Hoogkerk Off The Beaten Path

The name of the new bridge is Jan Altink-bridge.

Jan Altink (1885-1971, Groningen) was a famous painter in his time. Born as son of a farmer he was destined to be a farmer too yet Jan didn t like the idea of getting up early in the morning to milk the cows. Instead he went to the school of arts 'Minerva'. In 1911 he passed his exams and for some time he worked as an art teacher. In 1934 he became a teacher at the school of arts 'Minerva'.

During his teaching years he was part of an artists gang called "De Ploeg" (the plow) and he became one of the leading figures of that group.
He had done expressionism for some time but gradually he developped his own style: sensitive, serious, happy and well balanced.

Like no other before or after him Altink knew how to characterize the Groninger landscape.
In 1955 he got the annual cultural prize from the province of Groningen as third 'De Ploeg'-member.

Since new houses were built were once cows grazed these new neighbourhoods needed to be connected. Therefor a new road connecting north to south, Groningen with Hoogkerk.
It also includes a new bridge over the Hoendiep canal.

Somewhat further away than I promised sim1, my sister in law, but these blue herons you can see frequently at shallow waters where they can stand still for a long time, just waiting for their snack to swim by.

the crossing no matter what .. this is the connection between the city of Groningen and the city of Leeuwarden (province of Friesland).