“Ick bün al dor!” Can you hear the echo of those words? This is the Hase-und-Igel-Brunnen. It brings to life a famous race right here in Buxtehude.
The Hase-und-Igel-Brunnen is more than just a fountain. It is a bronze and stone sculpture. It tells the tale of the hare and the hedgehog.
Let’s step back in time. Picture a Sunday morning in autumn. The sun shines. Bees buzz. People dress in their finest clothes. The race is about to begin.
Wilhelm Schröder wrote this story in 1840. He called it “The Hare and the Hedgehog Race on the Little Heath near Buxtehude.” He wrote it in Low German. Schröder heard the story from an old hunter. His grandfather lived in Bexhövede. That’s near Bremerhaven. The hunter told the story in a village pub. A pastor also told him the story. Schröder moved the race to Buxtehude. No one knows why.
Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm added the story to their collection in 1843. It became number 187. It was in the fifth edition of “Children’s and Household Tales”.
The story tells of a hare. He mocks a hedgehog’s legs. The hedgehog is angry. He challenges the hare to a race. The race takes place in a field of turnips. The hedgehog uses a clever trick. His wife stands at the other end of the field. They look alike. As the hare reaches the end, she shouts, “Ick bün al dor!” That means “I’m already here!” The hare runs back and forth. He cannot believe the hedgehog is so fast. Finally, the hare collapses and dies.
The Hase-und-Igel-Brunnen reminds us of this tale. You can find the hare and hedgehog all over Buxtehude. They are symbols of the town. You can even take a tour with them.
The sculpture was created by Fritz Fleer. It stands in the Lange Straße. This fountain reminds us that cleverness can beat arrogance. Remember the story of the Hase-und-Igel-Brunnen. It is a reminder that appearances can be deceiving.