Statue of Jacob of Artevelde

The Statue of Jacob van Artevelde stands on the Vrijdagmarkt, one of the oldest and most important squares in Ghent. The bronze figure, made by sculptor Pieter De Vigne-Quyo, commemorates a medieval city leader who played a key role in fourteenth-century Flemish politics.

Who was Jacob van Artevelde?

Jacob van Artevelde (c. 1290-1345) was a Ghent politician and statesman. During the Hundred Years' War he led the city and tried to keep Flanders neutral between England and France. Ghent and its surroundings lived largely from the cloth trade, and access to English wool was vital for local weavers. Good relations with England were therefore a matter of economic survival.

Why is the statue on the Vrijdagmarkt?

The square is tied to the most important moments of Artevelde's life. According to accounts of the square's history, it was here on 26 January 1340 that Edward III of England was proclaimed king of France as well. In 1345 Artevelde was killed on the Vrijdagmarkt, murdered during an uprising. The monument therefore sits at a spot linked both to the hero's greatest political moment and to his tragic end.

Who made it, and when?

The sculptor was Pieter De Vigne-Quyo, a nineteenth-century artist from Ghent. The statue was unveiled in 1863; one source gives the date as 14 September of that year. The bronze was cast by the Brussels firm Compagnie des Bronzes. It dates from a period when Belgium, not long after gaining independence, liked to celebrate figures from its medieval past with monuments in city centres.

What to look at up close

Three reliefs sit at the base of the figure. They depict treaties Artevelde concluded, among them the alliance between Flanders and England and the pact between Ghent, Bruges and Ypres, the three biggest Flemish cities of the time. This turns the monument into a small history lesson: it is easy to read what the man was known for.

Visiting tips

The statue is outdoors and can be seen at any hour without a ticket. The Vrijdagmarkt has cafes and restaurants, and it makes a good stop on a walk through the historic centre of Ghent. The monument's coordinates are roughly 51.057 N, 3.726 E.

Frequently asked questions

Who made the Jacob van Artevelde statue in Ghent? Pieter De Vigne-Quyo.

When was it unveiled? In 1863.

Where exactly is it? On the Vrijdagmarkt square in central Ghent.

Is there an admission fee? No, the statue stands in an open square and can be viewed for free.

What do the reliefs at the base show? Three treaties made by Artevelde, including the alliances of Flanders with England and of Ghent with Bruges and Ypres.