Out of Focus

Status

Temporary

Category

In storage

Since

14-11-2023

Explanation

Tuesday morning, November 14, 2023, the Equestrian Statue of Willem II next to the Hofvijver on the Buitenhof was lifted from its pedestal. Together with the pedestal itself, it will make way for a new eye-catcher in the city center of The Hague. A large watchtower will temporarily stand here flanked by a reflective construction site. This will keep the Binnenhof attractive to the public even during the long-term renovation. The viewpoint will be ready in the summer of 2024. Meanwhile, the Equestrian Statue itself is undergoing refurbishment. After that, it may move to a temporary spot in the city. In any case, once the renovation of the Binnenhof is completed, the monumental statue will return to its old familiar spot next to the herring stand. On its pedestal, of course. See also at: Binnenhofrenovatie.nl. Find time capsule While demolishing the pedestal of the equestrian statue of William II in early 2024, a lead time capsule was found. Monday, January 29, 2024 Mayor Jan van Zanen and Alderman for Culture Saskia Bruines showed the contents of this time capsule. That was exactly 99 years after it was bricked into the pedestal. A little earlier, Queen Wilhelmina unveiled the statue. Time capsules are boxes or bottles containing objects or information that help people in the future get a picture of a particular time. In the lead box under this Equestrian Statue on the Hofvijver, in addition to books about the Battle of Waterloo and a poem in praise of William II's life, there was also a charter with the names of the committee that had erected the statue. All the objects and documents in the box were in good condition. When the equestrian statue returns next to the Hofvijver after the renovation of the Binnenhof, the time capsule will also be returned. Objects and documents from our time will also be added. As to which objects these will be, the municipality plans to enter into dialogue with the city's residents.

Image

Artwork Data

Title

Ruiterstandbeeld van koning Willem II

Artist

Antonin Mercié, Victor Peter

Year

1924 (extra afgietsel van originele mal)

Material

brons

Dimensions

h 353 cm

Partial collection

Rijksmonument

Artwork Location

Address

Hofweg, Den Haag

City district

Centrum

GPS data

52.0793045261211, 4.31126279592381 View on map

Artwork Description

Text

The equestrian statue of King William II on the Buitenhof is not the very first version cast of this statue. The very first version of this equestrian statue made by French sculptors Antonin Mercié and Victor Peter was erected at Place Guillaume II in Luxembourg in 1884. A statue of the king had stood in the Buitenhof since 1854. But that statue had to make way when construction began in 1923 on a wide thoroughfare along Court Pond as part of an urban design plan by Berlage. That worked out well, because actually the statue by E.F. Georges, a student of the famous sculptor Royer, did not like it at all. The municipality of Tilburg, where Willem II died in 1849, took over the statue for a thousand guilders.
Now the statue had to be replaced. However, there was too little money available to have a statue designed by a skilled artist. It was therefore suggested to make an additional cast of the equestrian statue from Luxembourg. This idea fell ill with fifteen artists' organizations. They called for a competition. In vain. Moreover, the mayor and aldermen ignored the advice of the beauty commission, which had spoken out against the placement of the equestrian statue. Despite the necessary discussion in the city council, the new cast of the statue of Mercié and Peter was unveiled on September 16, 1924, on the Buitenhof, next to the Hofvijver.
The fact that he is depicted on horseback suits this king well. He was an excellent horseman and had shown great daring in campaigns against Napoleon before his accession to the throne. In the battle of Waterloo (1815), the prince had even been wounded. As a result, he enjoyed a great reputation as a soldier among the Dutch.

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