Statue of Karel van Gelre - Arnhem

Karel van Egmond, duke of Gelre and count of Zutphen, was born in Grave on 9 November 1467 and died in Arnhem on 30 June 1538. He was the most powerful duke Gelre ever had and symbolised freedom on behalf of the people of Gelre. Karel van Egmond fought Emperor Charles V for years, with varying degrees of success, with squire Maarten van Rossum at his side.

The Duke of Gelre's mausoleum and an armour worn by him are on display in the Eusebius Church in Arnhem. On the 400th anniversary of Charles van Egmond's death, the people of Arnhem thought he deserved a statue. A fundraising campaign was held that raised 1,108.50 guilders.

The statue was carved from a large block of Belgian limestone by artist Gijs Jacobs van den Hof and his apprentices. It was placed at the Jansplaats in Arnhem. But that is not the end of the story. During Operation Market Garden, the head was so damaged that it had to be replaced. This happened three more times after that. In 1963 his head was found in Sonsbeek, in the early 1990s and in 2009 the head was vandalised.

But now the statue, complete with head, has stood on its pedestal on Jansplaats for years.

Old photos: The Gelderland Archive