The load carrier was unveiled on September 2, 1950, by Mayor Pieter Oud. The statue was located on the facade of the rebuilt warehouse "De Eersteling" on the Rijnhaven, owned by Pakhuismeesteren (which was later acquired by Steinweg). It symbolized the completion of the reconstruction of the tank facility at the Eerste Petroleumhaven, the completion of the Celebes, Borneo, and Sumatra warehouses on Wilhelminakade, and the renovation of "De Eersteling" – all owned by Pakhuismeesteren. A poem written by the oldest partner, H.G.J. de Monchy, was carved into the pedestal:
"What was meaninglessly destroyed
by the cowardly violence,
Is up to deez 'last stone,
restored with god's help. "
As part of the Kop van Zuid renovation project, 'De Eersteeling' was demolished. The load carrier by artist Han Rehm, however, was spared and given a place on the Waalhaven ZZ industrial estate next to the entrance of Steinweg on Parmentierplein. Various initiatives have advocated for a return of The load carrier to its former surroundings, and on November 13, 2014, the statue of this dockworker with a heavy load on his shoulders was returned to the Wilhelminapier and unveiled by then-Mayor Aboutaleb. It is a replica, donated by Steinweg to the Municipality of Rotterdam. The Steinweg logo, which is known worldwide, is an illustration of this burden bearer. In September 2025, the statue had to be removed from the Van der Vormplein due to the construction of the De Sax residential tower. BKOR has found a new location for the statue in the public garden at the Wierdsmaplein. As of May 18, 2026, The load carrier Once again outside for everyone to admire. There is also an opportunity to sit by the statue in the park.
