designers deliberately opted for a modern and abstract intervention that enters into a dialogue with the imposing concrete structure of the fort. While the fort presents itself as a heavy, elongated mass, the steel sculpture introduces a porous framework that rises upward above the surrounding reeds. With a height of three metres and a span of six metres, the Hoofddorp Light Bridge is a striking presence for cyclists and pedestrians along the Geniedijk.

The sculptural artwork consists of two angled triangles and rests on the preserved pillars of the historic bridge. Its abstract form refers to the triangular shape of the fortress island itself. One triangle represents the past, the other the present. At night, the undersides of the triangular forms illuminate, creating a subtle composition of glowing lines reflected in both the sky and the water.