Information
Landmark: Peerd van Ome LoeksCity: Groningen
Country: Netherlands
Continent: Europe
Peerd van Ome Loeks, Groningen, Netherlands, Europe
Overview
In Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland in the far north of the Netherlands, you’ll find the Peerd van Ome Loeks-a well-known statue locals often pass on their way to the market.It’s one of the city’s best-known landmarks, woven deep into its culture and history, like the old clock tower that chimes at noon.The Peerd van Ome Loeks statue-its name meaning “Horse of Uncle Loeks” in English-stands in the heart of Leeuwarden, on the small cobbled square called the Weaze.Dutch artist Riekelt Talsma created it, and the city unveiled it in 1999.It honors Uncle Loeks, a beloved character from Friesian folklore, whose story still lingers in local songs and laughter.The horse symbolizes Friesland’s deep ties to its farming roots, where for centuries hooves have echoed across green fields and horses have shaped daily life.The statue captures Friesland’s pride in its rural traditions, honoring the deep bond with horses that once pulled carts through muddy village lanes and worked the fields for generations.The story behind the statue of Uncle Loeks-Ome Loeks to the locals-tells of a figure dearly loved across Friesland, as familiar as the sound of bells over the flat green fields.People knew him as a farmer with a quick wit and a plainspoken charm, the kind of man who could make you laugh while mending a fence, and he often turned up in local tales and bits of folklore.He’s tied to Friesland’s countryside and its old traditions, where families worked the fields, tended cattle, and a sturdy brown horse might wait by the gate at day’s end.The horse in the statue stands as a symbol of Friesland’s deep bond with its land, like hooves pressing firmly into the damp, dark soil.Horses once pulled plows through muddy fields, carried people between villages, and kept farmers company, and they still hold a place in Friesland’s identity today, especially during lively Friesian horse festivals.The statue shows a life-size Friesian horse, every muscle and strand of its mane crafted with care to reflect the breed’s power and graceful poise.The horse stands tall, head lifted to catch the light, embodying the proud spirit of both the animal and the people of Friesland.The statue’s design shows more than the strong, sculpted form of the horse; it also carries a quiet pride and the weight of its cultural heritage.It’s a nod to Friesland’s farming days, when the steady clop of horses’ hooves was part of daily life.Uncle Loeks and his horse move together as if reading each other’s thoughts, a quiet harmony that echoes the bond between farmers and their animals in Friesland’s countryside.Locals and visitors alike have embraced the Peerd van Ome Loeks, turning it into a cherished symbol of Leeuwarden and all of Friesland, much like spotting its bronze figure gleaming in the afternoon sun.Both locals and visitors value the statue for its cultural weight, admiring how its weathered bronze captures the spirit and history of Friesland.The statue draws crowds of visitors, who snap photos beside its weathered bronze and pause to explore Friesland’s rich agricultural and cultural past.It’s a quiet nod to the past, a weathered stone that also reminds us how animals have shaped our lives, our stories, and the way we see the world.The horse’s portrayal carries a playful wink, capturing Friesland’s rustic charm and its storytelling tradition, where even weighty history might come wrapped in a sly grin.Friesian horses, with their glossy black coats and flowing manes, rank among the world’s most celebrated breeds, hailing proudly from the Dutch province of Friesland.With their glossy black coats, graceful steps, and powerful build, Friesian horses have been bred in the region for centuries, and the people of Friesland take deep pride in them.The Peerd van Ome Loeks statue pays tribute to this heritage, standing proudly as a reminder of how deeply the breed is woven into the province’s culture.The Peerd van Ome Loeks statue in Leeuwarden stands as a charming piece of history, a bronze reminder of how deeply the people of Friesland have bonded with the sturdy horses that once pulled their carts through cobbled streets.Whether you’re drawn to the region’s cultural history, curious about rural life, or just love good art, the statue captures the spirit of Friesland and its people-like a quiet figure standing watch over a windswept field.
