Have you found the bronze plaque commemorating August Snieders ? It takes a bit of searching, but right on the corner of the Markt, with its cosy outdoor cafés, and Sniederslaan, you’ll discover the commemorative plaque dedicated to the man after whom, amongst other things, this shopping street is named. Who is this stately-looking man and what is his connection to Bladel?
A few facts at a glance
Designer: Toon Hendrickxs
When: 1962
Why: to replace an earlier gedenksteen
Discover his story
August Snieders (1825–1904) was a journalist and man of letters, but…
Have you found the bronze plaque commemorating August Snieders ? It takes a bit of searching, but right on the corner of the Markt, with its cosy outdoor cafés, and Sniederslaan, you’ll discover the commemorative plaque dedicated to the man after whom, amongst other things, this shopping street is named. Who is this stately-looking man and what is his connection to Bladel?
A few facts at a glance
Designer: Toon Hendrickxs
When: 1962
Why: to replace an earlier gedenksteen
Discover his story
August Snieders (1825–1904) was a journalist and man of letters, but he was much more than that. He was one of the great writers of Flanders of his time. His life story, however, begins in Bladel – on the Markt, to be precise – where he was born as the ninth and youngest son of Jan Theodoor Snieders. In 1844, the young August moved to Antwerp, where he first became a typesetter and, a few years later, editor-in-chief of the newspaper *Het Handelsblad*. He held this position for five decades. He also championed the Flemish cause in bilingual Belgium. He was even honoured several times for this.
Another interesting fact
: this is not Mr Snieders’ first monument. As early as 1925, a century after his birth, a com gedenksteen r was unveiled on the façade of his birthplace. Due to the expansion of the Markt, his house had to make way. It was butcher Groenen who ensured that the monument did not end up under the demolition hammer.