* Due to construction work, the statue has been temporarily relocated and is therefore not visible. * Do you know what we call a cheeky little rascal in Brussels? A vaartkapoen! It literally means a canal rascal and initially referred to canal worker. Later, the term came to designate a boy of dubious morals, hanging around the canal, looking for odd jobs or some mischief. The character shown here, who emerges from the sewers and grabs a police officer by the leg to trip him up, fits this description perfectly. Sculptor Tom Frantzen was drawing on at least two references: on the one hand, the zwanze - the humorous rebellion so characteristic of Brussels - and on the other, a nod to comic strips, in particular Quick and Flupke, Ketjes des Marolles, the title which introduces us to Agent 15. This police officer is often a victim of the two main characters' shenanigans, and at times even an (unwitting) accomplice. In 1985, when the statue was erected, it was surrounded by posts linked by chains, a safety feature that was later removed for authenticity's sake. It's an important introduction to Brussels culture!
Vaartkapoen
Location: Place Sainctelette, 1 / 1080, 1000 Brussels
