Heusden-Zolder (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Giants Guild seeks a new home for Lambert Helen (4.8m), now in storage due to Bovy estate construction, impacting local culture and heritage.
The giant Lambert Helen is at risk of being hidden from the public. This worries the local Giants Guild. For years, he lived in the barn on the Bovy estate. People could visit and see him there. Now, because of construction work at the estate, he cannot stay. The guild is trying to find a new place for him.
According to authorities, this is a big deal because Lambert Helen is an important part of local culture. He is a key figure in the giant tradition, which is seen as an intangible heritage. They mentioned that he served as a landmark for the community and represented local folklore. His presence in the barn was not just for nostalgia but also to help educate people about giant parades and celebrations.
Is there a new home for Lambert Helen, the giant of Heusden-Zolder?
Lambert Helen has been taken apart and stored away because there is no place for him right now. His big structure is now in boxes with separate parts. Marcel Dumon from the Giants Guild is sad about this. He says it is a loss for the local heritage. The guild is trying to find a new home for Lambert Helen so he can be shown again. For now, he is waiting for a new place to be seen by the public.
“We think it’s a shame,”
Says Marcel Dumon of the Giants Guild.
“The giant was permanently displayed and the people from the neighbourhood could always see him. And it is also a nice promotion for the giant tradition, which is recognized as intangible heritage.”
According to authorities, the giant Lambert Helen has been a well-known figure in the area for 40 years. He is one of the largest giants in Limburg. His head and hands were made by the artist Louis Beets, who created other giants, too. They mentioned that this gives them special value.
They mentioned that, unlike some giants that are carried in parades, Lambert Helen is on wheels, so he can be moved easily. He wears a striking black outfit that looks like a monk. At his feet is a small model of the Bolderberg hermitage. He is loved by both locals and visitors who enjoy the tradition of giant-making in the region.
“It must be a place high enough because the giant is 4 meters 80 high.”
Marcel Dumon
Authorities want the Giants Guild to stay on the Bovy estate because he has been there for many years. They also looked at a nearby church, but that won’t work in Bolderberg. The guild is asking the public for help to find a good place.
They prefer it to be in or around Bolderberg or Boekt. They mentioned that the new spot must be tall enough for the 4.8-meter giant and easy for people to visit. For now, Lambert Helen is in storage, waiting to be displayed again.
“Ideally, he would be somewhere on the Bovy estate,”
Dumon thinks.
“But we have also thought about a church nearby. That is already happening in some places, but in Bolderberg it is not possible.”
According to Marcel Dumon, they plan to start an adoption process. The guild has cared for the giant for many years, but the members are getting older.
“It’s a double question,”
Says Dumon.
He mentioned that most members are over 70. Some have health problems, making it hard to care for the giant. The guild wants to find new people who love folklore and can take care of Lambert Helen.
According to Dumon and the guild, the new caretakers will find a good home for Lambert Helen and decide how to show him to the public. They might join parades, plan local events, or keep him a well-known part of the community.
Dumon and the guild want to pass on their work so the tradition of Lambert Helen can continue. They mentioned that anyone who knows a place for the giant or wants to help should reach out. people can email Marcel Dumon at marceldumon01@gmail.com.
“We are therefore looking for a group of people who are interested in folklore and who want to take over the care of the giant, and then they can decide for themselves how they want to deal with the giant,”
Concludes Dumon.
