Hotze Schuil (1924 -2005) was a famous Frisian handball player. He was born and died in Harlingen and was very much a son of the city. He played Frisian handball from 1942 to 1972 and topped the rolling handball league table for 28 years until Piet Jetze Faber beat his points total. Hotze Schuil reached the final of the PC Handball Tournament in Franeker ten times, won the tournament six times and was crowned Handball King three times. He won the Bondspartij Handball Tournament for Harlingen eight times. During his handball career, he won the title of Handball King 83 times, which led him to be nicknamed Emperor of Kings.
The statue of Hotze Schuil on Zuiderplein square in Harlingen was commissioned by the Ouwe Seunen Foundation, which commemorates famous sons of the city. The statue was unveiled by former mayor of Harlingen, Chris Arlman, and three of Hotze Schuil’s grandchildren on 5 July 2006.
