De Reus van Vlaardingen

De Reus van Vlaardingen is a large-scale community art project by artist Florentijn Hofman. The artwork — a towering rabbit constructed from reclaimed wood — was built together with local residents at De Strip in Vlaardingen West. DIY enthusiasts from the neighborhood worked side by side with local families, including the Mo’s and Fatima’s, to bring this playful yet striking creation to life.

The idea was to ceremonially burn the rabbit after its unveiling — a nod to traditions like Burning Man, where sculptures are set alight as a symbol of renewal. However, safety regulations from the fire brigade thwarted those plans, and instead of going up in flames, De Reus embarked on a journey across the Netherlands. The sculpture was later showcased at the Wereld van de Witte de With Festival and the Robodock Festival in 2003.

Mothership served as producer and was responsible for the execution and project management of this distinctive project. De Reus van Vlaardingen stands as an early example of the large-scale, accessible artworks that would later make Hofman internationally renowned.