Foggy sunrise at a rapeseed field by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About "Foggy sunrise at a rapeseed field"

by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About the artwork

The Werk aan de Groeneweg is a Dutch position, and national monument, along the river Lek on the Eiland van Schalkwijk, near the village of Schalkwijk.

Part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie and built during the mobilisation of World War I, the Werk aan de Groeneweg is located 1,700 metres east of Fort Honswijk and had to withstand a possible direct attack from the east. It consisted of an earthen wall with trenches and moats. It ran from the Achterdijk to the floodplains of the river Lek. Shelters were also built of reinforced concrete.

In 1936, ten shelters were converted into casemates. During World War II mobilisation in 1939 and 1940, the Work was expanded with tank barriers, machine gun emplacements and new shelters.

The site was partially levelled. The dozens of group shelters and casemates can still be seen in the landscape. Between and around the casemates are tall-stemmed fruit trees, shrubs, and rapeseed fields which, especially at sunrise in the mist, provide a special backdrop.

Rapeseed is a typical spring plant of the crucifer family that can grow more than 1 metre tall. The plant rapidly colours many roadsides in a bright yellow splendour in late March and early April.

Oilseed rape is an annual or biennial mutant plant from the crucifer family. Rapeseed is an important field crop worldwide. In the months of April and May, the bright yellow fields are attractive to day trippers.

Fog is a weather phenomenon where small water droplets float in the air as an aerosol, limiting visibility. Fog can form by cooling very humid air (to below the dew point) or by mixing cold with warm humid air.