Statue ‘When the commies with the smuggler...’ - Suderwick

Four bronze statues have been placed in Dinxperlo and Suderwick to commemorate the rich smuggling history in this border area. Created in 1996 by Bocholt artist Jürgen Ebert, these sculptures humorously depict the cat-and-mouse game between smugglers and customs officers (commissaires).

In the village square on Grenzweg road, a smuggler walks next to a closed barrier, from which water drips. The barrier and gully represent the border. The smuggler is carrying a large bag full of contraband. He managed to cross the border unseen and grins contentedly, thinking no one has seen him.

In his bag, however, there are also two mice. One looks back at the border contentedly, the other quickly flees through the hole in the bag. That mouse has seen the commies, who is standing at a distance checking with binoculars. But he has the binoculars the wrong way round! Lucky the smuggler for a moment...