Maasbeeld

The Maasbeeld is a striking sculpture by Auke de Vries that spans the Maas River in Rotterdam. The 182-meter-long installation consists of steel cables and abstract elements stretched between the Willemsbrug and a surviving pillar of the demolished railway bridge. Locals also call the artwork "De waslijn" (the clothesline). Wind and waves keep the structure in near-constant motion, and at high tide a sphere floats on the water. The piece was installed at its current location in 1988 after a period in storage, once the old bridge had to make way for a new tunnel. A heavy block now provides the necessary stability, while the light, airy look of the cables creates a subtle balancing effect.