This statue is one of the most important parts of Brussels to the people, certainly as important as the Eiffel Tower is to the French or the Statue of Liberty is to the Americans. The small statue is representative of Belgium as a nation. The small boy is like the small country, always in danger, but never defeated. It was originally cast in bronze in 1619 by Jerome Duquesnoy but this version was destroyed. The replacement was made in 1630 and survived continued attacks from the English and the French.
