The bronze statue of Willem van Saeftinge is by sculptor Jef Claerhout and has been standing here on a hexagonal pedestal since June 1988.
Historical context: Willem van Saeftinge was a lay brother in the local Cistercian abbey. In 1302 he took part in the legendary Battle of the Golden Spurs, where he assisted untrained members of the Flemish craft guilds on foot against a professional army of Flemish and French cavalry. The cavalry lost. Willem is said to have killed many knights. He also dragged the French commander, Count Robert II of Artois, from his horse, whereupon the Flemish killed him.
About the statue: sculptor Jef Claerhout (1937 – 2022) depicted Willem as a ferocious giant brandishing an impressive broadsword and with a morning star in his left hand.
He towers high above small men on foot and knights on horseback.