The Waadfisker statue

The Waadfisker (West Frisian language) or Wadden Sea Fisherman statue was created by Frans Ram. It stands at the foot of the dike as a reminder of the local tradition of setting traps at right angles to the dike to catch herring. The construction of the Afsluitdijk destroyed the livelihood of hundreds of Wadden Sea fisherman in this region.

At the foot of the Wadden Sea dike stands the bronze statue De Waadfisker, created by artist Frans Ram. The artwork commemorates the herring fishery that once played an important role in life along the Frisian Wadden coast.

In the early 1970s, the sea dike underwent major reinforcement. To make room for the new, wider dike, several of the original dike cottages had to be demolished. Only a few remain. In 2013, three new holiday homes were added, helping to preserve some of the character of this special location.

By that time, the fishing industry had already largely disappeared. The construction of the Afsluitdijk in 1932 dramatically changed conditions in the Wadden Sea. Changing sea currents caused the herring to disappear from the coastal waters, leaving many local fishermen without a livelihood.

De Waadfisker keeps the memory of this vanished fishery alive. The statue stands on a reconstructed section of dike, creating a symbolic link between the former way of life by the sea and the landscape of today.