Loyal visitors to the City Park in Groningen were surprised when they discovered on Wednesday that a monumental bronze fence around an oak tree in front of the pavilion had been destroyed.
The fence is a modest tribute to Mulock Houwer (1857-1933). This city architect designed the pavilion and the nearby monument of Jan Evert Scholten, founder of the City Park. The oak tree was planted in 1935 and provided with a fence bearing Houwer’s name.
A text was placed around the fence, part of which is gone. “It’s a shame and pointless,” says a passerby from Groningen. “Sad that people think they have to destroy such a tribute.” The municipality is surprised by the vandalism and assumes it is theft.