Netherlands – Don Bosco Returns to the Heart of Lauradorp

(ANS – Landgraaf) – More than thirty years after the original statue of Don Bosco was damaged, the district of Lauradorp, in the municipality of Landgraaf, has once again given visible expression to its deep bond with the Saint of Youth. On Sunday, June 28, a new monument was solemnly unveiled, honoring not only Don Bosco but also the Salesians who served the community from 1928 to 1993, leaving a lasting mark on youth work and pastoral care. The monument was blessed by Salesian Fr Wim Flapper.

The initiative came from brothers Wim and John Smeets, both born and raised in Lauradorp. John himself was a Salesian of Don Bosco until 1968. For them, restoring Don Bosco’s presence in the village where generations of children grew up under Salesian guidance was a heartfelt mission. Thanks to the commitment of many and the support of the Municipality of Landgraaf, that dream has now become reality.

A Monument Rich in Symbolism

Designed by Heerlen-based artist Ivon Drummen, the new monument is not a traditional statue. Instead, it takes the form of a nearly two-meter-high candle, symbolizing light, hope, and unity. Around the candle, figures of young people climb and move upward along a rope-like form.

This dynamic design evokes not only the countless children and young people who once played, met, and grew in Lauradorp, but also the young Giovanni Bosco himself, who gathered companions through his acrobatic skills before speaking to them about God. With a smile, the artist recalls how a comic book about Don Bosco in her childhood home was “read to pieces.”

Careful observers will notice additional meaningful details: alongside Don Bosco stand the figures of Wim and John Smeets, recalling their close connection with the Salesians in their youth. Il Grigio, the faithful dog who, according to tradition, protected Don Bosco on several occasions, is also lovingly included.

A Living Place of Encounter

The monument is not meant only to be admired from a distance. Placed on a raised platform, it allows children playing in the nearby park to sit literally at Don Bosco’s feet—an invitation to encounter, just as Don Bosco himself always went out to meet young people.

The commission also carries a personal dimension for the artist. Ivon Drummen grew up in a family where Don Bosco held an important place. Her father, the visual artist Sjef Drummen, once created a statue of Don Bosco for a local school. The new monument thus bridges not only past and present, but also two generations of artists.

The unveiling took place in the park along Maastrichterlaan, which was simultaneously renamed Willem Schweitzer Square, in honor of Lauradorp’s founder. For many residents, the monument is far more than a work of art. It tells the enduring story of a village shaped by faith, education, and closeness to the young—a story that now once again has a visible home at the heart of Lauradorp.