Debate Surrounding Leopold I Statue in Ostend: Colonial History and Hew Locke’s Art Installation

Controversy Surrounding Leopold I Statue in Ostend: Colonial Legacy and Art Project

Ostend (Brussels Morning) — The statue of Leopold I in Ostend has become a focal point of controversy due to Belgium’s colonial history, particularly the atrocities committed during the reign of his son, Leopold II, in the Congo Free State. Activists have frequently vandalized the statue in protest, prompting the city to modify its presentation in 2019 and launch an art project addressing colonialism, which is expected to be completed by 2025.

The equestrian statue of Leopold I, located at the Drie Gapers in Ostend, is controversial because, although Leopold I himself did not govern the Congo, his son Leopold II led a notoriously brutal regime there. Under Leopold II’s rule, millions of Congolese endured horrific suffering as valuable resources, like rubber, were extracted through violent and oppressive means. Mutilation, such as the cutting off of hands, was used as a form of punishment, leading to widespread condemnation of Belgium’s colonial exploits. Activists have defaced the statue to draw attention to these historical injustices and Belgium’s role in colonial exploitation.

Ostend’s Response to the Leopold I Statue and Colonial Legacy

In 2019, Ostend’s city officials decided not to remove the statue but to recontextualize it within a new setting. Instead of erasing this part of history, they chose to provide additional information to help visitors understand the broader context of Belgium’s colonial past and the deep scars it left behind. The intention was to create a space for reflection and dialogue about this painful history, a compromise between those calling for the statue’s removal and those advocating its preservation as a historical artifact. This initiative mirrors broader global discussions on how societies should handle monuments connected to difficult or oppressive histories: should they be removed, or reinterpreted to foster understanding and awareness?

In 2023, Ostend took further action by launching an art project dedicated to the theme of colonialism, curated by Pieter Boons. The winning design, created by British artist Hew Locke, features five masts symbolizing various aspects of the colonial era. Among the masts’ symbols are a fist representing resistance and rubber plants, nodding to the exploitation of Congo’s natural resources under Belgian rule. The design was chosen collaboratively by city officials and local residents, and the project is slated for completion by the end of 2025.

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