Why has Antwerp a Peter the Great statue?

The people from Antwerp (Belgium) haven't forgotten a visit from the Russian Tsar
Peter the Great (1672-1725). He visited the city near the Scheldt for three days
in 1717!

According to some  sources the Tsar and his court could drink a lot
and he wanted to know the length of the cathedral by measuring it with a rope. 

Antwerp and its people never saw such a special person before and of course they
wanted to honour him or his visit by a statue. 

The statue of Peter De Grote was created in 1998 on the initiative of Art Group
International who wanted - after the fall of the communism - to strengthen the
cultural ties between Antwerp and Russia. The creator of the statue was
Georgy Frangulyan.   

Who was Peter the Great?

Peter I Aleksejevitsj Romanov, nicknamed Peter the Great was Tsar from Russia
from 9 June 1672 till his death on 8 February 1725. 

He was the first Russian Tsar who travelled outside his country. He modernised 
the vast empire and he especially promoted the science. 

Tsar Peter reformed the army, the church, the commerce, the industry, the education
and the public health. He transformed Russia into a real power. 

He didn't like music or theatre but he loved sailing and ships. He went every day to
a ship yard. 

Do you want to know more about the Tsars of Russia, check the link The House of
Romanov on this blog.

 

Source pictures: 

own pictures taken in 2021 , only the last painting is from Wikipedia