Bear from the Lodge

In the facade of the Poortersloge at the Jan van Eyckplein in Bruges, there is a statue of an upright, shield-bearing bear. The Bruges Beertje van de Loge refers to the abduction of the 17-year-old Judith by Boudewijn with the Iron Arm. When he returned with Judith to Flanders, they were attacked in the woods around Bruges by a gigantic bear, according to legend "the oldest resident of Bruges". This bear had been sighted before as it made the area unsafe. Travelers who dared venture outside the walls of Bruges were often attacked by the bear. Boudewijn threw himself into the fight with the bear without hesitation. No one dared to come closer, not even to help their lord. At one point, the bear stood up on its hind legs and leaned against a tree to attack with more force again. But just at that moment, Boudewijn jumped forward and pierced the bear with his lance. The thrust was so severe and powerful that the lance became firmly lodged in the tree through the bear. Boudewijn was thus worthy of his name with the iron arm. According to legend, the city of Bruges presented Boudewijn a sculpted, upright bear when his appointment as the new lord was later celebrated. This bear here dates from later.

Dromos