What if statues could talk? Right here stands the Hildebrandmonument. It is a testament to Haarlem’s cultural soul. This monument is more than mere stone. It’s a portal to the past, a tribute to Nicolaas Beets. He wrote under the pseudonym Hildebrand.
Jan Bronner created this monument in 1948. The Hildebrandmonument features characters from Beets’ book “Camera Obscura”. These figures stand around an octagonal fountain. Hildebrand watches them from a distance. His statue stands on a pedestal.
In 1914, Haarlem sought to honor Nicolaas Beets’ 100th birthday. A design competition was announced. Karel de Bazel and other notable figures formed the jury. Jan Bronner’s design won unanimously. But its completion was delayed. It wasn’t until 1962 that the Hildebrandmonument was unveiled.
The monument is located in the Haarlemmerhout park. It is made of Euville limestone. Sadly, vandalism led to its removal in 1983. The Dutch government took ownership of the original statues. In 1986, plastic replicas were installed.
Even the replicas weren’t safe from vandals. The city dismantled the group in 2009. Interest in the Hildebrandmonument never faded. The Stichting Herstel Hildebrandmonument was founded.
In 2014, the Hildebrandmonument was restored. Bronze replicas replaced the damaged ones. These new statues have steel anchors and a stone-colored finish. The fountain was reactivated. Now the Hildebrandmonument is lit at night. The light design alternates between white and amber. Amber light is less disturbing to the local wildlife.
The original statues now reside in the sculpture garden of Nijenhuis Castle. These figures include Buikje, Robertus Nurks and Grootmoeder Kegge. There is also Keesje, Teun de Jager and Suzette Noiret. Also present are Van der Hoogen and Stastok Sr. Each statue captures a unique personality from “Camera Obscura”.
The creation of the original Hildebrandmonument was coordinated by the Comit\u00e9 tot stichting van een Hildebrand-Gedenkteeken te Haarlem. This committee was founded in 1913. Writer Godfried Bomans was an active member from 1950 to 1962.
In winter, the statues were once protected with wooden frames filled with straw. Sadly, these frames were set on fire in 1967 and 1970.
In 2012, Bies van Ede published “Beelden uit de Camera Obscura”. This book celebrated the monument’s 50th anniversary. It included poems, essays and drawings.
The Hildebrandmonument is a reminder of Haarlem’s literary history. It connects us to the characters of Nicolaas Beets. It is a place where art and literature meet. It invites us to reflect on the stories that shape our cultural identity.