The Brabo Fountain on Antwerp’s Grote Markt, with 16th century guildhalls in the background.
The statue by Jef Lambeaux was inaugurated in 1887. It refers to a story about the etymology of the name of the city. According to legend a giant named Druon Antigoon used to cut off the hands of captains who moored their ships without paying toll. One day, the captain of the Roman army named Brabo, put an end to this by cutting off the giant’s hand, just as the giant had done with the captains. The fountain depicts the moment when Brabo throws the giants hand into the river the Scheldt.
The name of the City Antwerp is said to be a combination of the Dutch words “(h)ant” (hand) and “werpen” (throw).