Stenen Man, Renaissance sculpture on Westerzeedijk, Harlingen, Netherlands
The Stenen Man is a stone sculpture standing on the Westerzeedijk seawall in Harlingen, featuring bronze heads and Latin text on its western face. The structure marks a historic spot where dike management and coastal defense were once coordinated.
The original monument was built in 1576 to mark a boundary in the dike system, but was completely rebuilt in 1774 by Carel George van Wassenaer Obdam. This reconstruction reflected the ongoing importance of managing water defenses in this coastal area.
The monument celebrates Caspar de Robles and his role in restoring flood defenses for the local community. You can see bronze heads and Latin inscriptions carved into the western side of the structure.
The monument sits openly accessible at Westerzeedijk 45 in Harlingen, right along the waterfront where you can walk freely around it. No tickets are needed, and you can visit at any time during daylight hours.
Local folklore claims that expectant mothers once sent children to walk three times around the statue as a way to ensure a new baby would arrive soon. This curious tradition reveals how the monument became woven into the daily beliefs of the community.
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