A bronze figure waves goodbye. This is the Vaarwel statue. It stands in Amsterdam-West’s Westzaanplantsoen. Created by Godelieve Smulders in 2004 it’s more than just art. It’s a poignant reminder of the area’s past.
The Vaarwel statue tells two stories. First it recalls the old Maria Magdalenakerk. This church once stood nearby. Its graveyard stretched to the Westerkanaal. Parts of the graveyard were cleared from 1907 to 1924 for housing. The last grave disappeared in 1956. The church itself was demolished in 1967 or 1968. Some remnants remain in the Domela Nieuwenhuisplantsoen.
The second story involves a tragic event. An American bomber crashed on Westzaanstraat on March 22 1944. A plaque on Westzaanstraat 61 commemorates this.
The Vaarwel statue itself is striking. It’s a granite column made of segments. Smulders described these segments as beads. They symbolize life. Growth and departure. The final bead is bronze with gold leaf. It depicts an airplane with a person waving goodbye. The words Wij Ook are visible on the underside of the wings.
The statue is powerful. It blends the past and the present. It’s a moving tribute. A silent farewell to lives lost. To a neighborhood transformed. The Vaarwel statue is a testament. A beautiful reminder of Amsterdam’s rich and complex history. It’s a place to pause. To reflect on the passage of time. And the enduring spirit of a community.