Berenkuil (Eindhoven)
Encyclopedia
The Berenkuil is a traffic circle
in the Dutch
city of Eindhoven, near the campus of the Eindhoven University of Technology
. An outer circle for automotive traffic surrounds a second sunken circle for bicycles and motorscooters; ramps from the bicycle lanes along the nearby streets lead into the lower circle via four underpasses. This design for a traffic circle is one that is called a berenkuil
(meaning bear pit
) in the Netherlands.
Insulindeplein is part of the Eindhoven ring road
and connects the center of Eindhoven to the highway
to Helmond
. It's also the access road in northern and southern directions, and forms the crossroads of many bicycle paths, bicycle crossings and pedestrian tunnels.
The Berenkuil is also well-known in Eindhoven for another reason: it has been designated a freezone for graffiti
artists, where they can paint graffiti without interference from the police
. As a result, artists have created several large and impressive works on the walls and the area has become an unofficial open air museum
. On 11 and 12 September 2010, the Berenkuil was the stage for the international graffiti festival "Step In The Arena", which was held again on the 9th and 10th of July in 2011.
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
in the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
city of Eindhoven, near the campus of the Eindhoven University of Technology
Eindhoven University of Technology
The ' is a university of technology located in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The motto of the university is: Mens agitat molem . The university was the second of its kind in the Netherlands, only Delft University of Technology existed previously. Until mid-1980 it was known as the...
. An outer circle for automotive traffic surrounds a second sunken circle for bicycles and motorscooters; ramps from the bicycle lanes along the nearby streets lead into the lower circle via four underpasses. This design for a traffic circle is one that is called a berenkuil
Berenkuil (traffic)
A berenkuil is a type of traffic circle found in the Netherlands. In this construction, automotive traffic is directed around a raised outer circle...
(meaning bear pit
Bear pit
A bear pit was historically used to display bears, typically for entertainment and especially bear-baiting. The pit area was normally surrounded by a high fence, above which the spectators would look down on the bears....
) in the Netherlands.
Insulindeplein is part of the Eindhoven ring road
Ring road
A ring road, orbital motorway, beltway, circumferential highway, or loop highway is a road that encircles a town or city...
and connects the center of Eindhoven to the highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
to Helmond
Helmond
Helmond is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands.- Quarters and Neighbourhoods :*Quarter 11 Inner City**Neighbourhood 0 Centrum**Neighbourhood 2 Leonardus**Neighbourhood 3 Heipoort...
. It's also the access road in northern and southern directions, and forms the crossroads of many bicycle paths, bicycle crossings and pedestrian tunnels.
The Berenkuil is also well-known in Eindhoven for another reason: it has been designated a freezone for graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
artists, where they can paint graffiti without interference from the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
. As a result, artists have created several large and impressive works on the walls and the area has become an unofficial open air museum
Open air museum
An open-air museum is a distinct type of museum exhibiting its collections out-of-doors. The first open-air museums were established in Scandinavia towards the end of the nineteenth century, and the concept soon spread throughout Europe and North America. Open-air museums are variously known as...
. On 11 and 12 September 2010, the Berenkuil was the stage for the international graffiti festival "Step In The Arena", which was held again on the 9th and 10th of July in 2011.
External links
- Berenkuil Kunst, photos of graffiti from skyscrapercity.com
- Nieuwe graffiti in de berenkuil, photos of graffiti from digitale stad eindhoven