Ruinerwold gets a new statue of a scrubbing farmer’s wife. The previous bronze statue by artist Bert Kiewiet disappeared from the village without a trace.
Three casts have been made of ‘De boerin die boent’ (or The boenende farmer’s wife) by the artist who died in 2008. In addition to the stolen work, the artist’s heirs own one and the Harms collection in Rolde also has a scrubbing farmer’s wife from Kiewiet. The latter work moves to Ruinerwold, the municipal council unanimously approved the purchase.
The statue was once purchased by residents of Dijkhuizen with the support of the Bondsspaarbank Ruinen. It was located on the Dijkhuizen, in a remote location. It is therefore unclear exactly when it disappeared.
The municipality now wants the statue to be in full view. “So that more people can become aware of it and so that the chance of theft or vandalism is reduced,” the municipal council writes. The square at the intersection of the Vorenwolde with Dijkhuizen seems the most suitable.
According to the municipality, ‘a work of art with important cultural-historical value is missing from the village’ after the disappearance. “The artwork shows a farmer’s wife scrubbing a milk can. The image was central to the peasantry that had a central role in Dijkhuizen for centuries,” writes De Wolden.
The municipality pays 15,000 euros for the statue, De Wolden spends a total of 25,000 euros for the statue and other costs such as an anti-theft system. Because this farmer’s wife must remain on her pedestal.