Marieke statue - Schoonoord

According to the legend, the giants Ellert and Brammert, father and son, lived in an underground hut on the Ellertsveld, near present-day Schoonoord. They made the area unsafe by mugging and robbing travellers. To know when someone was passing by, they strung ropes with bells across the paths. One day they kidnapped the girl Marieke from Orvelterveen and kept her as their maid for years. After seven years, Marieke managed to kill him while shaving Ellert and managed to escape from Brammert. Since then it has been quiet and safe in Schoonoord.

The Marieke statue recalls this legend and connects the village of Schoonoord with its mythological past. Marieke's courage is a symbol of the region's rich folklore. The statue was created by artist Esther Bruggink and erected in 2009 during the ‘Marieke Year’.

You will find the white statue on the bank of the Oranjekanaal near the senior citizens' centre Het Ellertsveld.