At Grote Bredeplaats stands the monument to Tjerk Hiddes de Vries. He was a Frisian lieutenant admiral and naval hero of the 17th century.
He was fascinated by merchant shipping and worked his way up to become a skipper in Harlingen in 1654. He also fought on behalf of the Admiralty of Friesland for the Dutch Republic in several wars. In 1665, he was appointed to the highest rank he could attain: lieutenant admiral.
On 6 August 1666, the day he turned exactly 44, he died from injuries sustained during one of his many naval battles against the English. It remains uncertain whether Tjerk Hiddes de Vries was buried in the Grote Kerk or the Westerkerk. In 1934, this monument was erected so that he would still have a place of remembrance in Harlingen. In the same year, during the celebrations marking the 700th anniversary of the city, the people of Harlingen presented the monument to the municipality.
The monument is mainly made of brick, and its shape is reminiscent of the bow of a ship. A portrait of De Vries is depicted at the top, where he appears to look out over the Zuiderhaven.
