Historisch centrum in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium — Northwestern Europe
De Legende van Lange Wapper
Voor het Steen staat Lange Wapper en monument in brons var beeldhouwer A. Poels. Aan de voeten pan Lange Wapperkijken twee dronken Sinjoren naar hem op Een kruik genever bungelt leeg cor de arm van de linkerman.
Lange Wapper is in Anwerpen een bekende watergeest. Hij woonde vooral in vlieten en vesten en sliep in het Vleeshuis. Zijn naam zou zijn oorsprong vinden in de grote houten toestellen met lange, beweegbare arm, die vroeger langs vlieten en vaarten opgesteld waren am water naar de talrijke Antwerpse brouwerijen over te hevelen. Bij ochtend- of avondschemering of bij mistig weer spraken deze tuigen in beweging sterk tot de verbeelding van Kinderen, schippers en dronkaards.
Op deze tekening leunt Lange Wapper nonchalant tegen de oude Kerk achter het Steen met éen arm bovenop een schip.
Tekst en ontwerp Bert De Bruyne. Tekening uit het boek van A. Hans. Door Emile Walravens "Antwerpen 1879 - 1914
Voor de vertalingen zorgde het Centrum voor taal en spraak van de Universiteit Antwerpen
Met dank aan A.M.V.C. Antwerpen Financieel mogelijk gemaakt dankzij restaurant De Gouden Ecu.
Frans
Devant le Steen (le Château) se dresse Lange Wapper, un monument de bronze du sculpteur Я. Poels. On peut le voir toiser deux citoyens tores, qui se tiennent à ses pieds, une bouteille de genièvre à la main.
Lange Wapper est un esprit aquatique bien connu à Arvers. Ses lieux de prédilection étaient les petits ruisseaux, et f eau des remparts, mais il logeait sous la Vleeshuis (Maison des bouchers). Son nom trouve probablement son origine dans les machines en bois aux longs bras mécaniques, disposées le long des canaux afin de transférer l'eau vers les nombreuses brasseries anversoises. A l'aube et au crépuscule, ou lorsque le temps était au brouillard, la vision de ces étranges engins frappait l'imagination des enfants, des marins ou des ivrognes.
Sur ce dessin, Lange Wapper se ti tout contre une vieille église, et s'accoude nonchalamment au mat d'un navire
Dritts
Vor den Steen (dem Antwerpener Schloss) steht der Lange Wapper, eine Bronzestatue des Bildhauers A. Poels. Zu Füben des Langen Wapper sehen zwei betrunkene Burschen zu ihm auf. Am Arm des Linken baumelt ein Leerer Krug Genever.
Der Lange Wapper ist in Antwerpen ein bekannter Wassergeist. Er hauste vor allem in Bachen und Graben und schlief im Vleeshuis (Schlachthof). Sein Name rührt wahrscheinlich von den groben Holzgeräten her, die mit langen beweglichen Armen augestattet und entlang der Bache und Graben aufgestellt waren, um Wasser zu den zahlreichen Antwerpener Brauereien zu schöpfen. In der Morgen- oder Abenddämmerung oder bei Nebel glichen diese Apparate in Bewegung Kindern, Schiffern oder Betrunkenen.
Auf diesem Bild lehnt Lange Wapper auf der alten Kirche mit einem Schiff gegen seinem Bein
Engels
In front of the Steen (the Antwerp stone Castle) you can see Lange Wapper, a bronze statue by sculptor A. Poels. Two drunk citizens are gazing up at him, an empty bottle of gin in hand.
Lange Wapper is a famous Antwerp water spirit. He preferred watery spots for living and slept underneath the Vleeshuis (Meat Hall). His name probably originates from the big wooden cranes with long, movable arms which were used to transport water from the canals to the many Antwerp breweries. At dawn or dusk or when the weather was foggy the moving machines kept the imagination of children, suppers or drunkards going.
On this drawing

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, December 13, 2024
3. Lange Wapper en de Vissersboot
Lange Wapper and the fishing boat
One day Lange Wapper went on a rampage at the Kranenhoofd [crane head or harbor]. A fishing boat had escaped. It had almost reached Burcht before Lange Wapper spotted it. What did he do then? He made himself three times bigger than he already was, although his entire upper body was already above the crane.
Like a bolt of lightning he disappeared with his head in the clouds. He took a step, but it was a huge step: he immediately stood with his right leg halfway to Burcht. Then another step and now he was halfway to Hoboken. Now Lange Wapper had the fishing boat, which had escaped him, ready to grab between his legs. He grabbed it with one hand by the mast and threw it with all his might over his head so that it flew over the dike in Oosterweel.
And it may still be there! In my grandfather's time it was there in any case, because he saw it with his own eyes.
Story 33 from Antwerp from "Folk tales from Antwerp" by Marcel van den Berg - Publisher Het Spectrum.
Idea and design Bert De Bruyne Я.P.J. With thanks to the Centre for Language and Speech of the University of Antwerp and the A.M.V.C.
Commissioned by Stichting ECU VZW and financially made possible by restaurant “De Gouden Ecu” c.v. Execution Emaillerie Belge.
One day Lange Wapper went on a rampage at the Kranenhoofd [crane head or harbor]. A fishing boat had escaped. It had almost reached Burcht before Lange Wapper spotted it. What did he do then? He made himself three times bigger than he already was, although his entire upper body was already above the crane.
Like a bolt of lightning he disappeared with his head in the clouds. He took a step, but it was a huge step: he immediately stood with his right leg halfway to Burcht. Then another step and now he was halfway to Hoboken. Now Lange Wapper had the fishing boat, which had escaped him, ready to grab between his legs. He grabbed it with one hand by the mast and threw it with all his might over his head so that it flew over the dike in Oosterweel.
And it may still be there! In my grandfather's time it was there in any case, because he saw it with his own eyes.
Story 33 from Antwerp from "Folk tales from Antwerp" by Marcel van den Berg - Publisher Het Spectrum.
Idea and design Bert De Bruyne Я.P.J. With thanks to the Centre for Language and Speech of the University of Antwerp and the A.M.V.C.
Commissioned by Stichting ECU VZW and financially made possible by restaurant “De Gouden Ecu” c.v. Execution Emaillerie Belge.
Text and design Bert De Bruyne.
Drawing taken from the book by A Hans.
The translations were provided by Antwerp University’s Centre for Language and Speech.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Landmarks. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.
Location. 51° 13.325′ N, 4° 23.852′ E. Marker is in Antwerpen, Vlaanderen (Flanders). It is in Historisch centrum. It is at the intersection of Steenplein and Jordaenskaai, on the left when traveling south on Steenplein. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Ernest Van Dijckkaai 4, Antwerpen, Vlaanderen 2000, Belgium. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Semini (a few steps from this marker); Het Steen (within shouting distance of this marker); Willem Ogier (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Afdaken met een industrieel verle den (about 120 meters away); Ruihuis (about 120 meters away); “Onze Woning” (about 150 meters away); Ernest van Dyck (about 150 meters away); Vleeshuis / Das Fleischhaus / La Halle des Bouchers / Butchers’ Hall (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Antwerpen.
Also see . . . Lange Wapper (Wikipedia).
Lange Wapper is a Flemish folkloric character. He is a legendary giant and trickster whose folk tales were told especially in the city of Antwerp and its neighbouring towns, but similar tales are also prominent in other Flemish cities.(Submitted on January 18, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.)
Additional keywords. Fairy tales
Credits. This page was last revised on January 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 199 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 17, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. 4, 5. submitted on January 18, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.



