Fikkie

This brass puppy was given to the city by Hungarian artist Joeki Simák to celebrate the centennial birthday of the Rotterdam Student Corps in 1963. It’s said the statue represents the youth and stubbornness of the students. 

Because of its association with the students, the statue was seen as a mascot of sorts, which led to both good and bad things. On a positive note, the association adopted the statue and cleans and hugs it once a year. But on the other hand, this link to the student group made the statue a target for rival student groups. It was kidnapped three times, though it fortunately was always returned.

In 1975, the dog was given its now-signature turd, which was designed by Hans Citroen. The work was commissioned by the city’s waste management service as part of a larger movement to raise awareness of litter and trash.

The statue is popular with the locals and gets cared for like a real dog. In the winter, it sometimes gets snuggled in a cozy scarf. In the summer, it’s often accompanied by a bowl of water so passing dogs can take a drink.