Mill of Piet

Behind the dark clouds, an utopian cosmos breaks through.

Wonderlicht festival is a theatrical winter walk over the old stronghold in Alkmaar. In 2023, a video projection on the Mill of Piet was presented as the grande finale of this walk. The show was specially designed in the context of “Alkmaar Ontzet 450 years” and paid tribute to Adriaan Anthonisz, spiritual father of the stronghold and former mayor of Alkmaar. He designed the city walls that ensured that the Spanish soldiers could not just enter Alkmaar 450 years afo. The idea of the fortifications with strongholds was revolutionary: following Alkmaar’s example, he then designed the fortifications for 24 cities and thus changed the urban appearance forever.

Inspired by his forward-thinking view of the city, Beeldjutters created a projection on the mill that shows a new future based on the present. First we see that the mill is surrounded by darkness. But then the light breaks through. The mill breaks open and we discover an utopian cosmos. A world that is not gray and gloomy, but colourful and imaginative. A carousel of images appears, in which people, nature and space are in harmony with each other. An immersive experience in which not only projected animations can be seen on the mill, but also features a park with trees coloured in blue, pink and purple light.

CONCEPT AND DESIGN

Vincent Vriens
Julian van Buul

ANIMATION

Donald van de Zanden
Dominic van Buul

MUSIC

Joost van Dijk

TECHNICAL PRODUCTION

Niels Krupers

TECHNICAL INSTALLATION AND SUPPORT

Arthur Moret
Danny Hilbrands
Gwylan Go
Bastiaan Beszelsen

VIDEO EDIT

Joost van Dijk

COMMISSIONED BY

Wonderlicht festival

SUPPORTED BY

DOSS Event Support
Alkmaar Ontzet 450 jaar

SPECIAL THANKS

Kees Piet
Mirella Doss
Barry Vliek
Rowy Onrust
Adriaan Bruin
Eva Geia Huisman
Jolein Kop