Before New Year’s Eve, the artwork disappeared from the Hoorneboegse Heide. All that remained was the pedestal and a sign with the text: ‘I’m taking a trip to the North’.
The New Year’s Eve association of Zorgvlied, Wateren and Oude Willem took the statue as part of their annual New Year’s Eve stuntalong. The ‘brutal kidnapping’ happened in the middle of the night and a lot of organization went into it.
But just like with any New Year’s Eve stunt, this stolen work of art is also neatly returned and reassembled. This also gives an insight into the efforts the association has made to include the image. With a tow truck and several members, Tied Zat spends at least an hour and a half putting the statue back together.
Sporty reactions
The Hoorneboegse Heide falls under the management of the Goois Nature Reserve. The ranger who is present during the reset is thanked with a package of Drenthe products for the sporty response.
The artist of the image, Jantien Mook, has also responded to the disappearance. She writes on Facebook: “Ha ha… those who are not gone have been seen. Hopefully she will be back on the heath soon, that would be nice.” She told the association that she was happy that Ahimsa had been brought back.