03. Statue Hansje Brinker - Spaarndam

The statue of Hansje Brinker. The symbol of the struggle against the water. Many people know the story of the little boy who saved the Netherlands by putting his finger in a hole in the dike. In this way he prevented the dike from breaking and the land from flooding. But did you know that Hansje Brinker is actually a fictional character?

The story comes from an American book from 1865, written by Mary Mapes Dodge. She wanted to show how important dikes are in the Netherlands. The book became famous and the story of Hansje Brinker spread around the world. In the Netherlands itself almost nobody knew the story, until tourists asked about it. That is why on 7 June 1950 the statue was placed in Spaarndam, near an old lock.

The statue is small, but very well known. It shows a boy standing with his finger in the dike. Many visitors take a photo there and learn something about the struggle against the water. Because although Hansje Brinker never really existed, the story is still important. It reminds us that we must always continue working on water safety.