The bronze statue “Girl on Skippy Ball” (1975) is a playful and lively sculpture that symbolizes youth and movement. The statue has a height of 1.10 meters and was made by the Dutch sculptor Kees Verkade. Originally placed at the playground on Lorentzstraat, the bronze statue was moved to the roundabout at the intersection of Linnaeusstraat and Van Lennepweg in 2005, where it can be admired ever since.
History and Relocation
The bronze statue ‘Girl on Skippy Ball’ was originally placed in 1974 at the public playground on Lorentzstraat, next to the Nicolaasschool, on the advice of the cultural interests committee. The child-friendly statue fitted in well with the playground and was financed from the fund for artistic beautification of village statues, which had sufficient resources. When the Nicolaasschool moved in 2005, the statue was moved to the roundabout at the intersection of Van Lennepweg/Linnaeusstraat.
About Kees Verkade
Kees Verkade, a renowned Dutch sculptor, has placed five bronze statues in Zandvoort, including this cheerful girl. Verkade’s artworks are often inspired by his travels and life experiences, including his time in the United States and Monaco, where he discovered the circus and ballet world. His work is diverse, ranging from sportsmen and Indians to monumental statues, such as ‘Two nuns’ for the Mariastichting hospital and ‘Family’ in the Waterleidingduinen near Vogelenzang.