Basket circles - Mander

Together, the Mandercircles, also known as Jannink's Circles, are the largest landscape artwork in the Netherlands. Although they were not initially intended as works of art, but as fields.

The circular fields were created in the 1930s by textile manufacturer Gerhard Jannink, inspired by what he had seen in North America. These circular fields offered the advantage that agricultural machinery could work in a spiral shape, without having to turn. Originally, rye, oats and potatoes were grown here, later corn. In 1991, the land was sold to Landschap Overijssel after farming on these fields was no longer profitable.

Artist Paul de Kort was commissioned to redesign the area. Among other things, he created a spiral labyrinth, symbolising a plough furrow, and a raised embankment with juniper bushes, referring to the area's cultural history. The art project was completed in 1999.

Today, moorland cows graze there to maintain the heathland. Visitors are advised to keep at least 25 metres away from these animals. You can also come across a number of boundary posts in this area.

Photo to illustrate.