De Nederlandse maagd c. 1865

Eugène Lacomblé created this sculpture of the Dutch Maiden; an allegory of the Netherlands in the form of a woman with a lion. Here, the lion is more than a beast; it’s a symbol of courage and might, a guardian of the nation. This is an ancient symbol: lions guarded the gates of Mycenae, were companions to heroes like Hercules, and adorn countless coats of arms. The Dutch Maiden embodies the spirit of the nation. We see her again and again throughout history from classical antiquity to our own time as representations of liberty or national identity. Observe her missing arm. It makes one wonder whether this broken figure hints at a deeper, perhaps subconscious, anxiety about the nation’s strength and future. This icon possesses a primal, deeply rooted power to stir collective emotions. The lion and maiden motif is not merely an emblem frozen in time. It’s a powerful symbol that recurs, evolves, and reflects the shifting tides of history.