Vissersvrouwen, statue in Ostend, Belgium

Vissersvrouwen is a bronze group of four seated women on the station square in Ostend, each on a plain light grey stone block. The figures wear tight-fitting caps and long draped clothing carved with vertical folds, their arms resting along their laps and sides. Behind each rises a tall, narrow backrest with a striated, wood-grain-like texture.

The work was unveiled in 1998 by artist August Michiels, who lived from 1922 to 2003 and created many public monuments across Flanders. It was created as a tribute to the importance of fishing and fishing families in Ostend's history.

The statues depict ordinary women in simple clothing, engaged in conversation and watching over the harbor. They represent the quiet yet vital role of fishing families in Ostend's life and their deep connection to the sea.

The group is located on the station square in Ostend and is easily visible and accessible from the street. You can stop by anytime to view the sculptures from different angles, as they are situated in a public space.

The figures lack individual facial features and appear as archetypes, making them timeless and universal. This abstract quality allows visitors to see the women as symbols of an entire generation rather than individual portrayed persons.