Anyone entering the Stationsplein in Bergen op Zoom is greeted by a striking and dynamic work of art: The Racer. This image shows a human figure composed of tight, abstracted forms. The powerful lines and tense posture radiate energy, speed, and progress. The figure's body appears to have become one with the machine it controls, as if man and technology are merging into an unstoppable forward momentum.

The design language of “De Racer” evokes clear associations with Futurism, an art movement from the early twentieth century. Futurist artists, such as the famous Italian Umberto Boccioni, glorified technology, machines, and speed as symbols of a new era. This fascination is also central to this work: not the individual portrait, but the power of movement and modernity takes centre stage.

The artwork was by entrepreneur Do Meeus donated to the municipality of Bergen op Zoom, in thanks for a land swap that enabled his company, the Meeus Group, to move from Vierlinghweg and Slingerweg to the Noordland industrial estate. This means that The Racer not just an artistic statement, but also a tangible reminder of entrepreneurship and urban development.

Originally, the intention was to place the statue along the Noordlandseweg, where housing plans existed as part of the Berge Haven project. When these plans did not materialise, the artwork ended up in temporary storage. Eventually, it found The Racer a prominent spot on the Station Square, where it welcomes travellers and visitors today – as a symbol of movement, ambition, and a look to the future.

For more information about this image and the other images in our city, visit KidOR, Foundation for Art in Public Spaces.

This image is part of a walking route.