Monument Fons Olterdissen

In the Jeker Quarter stands the monument to Fons Olterdissen (1865–1923), one of the best-known writers in Maastricht’s history. With his stories and plays written in the Maastricht dialect, he breathed new life into dialect theatre. The monument not only honours the writer but also references his best-known work.

Who was Fons Olterdissen?
Fons Olterdissen was born in Maastricht in 1865. He was a writer, poet, playwright and director. At a time when many theatre productions were still performed in French, he deliberately chose to use the Maastricht dialect and contributed to the development of dialect theatre in the city.

His best-known work is *Trijn de Begijn*. The play went on to become a classic, and its closing song later became Maastricht’s official anthem. As a result, his work lives on to this day.

A monument to Fons Olterdissen
In memory of Fons Olterdissen, sculptor Willem Hofhuizen designed a monument in 1961 that differs from a traditional statue. Instead of a single statue, the monument consists of a group of sculptures depicting both the writer and his work.

What is there to see?
The monument consists of two bluestone benches placed opposite each other. On one bench stands Fons Olterdissen, together with three children listening to him. Opposite this group of sculptures is a second bench featuring a bronze relief depicting scenes and characters from *Trijn de Begijn*. Between the two benches lies a bluestone slab bearing Olterdissen’s name and the year 1961.

Special
The monument is designed so that visitors can sit on the benches. This means you can not only view the artwork, but also literally become part of it.