Monument for Simeon ten Holt in Bergen
On June 4, 2026, a bust of composer Simeon ten Holt was unveiled in the garden of the Oude Raethuys, opposite the Ruïnekerk in Bergen, the Netherlands. During the ceremony, Jaap Bond, the mayor of Bergen, highlighted the deep connection between Ten Holt and the town. Ten Holt, renowned for his composition “Canto Ostinato,” spent much of his life in Bergen, where he composed a significant portion of his work.
The bust was created by artist Jeroen Henneman, known for his work “De Schreeuw,” a monument dedicated to Theo van Gogh. Henneman faced the challenge of capturing the essence of Ten Holt’s gaze, designing the sculpture so that the composer appears to look both at the sheet music in his hand and at the viewer. This design reflects the interactive nature of Ten Holt’s music, which often invites listeners into a shared experience.
Architect Dirk Jan Postel, recognized for his work on Museum Kranenburgh in Bergen, designed the pedestal for the bust. The pedestal not only supports the sculpture but also serves as a bench, allowing visitors to sit and reflect near the monument. Constructed from locally sourced old bricks, the pedestal symbolizes tradition and the composer’s roots in the region.
During the unveiling, Davo van Peursen, chairman of the Stichting Simeon ten Holt and managing director of Donemus Publishing, emphasized the rarity of such monuments dedicated to composers. He noted that, alongside figures like Sweelinck, Dopper, and Pijper, Ten Holt now has a dedicated place of honor. Van Peursen also appreciated the incorporation of musical elements into the sculpture, highlighting the importance of preserving musical heritage and the enduring magic of music captured in notation, brought to life by musicians across generations.