Willem Verbon William IV, Count of Hainaut (1990)

This equestrian image of William IV, count of Hainaut decorates the forecourt of the Schielandshuis (formerly the Historical Museum of the City of Rotterdam, it). It depicts the man who granted Rotterdam city rights in 1340. William IV of Holland (also William II of Hainaut) thus followed in the footsteps of his father William III, who already granted the people of Rotterdam some privileges in 1328. Rotterdam had an estimated 2000 inhabitants around that time. The city charter meant that the city and the townspeople were given a number of privileges. The city received, among other things, exemption from tolls, permission to hold two annual fairs, exemption from a number of taxes and extensive powers in the field of administration and judiciary, although the count had the final say on this point. He was also entitled to two-thirds of the fines and received income from the leasing of a number of urban rights. In exchange for the privileges, the city was obliged to supply armed men in times of war and to pay some taxes. William IV (1318-1345) succeeded his father in 1337. He was an adventurous knight who did not excel in diplomacy. He lived – and died – by the sword. During the eight years of his reign he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and fought battles with Moors, Wends, Lithuanians and Prussians. Closer to home, he became involved in a Dutch-Utrecht war. William IV started a campaign against the Frisians, but his army was destroyed outside Stavoren near Warns. William IV also did not survive the battle. The statue in front of the Schielandshuis is only a pale reflection of what sculptor Willem Verbon had in mind when he designed this statue in the 1970s. He saw the statue, larger than life size, in a prominent place in the city center during Rotterdam's 650th anniversary in 1990, but time was not on his side. William IV had to settle for this version, which was unveiled on November 7, 1990. The Historical Museum of the City of Rotterdam was then located in the Schielandshuis; In 2011 this name was changed to Museum Rotterdam. (Source: Hans Baaij, Rotterdam City Center Pictures Guide – Rotterdam, 2001)