The Rooster of Buchten

Anyone driving the A2 past the Holtum-Noord exit can no longer ignore it since Wednesday: an imposing steel rooster, thirteen meters high and weighing a thousand kilos. This majestic work of art, called "Het Haantje van Buchten", is already an unmissable landmark along this busy highway.

The Rooster was transported on our low loader, which provided an efficient solution for the special construction of the rooster. The creation was made by artist José Fijnaut from Beek, commissioned by the municipality of Sittard-Geleen, among others, and forms a marker for the large infrastructure project Operation Bottleneck. Two years ago, a design competition was announced, in which Fijnaut eventually won the contract.

The artwork, made of aluminium and powder-coated gold, is seven metres high and stands on a pedestal of another six metres. "Usually when I make a sculpture for outside, I think; that should have been a bit bigger," says Fijnaut. "You make it inside and then it seems very big. But once outside it is disappointing. I don't have that at all now. The size is nice, the colour came out better than I thought. It is always exciting to see the end result, but I am quite proud yes. Very satisfied."

Passers-by and motorists will undoubtedly be amazed by the imposing appearance of Het Haantje, which is already attracting attention along the A2. With its unmistakable presence, it is not only a tribute to craftsmanship, but also a beautiful addition to the surroundings.

Source: https://www.l1nieuws.nl/entertainment/2658918/het-haantje-van-buchten-is-niet-te-missen-langs-de-a2