The Scheldt Free (Schelde Vrij) Monument is a statue group that commemorates a historic event for the entire country of Belgium. Located on the Marnixplaats in Antwerp, the piece dominates the square in a way that provides the surrounding businesses with an identity that is also connected to a larger legacy for the entire region.
Connected to the Independence of Belgium
Belgium declared its independence from the Netherlands in 1830, which interrupted what had previously defined relations between cities and regions. That included business and trade conducted on the river Scheldt, which served as an essential avenue of commerce. While the treaty of the Scheldt established that the waterway would remain accessible to ships heading for Belgian ports, a toll was nonetheless enacted by the Dutch that same year.
This toll greatly impacted the viability of Antwerp’s position in the region, causing the Belgian government to buy off the toll in 1863. To commemorate this event, the city of Antwerp organized a design competition for the creation of a monument in 1873. Jacques Winders won the competition based on a design that would be decorated with sculptors from artists Louis Dupuis and Jacques de Braekeleer.
Created in a neoclassical style, the Roman gods Neptune, Mercury and a city maiden dominate the landmark. The names and portraits of people who played an important role in the lifting of the Scheldt closure are listed on the piece, with the words “1863 Scheldt free” in a prominent position.
Unveiled in 1883, the piece dominates the Marnixplaats and allows audiences to interact with the piece to experience the various sculptures, architectural elements and open greenery in the center. Surrounding businesses have literally been built around the monument, highlighting the value it represents to the community in the present and future.
The Legacy of Antwerp
While the opening of the river Scheldt was an important event in the history of Antwerp and all of Belgium, it has long faded from the consciousness of day-to-day citizens and visitors. The Scheldt Free Monument has been able to commemorate this history while also connecting it to a larger legacy for audiences in the modern city, highlighting the kind of impact that monuments can cultivate across the eras.
