Mietje Stroel, Stone fountain in front of town hall in Zelzate, Belgium
Mietje Stroel is a fountain featuring a bronze sculpture of a young girl in traditional dress, located near the Gent-Terneuzen canal in Zelzate. The original sculpture and its collection of costumes are now preserved in the Mietje Stroel Museum housed within the 't Klooster building.
The sculpture was created in 1974 by artist Arlette Hutsebaut. In 1987, a bronze protective cast was added to the original stone figure due to air pollution concerns.
The figure draws from a local tale about a girl from the smugglers' forest who lived without conventional restraint. This story reflects the playful humor embedded in regional folklore and local pride.
The fountain is easily accessible on foot near the canal and can be viewed from outside at any time. To see the original statue and costume collection, visitors should plan a visit to the associated museum.
In 1976, this figure entered into an official ceremonial engagement with Brussels' Manneken Pis, linking two Belgian water-based symbols. This unusual event created a playful connection between two distinct regional icons.
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