The Ballast Project

In the northern staircase of the renovated National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam, Scottish artist Nathan Coley created a remarkable artwork titled The Ballast Project. This 2.5 by 20-meter wall is made of 17th-century Dutch IJssel bricks — the same type once used as ballast in empty VOC ships that eventually found their way to Dutch colonies around the world.

Coley’s original idea was to retrieve these historic bricks from their new home countries. However, since many had become part of protected heritage sites, he opted for a symbolic alternative: around 6,000 authentic Dutch bricks made the same journey as their predecessors. Traveling in a striking Delft-blue shipping container designed by Studio Léon&Loes, the bricks passed through Singapore, Australia, Suriname, and Sint Eustatius before finally being assembled into a wall in Amsterdam.

The Ballast Project tells the story of colonial trade, ballast, and heritage, while simultaneously raising questions about ownership, history, and cultural memory. The project was curated and coordinated by Mothership on behalf of the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf (Central Government Real Estate Agency).