Statue Simon Stevin - Bruges

Simon Stevin (° Bruges 1548, † The Hague 1620), after whom this square was named, is displayed here. He invented the decimal system for fractions .

Stevin coined words and made them popular by using his own scientific terms , such as "mathematics", "physics", "chemistry", "astronomy" and "geometry".

The statue of Stevin was unveiled with great solemnity and festivity on July 26, 1846. However, there was a serious setback when the bronze statue commissioned by sculptor Eugène Simonis was not completed .

To save the party, a plaster statue was made hastily. The bronze-coloured statue was placed on the pedestal on the day of the inauguration, a pump from the former Westvleeshuis. The bronze statue was not delivered until 3 years later and placed in September 1847.

Willem Vandenameele