Marieke, Bronze statue at Coupure, Bruges, Belgium.
Marieke is a bronze statue at Coupure in Bruges showing a young woman in a summer dress with bells hanging from her ears. The figure stands near the water's edge, surrounded by walking paths that follow the waterway through northern Bruges.
The statue was unveiled in 1988 by Bruges mayor Frank Van Acker after journalist Johan Anthierens requested a tribute to Jacques Brel's song. The initiative came from local community members who wanted to honor the connection between the city and this musical work.
The figure represents a character from Jacques Brel's song, connecting music and visual art in a place where people walk along the water. Visitors often stop to remember the melody and story tied to this location in northern Bruges.
The statue sits along the Coupure canal in northern Bruges and is easily reached by walking paths that run alongside the water. The location is accessible year-round and offers plenty of space to stand near the figure and take photographs.
During winter months, local residents dress the bronze figure in hand-knitted garments, an unusual neighborhood tradition of care and affection. This recurring gesture shows how the community has adopted this artwork as part of their local identity.
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