Renewed 'tSerclaes statue installed on Grand Place

The 1902 statue of local hero Everard 'tSerclaes, located just off the Grand Place, has been restored to its original colour, writes Bruzz. Rubbing the statue will bring a year of good luck, according to legend. The replica had therefore lost its original black sheen, especially the right forearm which is regularly stroked by passers-by.

The original statue of a dying 'tSerclaes was made by Julien Dillens and is still on display at city hall. The City of Brussels invested €244,442 in its restoration.

In 2011, the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage removed the original statue and replaced it with an acrylic resin copy. Yet another copy now takes its place. The bronze statue was originally covered with a layer of black patina, but over time the many touches changed the colour to gold.

The new version of the 'lucky monument' has the same colours as the original: black with a layer of gold underneath. The makers of the new statue anticipated future wear, providing an additional protective layer on the right arm.

Everard 'tSerclaes was deputy burgomaster of Brussels five times, but is best known as the liberator of Brussels, who pushed the Flemish troops out of the city in 1356.