Schelde Vrij (Antwerp)

 monument, heritage, listed building / architectural heritage

Central on the round cobbled Marnix square dominating a twenty meter high sculpture group 'Scheldt free'. The image is a realization for a monument dedicated to the liberation of the river Scheldt in 1863.
Protected architectural heritage (ID: 200851)
The stone monument, which was aptly named 'Schelde Vrij' (Scheldt Free), was installed in 1873 at the new Zuid neighborhood. It was designed by Jan Jacob Winders - best known for his Royal Museum of Art - who created a bombastic monument, twenty meters tall (66 ft) and decorated with plenty of statuary and reliefs. Standing triumphantly at the top is Neptune, god of the sea, holding a trident in his right hand. He is flanked by Mercury, god of trade and a kneeling woman representing the city of Antwerp. Behind them is a small boy taking notes. Below the monument is adorned with ships' prows, medallions, garlands, lions and at the pedestals are reliefs of water gods spouting Scheldt water. Another figure above the water gods is shown writing the words 'Schelde Vrij' on the monument. Water god relief on the Schelde Vrij Monument at the Marnix Square in Antwerp The statues were designed by a group of sculptors. Jaak de Braekeleer created Neptune and Mercury, 'Antwerp' was created by Frans Joris and the lions were created by Louis Dupuis.
The monument is hemmed in by an iron fence with beautiful cast-iron street lamps on each corner.