The Sweetheart

The term 'lieverdje' is said to have been first used by journalist Henri Knap, who reported on the city and its residents in his well-known column for Het Parool, 'Amsterdam Diary', starting in 1947. Knap was supposed to have referred to a boy of about ten who, as the story goes, saved a little dog that had fallen into the canal from drowning. The word 'lieverdje' gradually symbolized a typical Amsterdam street urchin, always up for mischief, but with a heart of gold.

Visual artist Carel Kneulman began working in 1959 to immortalize the boy with a cap and sagging pants.

In June 1964, weekly theatrical manifestations took place around the statue with city figure Robert Jasper Grootveld. Here he also launched the PROVO white bicycles plan for Amsterdam.

Dromos