GERARD GAUDAEN (WINKE BESARD) To the right of the statue of the fox ‘Reynaert’ there is a section of the park where greenery appears to grow unimpeded. It is in fact a special project. Old trees were felled and were replaced by a large variety of bushes and smaller trees, attracting birds and insects; a…
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UILENSPIEGEL
UILENSPIEGEL (MARK MACKEN) We leave the area of the Grote Markt and turn right onto the Parklaan, a wide street built in 1951 right through the Walburg Castle estate. At the left-hand side of the street the remaining part of the former gardens of the castle are now the city park and act as a…
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FAMILIE
FAMILIE (WERNER HEYNDRICKX) On the site of the hospital AZ Nikolaas, in the Moerlandstraat, we can find a second group of statues called ‘Familie’ and made by Werner Heyndrickx, a sculptor living in Sint-Niklaas. It stands in a raised green verge by the entrance. This work is perfectly situated by the entrance of the hospital.…
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VERBONDENHEID
VERBONDENHEID (WERNER HEYNDRICKX) We return to the crossraods at the park, cross the street and walk into the Moerlandstraat, in the direction of the AZ Nikolaas hospital. In the lawn, next to the footpath in front of the hospital buildings, we can admire a work of Werner Heyndrickx, a sculptor from Sint-Niklaas. It expresses hope…
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DE BARING
DE BARING (KAREL AUBROECK) Karel Aubroeck was one of the most famous 20th century Flemish sculptors. His art is characterised by monumentalism. His style is expressionistic, showing an affinity with German expressionism. Some sculptures bear witness of a radical simplification by their geometrical and abstract design. Other statues, through their closed character, radiate a turbulent…
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ZEEMEERMIN
ZEEMEERMIN (WILLY KREITZ) By the bridge over the pond in the city park the statue of a mermaid rises from the water. With her graceful body, half woman, half fish, this mythical figure is a most endearing sight. Kreitz preferred portraying the human body, young girls, mermaids and angels. He created the deceased seafarers’ memorial…
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BUSTE ROMAIN DE VIDTS
BUSTE ROMAIN DE VIDTS (WERNER HEYNDRICKX) The romantic city park boasts a large variety of plants and trees, originating from all continents. Close to the park exit into the Parklaan, along one of the paths, is a classical bust, the ‘portrait of Romain De Vidts’, mayor of Sint-Niklaas from 1947 to 1962. The sculpture was…
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FIGUUR IN LOVER
FIGUUR IN LOVER (JAN ALFONS KEUSTERMANS) In the Hospitaalstraat, opposite the hospital, is a bas-relief ‘Figuur in Lover’,(‘Figure in Foliage’), on the wall near the entrance of ‘De Plataan’, a care home for elderly people needing extra care, due to their vulnerability. The poignancy of the residents’ situation is sensitively portrayed by the artist. The…
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MIJMERENDE MUZE
MIJMERENDE MUZE (JAN ALFONS KEUSTERMANS) High above the Hospitaalstraat is a covered footbridge, linking the two sections of the AZ Nikolaas, which were formerly two separate hospitals “Maria Middelares” and “Stadskliniek”. Before reaching this point, we see, to our left and behind an imposing iron gate, the colourful castle ‘Moerlandkasteel’, a protected building since 1976.…
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MARIA MIDDELARES
MARIA MIDDELARES (KAREL AUBROECK) In the Moerlandstraat, right in front of the main entrance to the hospital AZ Nikolaas, stands the large statue ‘Maria Middelares’. The title of this sculpture, made in 1932, refers to the former name of the catholic hospital Maria Middelares, which is now part of AZ Nikolaas. The sculptor is Karel…
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REYNAERT DE VOS
REYNAERT DE VOS (ALBERT POELS) We cross the Parklaan via the zebra-crossing at the bus stop and continue to the right (away from the Market Square). A little further we see a lawn with a large rectangular pond. Here we face the famous red rascal: ‘Reynaert de Vos’. Reynaert is the main character of a…
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