The monument to Peter I in Antwerpen was designed by G. Frangulyan in 1998.

The bronze statue was placed in front of St.Michael Abbey on Kloosterstraat, where the Russian Tsar stayed in April of 1717. Peter arrived in Antwerpen disguised as sailor Alexeev, but was met by the entire Antwerpen’s nobility. Tsar had scolded his servants and court for divulging his secret, but eventually mellowed by the evening and even attended the reception in his honour.

As the Dutch historian Emmanuel Waegemans put it: “For us, citizens of Antwerp, it is enough to build a statue to him”.

The inscription on the monument says: «Hier zette in 1717 de Russische tsaar Peter de Grote voet aan wal» («This is where the Russian Tsar Peter the Great set foot in 1717»).

Bibliography

De Dagen van Peter de Grote / Red. [E. Waegemans]. - Antwerpen, 1998. - 24 p.