The living hop monument - Cheers

At the center of the village square in Meldert, the hop monument commemorates the hop cultivation that has shaped the village for centuries.

The living monument was designed and built by artist Jean Bernard Koeman and was inaugurated in 2018. The idea is for hop vines to grow around the metal structure. Thus, the monument comes to life and changes throughout the year with the seasons.

It is no coincidence that a hop monument stands here. Meldert was one of the most important locations for hop cultivation. Today, only a few hop fields remain, but the hop history is still visible in various ways throughout the village. With the annual hop day during the first weekend of September, Meldert celebrates the rich hop history of the village.

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The metal structure represents an abstract, inverted hop cone. The structure is 5.5 meters tall and is planted with living hop. From spring onwards, the plant grows around the monument.

The monument bears the phrase: “On the circumference of the earth, beginning and end come together.” The text refers to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus and fits the annual rhythm of hop cultivation.

This spot previously had a wooden hop monument, which referred to the hop staking house. It was a tipi-shaped arrangement of hop poles that were collected during the winter.

During the hop day, visitors can watch demonstrations of hop harvesting. The highlight is the hop picking competition, where participants try to harvest as many hop cones as possible by hand.

At the center of the village square in Meldert, the hop monument commemorates the hop cultivation that has shaped the village for centuries.

The living monument was designed and built by artist Jean Bernard Koeman and was inaugurated in 2018. The idea is for hop vines to grow around the metal structure. Thus, the monument comes to life and changes throughout the year with the seasons.

It is no coincidence that a hop monument stands here. Meldert was one of the most important locations for hop cultivation. Today, only a few hop fields remain, but the hop history is still visible in various ways throughout the village. With the annual hop day during the first weekend of September, Meldert celebrates the rich hop history of the village.

Want to know more?

The metal structure represents an abstract, inverted hop cone. The structure is 5.5 meters tall and is planted with living hop. From spring onwards, the plant grows around the monument.

The monument bears the phrase: “On the circumference of the earth, beginning and end come together.” The text refers to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus and fits the annual rhythm of hop cultivation.

This spot previously had a wooden hop monument, which referred to the hop staking house. It was a tipi-shaped arrangement of hop poles that were collected during the winter.

During the hop day, visitors can watch demonstrations of hop harvesting. The highlight is the hop picking competition, where participants try to harvest as many hop cones as possible by hand.

Erfgoedcel Denderland