Jan-Wellem-Reiterstandbild, Dusseldorf, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Jan-Wellem-Reiterstandbild is the bronze equestrian statue of Elector Johann Wilhelm II, known as Jan Wellem, on the Marktplatz in front of the town hall in the Old Town of Düsseldorf. It was made by the sculptor Gabriel de Grupello in the early eighteenth century. It honours the ruler whom locals still remember fondly as the patron who made their city a court of art.

The story behind it

Jan Wellem was born in 1658 and inherited the duchies of Jülich and Berg in 1679. Later he also became Elector Palatine. He made Düsseldorf his residence and brought in architects, sculptors and painters. His picture collection became one of the great galleries of its day. His marriage to Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici tied the court to Florence and its taste for art.

The statue was entrusted to Gabriel de Grupello, a sculptor from the Southern Netherlands who worked at the court. It shows the ruler on horseback in a commanding pose, in the manner of Baroque monuments to princes. It stands in front of the town hall, the centre of civic life, and Düsseldorfers still use the ruler's nickname for it. Jan Wellem died in 1716 and is buried in the nearby St. Andreas church.

What to look for

• The rider's pose and the horse's raised stride give the bronze a sense of movement that suits a Baroque ruler's monument.
• The elector is shown in ceremonial dress rather than everyday clothes, a typical way for the period to present power and dignity.
• The pedestal carries inscriptions and decoration, so walk all the way around it rather than viewing it from one side only.
• Behind the statue rises the town hall, a good backdrop for photos that shows how the square still works as the civic heart of the Old Town.

Tips for your visit

• The statue stands in an open public square, so you can see it at any time without a ticket. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for a good look.
• Morning is quieter, while evening light on the bronze and the town hall is pleasant when the Old Town fills up.
• The Rhine promenade, the Burgplatz with the Schlossturm and the church of St. Lambertus are all within a short walk.
• The town hall is a working building, so check current opening hours if you hope to see inside.

See it on a quest

In The Ghost of Düsseldorf’s Old Town: Walking Tour & Escape Game you reach the statue on foot as one stop on a longer route through the Old Town. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Dusseldorf is a crime-themed walk through the same streets. You get to the monument on foot, hear about it in the app and solve a puzzle on the spot. You can start whenever you like, and one ticket covers the whole group.