Monument to Lippens and De Bruyne, Bronze memorial sculpture on Zeedijk, Blankenberge, Belgium.
The Monument to Lippens and De Bruyne is a bronze sculpture on the Zeedijk seafront in Blankenberge, depicting two soldiers with crossed arms accompanied by a woman from Congo holding a banner. The base features three bas-reliefs that narrate scenes from the past and carry inscriptions in two languages.
The sculpture was created in 1900 by sculptor Guillaume Charlier to honor two Belgian soldiers who died in the Maniema War in Congo during 1892. The original bronze figures were melted down during World War I and reconstructed with new castings in 1922.
The memorial represents how Belgium remembered its colonial soldiers, and it reflects the complex relationship between the nation and its overseas ventures. The bilingual inscriptions on the base echo the country's linguistic divide.
The memorial stands right on the Blankenberge seafront promenade and is easily reached on foot from the beach area. Its location by the water makes it a natural stop along the coastal walking route.
The three bas-reliefs at the base tell the dramatic final moments of the soldiers in Africa and offer visitors an unexpected look at colonial combat scenes. These narrative details are often overlooked even though they convey the deeper story of the memorial.
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