“Sweetheart” is what they call Het Lieverdje. This bronze boy stands fearlessly on a pedestal on the Spui. He has been here since 1959.
Carel Kneulman created Het Lieverdje. He was an Amsterdam sculptor from 1915 to 2008. The first version was made of plaster. A year later, the current bronze version was made. A tobacco manufacturer provided financial support.
Het Lieverdje is based on a story. It came from a column in Het Parool. The Amsterdam Diary featured it. Journalist Henri Knap wrote the story. It tells of a boy rescuing a dog from the water. More stories followed. They were about Amsterdam street kids called “sweethearts”. The statue was meant to represent youth. It was a symbol of the city.
This central spot became a focus. The Provo movement considered it the “magic center” of resistance. Robert Jasper Grootveld held anti-smoking events here. It was next to “the addicted consumer of tomorrow”. Every Saturday night, he organized happenings. These art performances often clashed with the police.
These conflicts made Het Lieverdje famous. Protests and gatherings still occur on the Spui. De Kabouterbeweging grew out of the Provos. This protest movement placed a Gnome statue under Het Lieverdje.
Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion put a blindfold on the statue this year. In 2015, someone set the statue on fire during a demonstration. A reversing truck accidentally knocked it over a few years prior. The kid broke both ankles. After repairs, they put him back in place.
Het Lieverdje has seen much. It has experienced a lot. It has endured so much. This statue represents the spirit of Amsterdam’s youth. It stands as a symbol of resilience. It also marks a place of protest and free expression. Het Lieverdje remains an icon in the heart of the city.