January 02, 2014

Tijl and Nele





The ponds of Ixelles-Elsene at the Flagey square are always attractive to me, rain or shine. 
I have not shown this monument, dated 1894, before. It is dedicated to the memory of author Charles De Coster whose novel "The Legend of Tijl Uilenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak" is based on the figure Tijl Uilenspiegel (meaning Owl Mirror),  shown here with his lover  Nele. 
Tijl is a fictional character in Flemish-German folklore, a rascal, wandering through 16th century Flanders and Germany, making jokes right and left. He is considered a  hero, a fighter against the influence of the church and the Spanish occupation of the Netherlands. 
The character however is not a creation of de Coster. Stories are known to go as far back as the beginning of the 16th century. 
The first sentence of de Coster's story tells how Tijl was born in Damme (near Bruges)  in May of 1527 on the same day as Philip II.
A movie based on the novel was filmed in what was the USSR "The Legend of Till Ullenspiegel" 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusanima/482737451/

20 comments:

  1. Truly "monumental."
    Wow.
    A measure of his country's love of the man and his fame.

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  2. Wat een lief beeld is dat, wist eigenlijk niet dat hij een liefde had. Is al zo lang geleden dat ik het verhaal heb gelezen.

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  3. Lovely Belgium. Have a happy new year from my country, the Philippines, to yours. :)

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  4. Lovely captures for the day as always, Steffi! Hope your new year is off to a great start!! Enjoy!!

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  5. My father told me stories of Tijl Uilenspiegel, when I was small......from a book and in English.
    I haven't thought about it from that day to this but now I'll be looking for another English copy.

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  6. En er was nog de film met Gerard Philippe in de hoofdrol ook Anni :-)
    GRoetjes,
    Frans

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  7. It is certainly a nice monument and I appreciated your commentary and I had not heard any of this before.

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  8. I love this monument, and you tell a fascinating history!

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  9. Lovely photos. Happy New Year. Diane

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  10. Tijl en Nele..

    ik wist niet dat er een monument van bestond...

    prettige dag Anni

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  11. I've always loved that legend ! A happy New Year from France from your newest follower !

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  12. 'k Legde spontaan een link met Damme, Anni !
    Lie(f)s.

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  13. Oei lang geleden dat ik dat verhaal nog een hoorde, zal het moeten opfrissen.

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  14. Ciao Anni, veramente bello il monumento valorizzato anche dalla tua foto. Per il post precedente vorrei sapere se lo champagne belga è buono come quello francese anche se io preferisco il "prosecco" italiano. Felice 2014.

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  15. Anni, een prachtig monument. Ik heb vroeger de verhalen van `Till Eulenspiegel` gelezen. Lieve groet, Dietmut

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