Statue of King Frederik VII on Varde Square

This statue of King Frederick VII of Denmark stands on the market square in Varde in front of the town hall. The king is holding a copy of the Danish constitution.

The idea for a statue of Frederik VII came from members of the Liberal Party. At a constitutive meeting in 1869, Rudolf Helms, editor of the largest left-wing newspaper in Varde and the surrounding area, "Ribe Amtstidende", proposed starting a collection to build a monument to the popular king who signed the constitution in 1849.
It was not until 15 years later that the necessary 3,600 DKK (that would be about 500,000 DKK today) were raised.
The statue stood in various places, including for a time on the neighboring church square. On the pedestal is written: "Frederik Vll., the creator of the constitution". On the sides are his birth and death dates and on the back is written: "The love of the people is my strength".
Today, many years later, it still stands there, right in front of the former town hall, looking out over the town square.
In his right hand he holds the constitution, in his left a saber - ready to go to war for Denmark.