Facade stones

Anyone walking through the narrow streets of Hattem's city centre will almost automatically look up. Between the bricks of the historic buildings, they pop up everywhere: colourful facade stones that bring the city's silent past back to life.

It is a tradition deeply rooted in the local community. What once began with the Beernink Group has since grown into the Hattem Sculptors' Guild. In the Beernink studio, craftsmanship and history come together. Over the years, the guild members have already crafted and placed around twenty stones.

It’s always a collective process. In 2023, six pieces were completed simultaneously after residents expressed their interest. "A facade stone must tell a story from the past or about the activities that took place in the building," says Henk van den Berg on behalf of the guild. For instance, the 'Anleghen' stone adorns the facade that now houses a chocolate (work)shop. Once, this was a place where sailors moored.

The guild delves into local history archives for every new design. "We can check the history of every building in the city centre," says Van den Berg. This ensures that every image aligns with reality. A good facade stone needs no text to explain itself. The image of John the Baptist, for example, speaks for itself through the specific attributes the sculptor has incorporated into the carving.

The craft is a matter of patience; almost everything is still carved by hand from materials such as the white limestone Bianco Del Mare. When the stone is ready after months of manual labour, it is coloured using linseed oil and oil paint by specialists such as artist Angela of Angel Art. After drying, the artwork is meticulously mortared into the facade.

Those wishing to discover this 'stone library' for themselves can obtain a QR code at the Voerman City Museum Hattem for an interactive walk past fourteen locations. It is a tour full of anecdotes that makes the hard stones speak and gives the city a unique face.