Polar Bear | Sven Lamme
Polar Bear is a liberation monument and is situated next to the roundabout opposite Grand Hotel Gooiland. The monument recalls the liberation of Hilversum on May 7, 1945. At the arrival of thirty scouts from the British 49th Infantry Division - nicknamed Polar Bears - thousands of Hilversummers were waiting on the steps of Gooiland that day.
The three-dimensional image is a white marble polar bear, the logo of the Polar Bears. The hardstone pedestal has the shape of the letter V. The V stood for 'victory' in the war but stands for 'freedom (vrijheid)' in this image. The sculpture was created by Slotboom Steenhouwers from Winterswijk after a design by the Hilversum artist Sven Lamme. In 2020, the Polar Bear was supposed to be unveiled during the celebration of 75 years of liberation but unfortunately, this was canceled due to the Corona pandemic.
Sven Lamme
Sven Lamme (1980) is a spatial designer and artist, born, raised, and working in Hilversum. After his high school years at the ATC, he studied Graphic Design at the Junior Academy in Amsterdam. In 2005 he graduated from HKU Utrecht with 3D Design. Sven Lamme creates and realizes special concepts in the field of branding, public space, interior design, product, and applied art. By transforming normal things, it creates "extraordinary". He uses local wood and new 'green' materials for his designs. Sven works closely with the most talented professionals to create his designs.
