TEAM 1 - Equistrian statue (B)
You are now at the Ostend Kursaal on the seafront (A). Go in groups to the equestrian statue of King Leopold II also on the seawall (B). To do so, walk west on the seawall and along the beach until you are in front of the equestrian statue. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for this. See also the map below. The assignment is given after the map
ASSIGNMENT
You are now in front of the equestrian statue of Leopold II (B) at the 'Drie Gapers'. This sculpture group was placed here in 1931, commissioned by Albert I and the Ostend city council.
If you take a good look at the group of statues, you will notice a representation of the Ostend fishermen on the right and a group representing the Congolese population on the left. Both show their gratitude for what Leopold II accomplished for them. King Leopold II, shown at the very top, is on a horse.
That this statue, relatively recently has been the subject of much controversy and protest (and continues to be so), need not be stated. Evidence of this includes the protest by a local Ostend action group (called 'De stoeten Ostendenaere'), which sawed off a hand from the left statue group.
Your assignment here, fortunately, is of a more playful nature and reads as follows :
Take a (close-up) photo of what many current 'Oostendenaars' consider to be the person who undoubtedly has the greatest difficulty curbing his 'passionate love' for his monarch.