Monument Schelde Vrij — Attraction in Antwerp

The monument consists of a pyramidal base in vendresse stone with a four-sided plinth, an obelisk and a crowning sculpture group in savonnière. The total height is twenty meters; the outer edge of the fence measures 15.5 meters by 15.5 metres.

The base of the monument consists of a printed pyramid with five sections. Above that is a heavy plinth that has been worked out in the same way on all four sides, with the mask of a water god in the center in a checkered arch that spews out the Scheldt water through the broken boilers. Above each mask a square medallion with inscription in gilded letters. On the front (north) "DOOR THE CITY/ ANTWERP/ ESTABLISHED/ 1883". On the three other sides each time the name of a historical figure who played a role in the liberation of tolls on the Scheldt over the centuries. On the west side "MINISTER/ KAREL ROGIER", on the east side "BARON/ AUG. LAMBERMONT" and on the south side "BURGEMEESTER/ MARNIX/ VAN/ ST. ALDEGONDE/ 1583-1585". Lions walk on the edge of the plinth on the side walls, the paw on a chain. At the front of the monument, a kneeling naked female figure who writes on the obelisk above: “1863/SCHELDE FREE”.

A heavy obelisk, covered with ornamentation, is placed on the plinth, from which a ship's bow protrudes on the sides, wreathed by a garland. On the shaft of the obelisk are the portrait busts of Karel Rogier, August Lambermont and Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde respectively.

The crowning sculpture group is seven meters high and consists of a full-length figure of Neptune, with Mercury on the right and the seated, crowned maiden on the left. Neptune carries a bronze trident in the right hand, the left arm rests on the female figure, on the back a cloak. Mercury has a staff and rests his left knee on a jug of water.

The whole is surrounded by a wrought iron fence, with high corner pillars at the four corners on which monumental multi-armed lanterns...

Wunderschönes Denkmal von Jean Jacques Winders zur Erinnerung an die endgültige Zollfreiheit der Schelde im Jahre 1863. In 20 Metern Höhe sprengt Neptun mit einem Wasserstrahl die Ketten, die symbolisch für die Sperre der Schelde stehen. Desweiteren befinden sich auf dem Obelisken darunter in goldenen Lettern die Namen jener, die im Laufe der Geschichte zur Befreiung der Schelde beigetragen haben. Ein gelungenes Kunstwerk, das seinen Zweck erfüllt nach seiner...

Schelde Vrij is een monument op de Marnixplaats in Antwerpen. Het beeld werd in 1873 ontworpen door architect Jean-Jacques Winders, in samenwerking met de beeldhouwer Louis Dupuis, die de leeuwen en medaillons maakte, Jacques De Braekeleer, die voor Neptunus en Mercurius zorgde en Frans Floris die de schrijvende vrouwenfiguur realiseerde. In 1883 werd het...