Monument to Leopold II
Description:
Leopold II was the second Belgian king. After the death of his father Leopold I in 1865, he ascended the throne, remaining on it until his death. He is known for his activities in capturing the Congo Basin. Various commercial companies that carried out brutal exploitation of the population were organized there at his direction.
In 1902, an Italian anarchist attempted to kill the king by firing several shots at his crew, but missed. Leopold II died on December 17, 1909. He was buried in the royal tomb in Brussels.
The statue of King Leopold II was unveiled on November 15, 1926, near the place where he was sworn in. It was made of bronze by sculptor Thomas Vinquote and architect François Malfat.
About 2.5 million euros were spent on the construction of this statue. Her creator never had time to enjoy his work, as he died a few days after the completion of the sculpture.