Polar Bear, War memorial column and sculpture in Roosendaal, Netherlands
The Polar Bear is a marble memorial featuring a column topped with a polar bear figure in dynamic motion at a street intersection. The sculpture was designed by artist Joop Vlak and stands as a stone testament at a central location in the city.
The memorial was erected in 1960 to honor the British 49th Infantry Division, known as the Polar Bears. This division played a key role in liberating the Netherlands during the Second World War.
The monument takes its name from a famous British infantry division that earned this nickname during World War II. Visitors recognize the polar bear figure as a symbol connecting a distant military unit to the Netherlands' liberation.
The memorial stands at an easily accessible street corner in central Roosendaal and is reachable on foot. Its open-air location means it can be visited at any time without special access requirements.
The polar bear unit earned its nickname because it trained in Iceland, a harsh and cold terrain, before being sent to Western Europe. This northern connection is unusual for a liberation memorial in the Netherlands.
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