My love for swans began years ago when I created paintings to raise awareness about the cruel practice of swan catching, which, fortunately, has been banned since 2017 (see my story on swan catching*). Since then, I have continued to paint swans because their elegant appearance never ceases to inspire me, and I strive to capture that beauty in my work.

Did you know that the knob on top of a swan’s beak serves an important purpose? This knob, made of fatty tissue, provides information about the swan’s age and health. The older the swan, the larger the knob. In females, the knob grows until they reach about eight years old, while in males, it continues to grow until around the age of fifteen.
However, the life of a swan also has its fragile aspects. On average, a swan only lives about seven years, as illness, weakness, and accidents with power lines or traffic often cut their lives short. In rare cases, though, swans can live to be thirty or even forty years old.

Life in the Dutch polder is often short, not only for swans but for other animals as well. Dairy cows, for instance, are typically slaughtered at the age of six or seven, even though they can live up to twenty years. Similarly, sheep, which have an average lifespan of ten to twelve years, are often considered “no longer productive” and slaughtered after five to seven years.
This contrast makes me more aware of the fragility and value of life in nature. Nevertheless, I find comfort in knowing that animals in the polder generally have a better life than those in intensive livestock farming, where animals spend their entire lives indoors. With this awareness, I can once again enjoy my walks and bike rides through this beautiful landscape, letting the beauty of nature inspire and move me.
* Link to the story on swan catching: https://www.klimas.nl/en/why-i-am-drawing-attention-to-the-mute-swan/