This statue known as ‘Lapkepoep and Frisian farmer's wife’ on the Wijde Burgstraat is a gift from C&A. German textile traders Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer (the founders of C&A) opened their very first store in Sneek in 1841. The artwork represents a trading deal being made between a Westphalia textile trader (also known as a 'lapkepoep' in the Frisian language) and a Frisian farmer's wife.
Around 1840, Clemens and August came to Friesland as 'hannekemaaiers' (hand mowers) from the Westphalia region of Germany, to work on the farms mowing grass in summer months. Back home in the winter, they would weave fabrics from flax. After having worked a number of seasons in Friesland, they discovered that they could sell the beautifully woven fabrics to the wealthy farmers' wives in Friesland. The sales were a great success: the first C&A store was opened in Sneek. The concern was also the first to have off-the-rack clothing made. In Mettingen in Germany, there is a statue group of Clemens and August, being waved goodbye by the landowner and his wife.
