Statue of L. J. Coster

The statue of Laurens Janszoon Coster stands on the Grote Markt in Haarlem, the main square of the city, just across from the great church of St. Bavo. It shows a man holding a piece of movable type, and it commemorates a claim that Haarlem takes seriously: that Coster, a fifteenth-century citizen, invented printing with movable type before Johannes Gutenberg in Germany. The story was widely told in the Netherlands from the sixteenth century onwards, and the statue is the most visible expression of the city's pride in it.

The historical facts are disputed. Gutenberg's Bible in Mainz in the 1450s is the best documented early use of movable type in Europe, and most historians credit him with the breakthrough. Coster's role is uncertain, and little is known with confidence about his life, though a man of that name did live in Haarlem and is thought to have held a civic office. Some early printed works associated with Haarlem are attributed to this tradition, but the evidence does not allow a firm conclusion. The story is therefore best enjoyed as a piece of local legend and civic identity, which is part of why the monument is interesting.

The bronze figure was made by the sculptor Louis Royer and unveiled in 1856, in the middle of the nineteenth century, when monuments to national and local heroes were popular across Europe. It stands on a pedestal in the middle of the square, with cafes, historic buildings and the Gothic church around it. It is one of the most photographed spots in the city, and it is a common meeting point for people. The statue can be seen at any time and costs nothing, as it stands in a public square.

Haarlem has a great deal to see around it. St. Bavokerk, also known as the Grote Kerk, has a famous organ and is a major Gothic church. The Frans Hals Museum shows the work of the great Haarlem painter and his contemporaries, Teylers Museum is the oldest museum in the Netherlands, and the Corrie ten Boom Museum tells the story of a family that sheltered Jews during the war. The old centre is compact and easily explored on foot, and Haarlem is only a short train ride from Amsterdam.

The statue suits history lovers, photographers and visitors who like to understand the stories behind public monuments. A quick stop of a few minutes is enough, and it works well as the start of a walk through the city centre.