More coot, less waste
You may have already seen them floating on the water in Ghent, on the Ajuinlei or the Reep: small, brightly coloured platforms and a grey-black water bird dragging all kinds of finds. They are part of Meer koet, minder afval (More coot, less waste), the master's project by Jaron Vandevelde, a student of autonomous design at KASK & Conservatorium.
A daily observation led to the project: from his houseboat, he saw coots building nests on small ledges on the boats. He saw how resourceful they are in collecting materials and constructing their nests. They regularly drag strips of plastic or packaging to their nests. In a greener environment, this would be moss, grass or other organic material. But the coot is a tough survivor in the urban water landscape. Grebes also use waste in their nests, by the way.
This behaviour has been extensively documented and studied. In February 2025, the results of a study into coot nests in Amsterdam were published. Auke-Florian Hiemstra, Barbara Gravendeel and Menno Schilthuizen analysed the plastic waste and discovered that some nests have been reused for 30 years.* Nests made of organic material sink after a while, but plastic floats and can be used as the basis for a new nest. The use of plastic creates coot architecture that can be passed on from generation to generation.
Jaron goes beyond analysis and uses artistic research methods to bring about change. In a collaboration between humans and animals, his intention is to make their shared living environment waste-free. He responds to an existing behaviour pattern and hopes that his intervention will raise awareness among humans about the presence of the coot and the waste, and that together we can actively combat water pollution.
A circular approach dominates the project: the platforms are all made from waste and recycled materials, fished out of construction containers or found on the street. Their shape depends on chance and the creativity of the builder, just like the coot's nest. After construction, Jaron paints the sides with boat varnish, which does not flake off in the water. He places the platforms by letting them float behind his canoe. You can see how this works here. Jaron's dog Javel, as well as friends and family members, have now become coot watchers. Jaron and the water birds have an equal role: both move on the water, collect waste and communicate loudly about their actions.
The co-creation between artist and water bird fits within the discourse of autonomous design. Within this master's programme, the role of the artist in ecological issues, among other things, is actively encouraged and explored: from thinking to doing, and above all, hands-on. Jaron finds interdisciplinary input in Glenn Deliège's master's seminar (The Animal Question). Researcher Bert Deroo (Futures through Design) is supervising Jaron's master's thesis. He also receives support from his artistic practice mentor and researcher María Boto Ordoñez (Biolab).
Despite his earnest motives, Jaron makes the connection between the animal and human worlds with humour. The coots are depicted on the brightly painted platforms as drivers of rubbish trucks or employees of IVAGO (the Ghent waste management company). The playful drawing style also appears on the website meerkoetminderafval.com. It is a conscious choice to highlight a major problem, waste and litter, in a light-hearted way. You can also use the maps to plan your own coot walk. Spring is the perfect time to see the coots in action. For now, they are guarding their nests. We wonder what the next few weeks will bring them.
* Published in Ecology, February 2025.
