Bust: King Louis Napoleon
Louis Napoleon, brother of Napoleon Bonaparta, was made king of the Netherlands by his brother from 1806 to 1810. In 1809, seated in a yellow …
Louis Napoleon, brother of Napoleon Bonaparta, was made king of the Netherlands by his brother from 1806 to 1810. In 1809, seated in a yellow coach pulled by black horses, he made a journey through Brabant. Via Grave, Boekel and Gemert, he arrived in Aarle-Rixtel. At that time there was an epidemic, probably a cholera epidemic. People were dying in droves. Louis Napoleon took up residence at Castle Croy. "He really cared about the fate of the people," says Ria Nooijen, who made the statue. Louis Napoleon gave medical aid and woollen blankets that the people did not have. Socially and materially he brought a lot of warmth to Aarle-Rixtel. Nooijen made the bust, which was unveiled 200 years after the arrival of Louis Napoleon in 2009, from red travertine. A beautiful warm colour, symbolic for what Louis Napoleon has meant for the village. Remarkable is the white band in the statue. The maker saw it immediately and thought: 'I can do something with that'. It was a large rectangular block and you get to work on it. I tilted the block so that the white band hangs over his shoulder like a sash, but can also be seen as a blanket. Symbol for the blankets he brought to the people in Aarle-Rixtel during his visit.
You may also be interested in
-
Munitiehuisje Deurne
Munitiehuisje Deurne
The former ammunition house, also known as 'flop house', is located on the border of the municipa...
Deurne -
Kasteel Gemert
Kasteel Gemert
This large castle complex, complete with gardens and castle farms has had an eventful history. It...
Gemert -
Boerderij: D'n Traonpot, wevershuis anno 1752, Gemert
Boerderij: D'n Traonpot, wevershuis anno 1752, Gemert
Weavers were common in Gemert and home weaving had long been known there too. This old home weavi...
Gemert -
Memorial
Memorial
In memory of those who lost their lives in the war'. This is carved in the stone at the memorial...
Beek en Donk -
Kennedy bust
Kennedy bust
This Kennedy bust is a lasting reminder of the cooperation of the Somerense community in the Kenn...
Someren -
Bridges
Bridges
Laarbeek has several bridges. The Beekse brug, De Donkse brug, De Hommel brug, Laarbrug and the A...
Beek en Donk -
Memorial Frank Doucette te Lierop
Memorial Frank Doucette te Lierop
Frank Doucette Monument in the Frank Doucettestraat: The 'Frank Doucette Monument' in Lierop (mu...
Lierop
