Op-Sinjoorke Statue

Northeast Belgium


Landing on his back with limbs akimbo, the giant yellow character that you see in the grassy contoured space north of St-Romboutskathedraal is Op-Sinjoorke, Mechelen's folkloric anti-mascot, who is traditionally punished for misadventures by being tossed into the air during an annual parade.

The theft of the original 1647 Op-Sinjoorke mannequin was once the cause of conflict between Mechelen and Antwerp.