Pauline Broekema on Hermanus Berserik's Haringvliet and the Steel Buoys of Terschelling

In the seventh issue of Museumtijdschrift for 2026, Pauline Broekema explores Hellevoetsluis to view Hermanus Berserik's artwork 'Haringvliet' (circa 1986-87), which she initially saw at Museum Henriette Polak in Zutphen. The painting evokes memories of Terschelling's steel buoys, now being substituted with plastic ones that lack the original's charm. She explains that SRK stands for Schelderadarketen and describes a black buoy that resembles a cooking pot. Broekema journeys by train, metro, and bus, engaging with Berserik's writings about his meticulous approach. In Hellevoetsluis, she also visits Fortresse Holland, which includes a piece by Cornelis Dommelshuizen (1842-1928), and the 1822 lighthouse, depicted at an angle in Berserik's work. She contemplates Berserik's advice to simply observe.