Statue of 'guardian angel' Erasmus on the stern of 'De Liefde' Erasmus (1469-1536) was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. He was poor, but received education at a theological school and studied in France, England, Germany and Italy. He published many works such as 'The Praise of Folly' and became one of Europe's best known humanisuts of the Middle Ages. "The statue of Erasmus" was set up at the stern of 'De Liefde' as a guardian angel.