Monument of Leopold II

Frequently mentioned in reviews: Top-rated.online cuts through the clutter, highlighting only the reviews that are most helpful, earn the most likes, or come from the most active contributors. Entrance is free but you can not ascend to the balcony of the statue itself (the entrance is on private property of the former Royal Villa, now a revalidation home). Although the square is an impressive central place and entrygate to the seaside boulevard, the statue has been a constant source of controversy due to the personal involvement of King Leopold II in the colonialism of Congo in Africa. Keen observers may see there is actually a hand missing on one of the statues below the King. It has been sawn of by a local activist group, this is a referral to the former practice of severe capital punishment (the cutting of hands) in Congo. Well every country has terrible leaders who are idolised and in the case of Belgium its king leopold 2td. The existance of this is in itself a reflection of how far mankind has progressed - or not - since it was built in the 1930s. The plaque aludes to his atrocities but not in a great deal of detail so best Google it. The equestrian statue of Leopold II is quite controversial. The right-hand section of its base is called "Tribute to the fishing population of Ostend". But the left-hand section, entitled "The thanks of the Congolese to Leopold II for their liberation from Arab slavery", is causing a stir: it depicts "grateful Congolese" worshipping their hero. With what Leopold II had done in the Congo, he would now undoubtedly be accused in the international court of crimes against humanity. But in the 19th century you could get away with it because you were a monarch. Famous images of colonialism are those of children and adults with their hands cut off if they did not want to cooperate, among other things, on rubber plantations. This reign of terror brought in a lot of profits. And with these profits, Leopold II built this neighborhood. Since 1981, the equestrian statue has been protected as a monument. In 2004, someone cut off the hand of one of the figures in the Congolese sculpture group in protest against Leopold II's regime in the Congo. In general, due to Leopold II's colonial regime, the is the subject of ongoing controversy and has been vandalized several times. The buildings are architecturally beautiful, but... Historical of Leopold II, located on the pier of Oostende. At the very end of the beach, this is one of a favorite spot to get selfies and we can walk along the beach, get a coffee in nearest resto and having a good times.. 👍 "In the period from 1885 to 1908, a number of well-documented atrocities were perpetrated in the Congo Free State (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo) which, at the time, was a colony under the personal rule of King Leopold II of Belgium. These atrocities were sometimes collectively referred to by European contemporaries as the "Congo Horrors", and were particularly associated with the labour policies used to collect natural rubber for export. Together with epidemic disease, famine, and a falling birth rate caused by these disruptions, the atrocities contributed to a sharp decline in the Congolese population. The magnitude of the population fall over the period is disputed, but it is thought to be between one and 15 million people." Neo-colonialism doesn't spark joy... Beautiful place with nice, and long beach. Sunset here is something amazing. There is no reason to praise Leopold II. Read up on his history. Therefore, I suggest to remove this monument. From 1885 to 1908, many atrocities were committed in the Congo Free State (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo) under the absolute rule of King Leopold II of Belgium. Read your colonial history books! Nice statue, nice beach. But it's not possible to go to the roof of the wall, it would be nice to see the beach from there. Great leader and important historical figure who helped the world Statue of a Belgian king who committed a well-documented genocide in central Africa during the colonial era. Website change monitoring Monitor any webpage for changes – get instant email alerts when prices drop, new jobs are posted, products come back in stock, or competitors update their sites. See how the number of reviews and average review scores have changed over time. Historical landmark Historical landmark