Tilting at the ring (‘ringsteken’), horse inspections, a major horse show, a market, old handicrafts and the fair: every year on the Wednesday before the second Thursday in October (on that Thursday, the horse market in Ameide takes place), Vianen is dominated by the horse market. There’s plenty to do throughout the town on this day, with Voorstraat serving as a vibrant centre.
The history of the Paardenmarkt (horse market) stretches back to the 13th Cent…
Tilting at the ring (‘ringsteken’), horse inspections, a major horse show, a market, old handicrafts and the fair: every year on the Wednesday before the second Thursday in October (on that Thursday, the horse market in Ameide takes place), Vianen is dominated by the horse market. There’s plenty to do throughout the town on this day, with Voorstraat serving as a vibrant centre.
The history of the Paardenmarkt (horse market) stretches back to the 13th Century. In the year 1271, Zweder I van Beusichem (an ancestor of the Lords of Vianen) was given permission by the Bishop of Utrecht to hold a market at his Castle Vianen twice a year. One of these fairs, the livestock market, formed the basis for the current Paardenmarkt. Traders came from far and wide to this market to buy and sell their horses (and other animals). Both the market itself and the entertainments organised around it attracted many visitors.
The bronze horse on Voorstraat recalls the long history of the Paardenmarkt in Vianen. The sculpture was created in 1989-1990 by Utrecht sculptor Pieter d’Hont (1917-1997) and donated to the Vianen community by the Boazbank Foundation in Vianen. It’s the last monumental work created by this sculptor.
Further reading: Vianen Castle, Vianen town centre.
