The name of this bronze statue comes from the time when a lot of flax was cultivated in Harlingen. In the 17th century, the Flemish Hanekuyk family settled in Harlingen. In their factory, the flax was processed into textiles after rotting and then dyed in large tubs filled with dye. The workers had to stand barefoot in the tubs to emboss the textile so that the dye could easily penetrate the fibres. The Harlinger owes his nickname to this work: the Tobbedanser.
"Across from the ferry port, this bronze statue encircled by a wooden bench is a lovely spot to sit and contemplate the pretty waterside views. Sculpted by Dutch sculptor Bert Kiewiet (1918–2008), the statue harks back to Harlingen's wool-manufacturing days. Fabric was washed in large tubs of water with one's feet, hence the local nickname for people from Harlingen – Tobbedansers ('tub dancers')."
De Tobbendancer