Staalman
Staalman stands in Staalmanpark, in Amsterdam Nieuw-West’s Slotervaart district, as a ten-metre bear overlooking the surrounding neighbourhood. Florentijn Hofman created the sculpture with local residents, including young people who helped shape the park during urban renewal.
Installed in 2011, the figure combines shotcrete with a steel frame and rests on a concrete platform. Its mineral-painted surface includes anti-graffiti protection, while the sturdy form reflects neighbourhood pride, self-reliance and togetherness. Under one arm, the bear carries a cushion: local young people connected it with going home early, while residents saw their own moves reflected in carrying belongings between homes.
The cushion gives this powerful public artwork its most memorable detail, softening a bear visible even from passing trains.
- City
- Amsterdam
- Content updated
Take this page with you
The myTuur app is free, and once you are standing at a spot its story starts by itself.
Spots like this one are the stops myTuur strings into tours through Amsterdam. In the app, each story begins where you stand: walk up to a spot and it starts, read it on screen or listen as you go, then follow the route to the next one.
What is myTuur?
myTuur is a free city-guide app. Its tours are built from spots, and each spot carries a story that starts when you get there, to read or to listen to as you like.