Folly Art Norg
27 jul - 24 aug 2025
Norg, the folly village of the Netherlands
Where art, architecture and design come together in a walking route full of strange structures in the Dutch landscape.
What is a Folly?
An unconventional building with no rules or specific purpose. These structures stand out for their remarkable appearance but are neither logical nor practical. The term "folly" originates from the English word "foolish" meaning silly, absurd, or whimsical. Follies have been constructed since Roman times and saw a revival in Europe from 1700 onward. They were built to adorn the estates of the wealthy, primarily for fun (foolishness) and as a display of prosperity.
Participate
Anyone
can submit a design to participate in Folly Art Norg through an open call. The organization carefully assesses all submissions and selects at least fifteen designs for the folly route.
The follies are designed by a diverse group of participants, including artists, architects and autodidacts. Through this open call, they get the chance to bring their vision of art and architecture in public space to life.
The route invites visitors to experience the Drenthe landscape in a new way and to be surprised by the unique creations along the path.
More on how to participate
Current events
Preparations for Folly Art Norg 2025 are in full swing! Participants are busy designing, building and setting up their unique follies. This edition we welcome no less than 20 follies and 1 special Prestige project.Participants: Marcel Boon, Strijbos & van Rijswijk, Marc van Vliet, Jim Du Pan, Catarina Garcia, Tim Stoop, Paula Biemans, Klaas Kloosterhuis, Jessica Scholtes, Paul de Wilde, Noortje Weenink, Tevin Blancheville, Nikki Jansen, Marten Siegers, Regine Pijning, Jeroen van den Bosch, Carol Nobbe, Topp & Dubio, Albert Eikelenboom, Eva ten Velden, Erikjan Roodbol, Maarten Douwe Bredero, Marcel Brouwer, Martin Pas, Marcel Posthumus and co., Jitse van Keimpema, Veerle van der Werf, Mettsje de Boer, Marko Dol. Prestige project: Nienke de Bruijn (Commanderij College).
Important notice: the folly route leads through a wooded area with unpaved and sometimes impassable paths, which are not suitable and possibly dangerous for cyclists. Folly Art Norg is primarily aimed at walking public. The route is limited accessible for disabled visitors. We advise everyone to come on foot to avoid disappointment and unsafe situations.
