brussels irish tourist

Irish tourist arrested after allegedly damaging Brussels statue

An irish tourist who, according to local reports, was "clearly intoxicated" was filmed climbing and damaging a recently restored statute at the brussels stock exchange.

An Irish tourist has been arrested after allegedly climbing onto a recently renovated statue in Brussels and causing thousands of Euro worth of damage. 

Video of the incident shows a man climbing slowly onto the statue located outside the stock exchange in Brussels. The statue was renovated as part of a €90 million restoration project at the historic building, known as the Place de la Bourse. 

The man can be seen leaning on the torch, causing it and parts of the arm holding it to fall off, prompting gasps from onlookers.

A young Irishman has been arrested in Brussels, Belgium, after he climbed on to a recently renovated statue outside the stock exchange on Sunday and caused part of it to fall off, according to local media. Report here: https://t.co/dyx9mL0EDO pic.twitter.com/nalE6cGMjc — The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) September 13, 2023

Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish!

Local media outlets report that the tourist was "clearly intoxicated" while trying to get his photograph taken on top of the statue on Sunday night, just one day after the building reopened. 

An Irish tourist was arrested in a nearby fast-food restaurant sometime after the incident, according to local media. He was reportedly unaware that he had caused any damage to the statue. 

"An Irish tourist climbed onto one of the statues at the Brussels Stock Exchange building," a Brussels Police spokeswoman said, according to Newstalk.

"Police arrived at the scene [and] a police report was drawn up against the tourist.

"When he wanted to get back down, he broke a piece of the statue." 

Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reports that the restoration of the statue cost €17,600. 

Management at the Bourse building wants to recover the cost of necessary repairs from the person who damaged the statue, Het Nieuwsblad added. 

The historic Bourse building includes a beer museum and a co-working space and recently underwent a massive restoration project. The newly renovated building opened on Saturday with a number of special events, with visitors encouraged to drink Belgian beer as part of the celebration. 

Nel Van De Vannet, architect and CEO of the Brussels Stock Exchange Renovation Project, told RTÉ Morning Ireland on Thursday morning that the site is "symbolically important" and often used as a gathering place for both happy and sad times.

The incident has made her and her team "very, very sad and upset."

"For us, it's a bit of a sad moment to see now after these three years of restoration where we know the sculpture and time it took to restore it is now broken off after two days of opening," she said.

She added: "It will take probably two months again before we can see the whole lion with the hand intact again. 

"Again, it's a long process."

When asked who will pay for the damage, Van De Vannet said: "Well, police intercepted him so I think it will be on his account but maybe I can do an appeal for a peaceful mediation and a payment for restoration."

She said the bill would be between €5,000 and €7,000.

Related: Crime

Celtic Thunder sets sail on ODYSSEY: A North American Tour, tickets on sale next week

Sober St. Patrick’s Day to “reclaim the day” today in NYC

NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade announces line of march ahead of March 16

Reasons to love Ireland in spring: Bucket list travel destinations and fun-filled festivals

WWII ship where five brave Sullivan brothers died discovered on St. Patrick's Day

The intersection of Saint Patrick and paganism in Ireland

TUNE IN: St. Patrick’s Day Parade LIVE from Dublin today!

US leprechauns versus Irish fairies - a St. Patrick’s Day death match

St Patrick's Festival is here! Your guide to the Dublin City celebrations

“Walking in the footsteps” of your Irish ancestors

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

• Temperature Check
• The Stardust Inquests
• Inside The Newsroom
• Climate Crisis
• International

Irish tourist will likely have to pay between €5,000-€7,000 for damaged Belgian statue

A BELGIAN ARCHITECT in charge of renovating the Brussels Stock Exchange has described her reaction to damage caused to a statue by an Irish tourist as “very, very sad”. 

Video posted to social media showed an Irish man climbing onto the statue on the newly renovated building. While trying to climb down from the top of the statue, the arm of an angel gave way under him and broke off. 

The man was later arrested by police in a fast food restaurant, according to reports in Belgian media. 

The statue of a lion held by an angel is one of two that flank the entrance to the historic building. The statue’s renovation originally cost €17,600. 

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme today, Nel Van De Vannet, architect and CEO of the brussels Stock Exchange Renovation Project, said that “it is a symbolically important building for Brussels and the Belgians.”

“After three years of renovation, this weekend there was a grand opening,” she said.

She explained that the building is a gathering point where residents of the city gather in times of celebration and mourning, as it was in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks that took place in the city in 2016. 

“So we saw after two days of opening, a happy Irish tourist breaking off the hand of one of the angels that holds the lion, we were very, very sad and upset.

“It will take probably two months again before we can see the whole lion with the hand intact again,” she explained. 

Asked how much the repair is likely to cost, Van De Vannet speculated that it would be between 5,000 and 7,000 euros, adding that since the Irish man is now in police custody, he is likely to  be footing the bill. 

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation..

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

To embed this post, copy the code below on your site

600px wide <iframe width="600" height="460" frameborder="0" style="border:0px;" src="https://www.thejournal.ie/https://www.thejournal.ie/brussels-statue-irish-tourist-6168162-Sep2023/?embedpost=6168162&width=600&height=460" ></iframe>

400px wide <iframe width="600" height="460" frameborder="0" style="border:0px;" src="https://www.thejournal.ie/https://www.thejournal.ie/brussels-statue-irish-tourist-6168162-Sep2023/?embedpost=6168162&width=400&height=460" ></iframe>

300px wide <iframe width="600" height="460" frameborder="0" style="border:0px;" src="https://www.thejournal.ie/https://www.thejournal.ie/brussels-statue-irish-tourist-6168162-Sep2023/?embedpost=6168162&width=300&height=460" ></iframe>

• Defamation Damaging the good reputation of someone, slander, or libel.
• Racism or Hate speech An attack on an individual or group based on religion, race, gender, or beliefs.
• Trolling or Off-topic An attempt to derail the discussion.
• Inappropriate language Profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, or slurs.
• Spam Advertising, phishing, scamming, bots, or repetitive posts.

Leave a comment cancel

Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user

Create an email alert based on the current article

• Corrections

Brussels Statue Supposedly Damaged by Irish Tourist

Brussels Statue, Recently Restored, Was Supposedly Damaged by Irish Tourist After Which the Authorities Arrested Him.

Brussels statue, located at the Brussels Stock Exchange, suffered damage caused by the Irish tourist . A young Irishman climbed this recently restored lion monument, and he managed to knock down a part of it. With this he caused several thousand euros in losses. Then, the Brussels police arrested him while he was sitting at a fast-food diner. The incident took place on Sunday.

Brussels Statue Destroyed by a “clearly intoxicated” Tourist

The authorities renovated the monument as an element of the Place de la Bourse’s heritage remediation, with a €90 million undertaking. Irishman destroyed the monument just a day after the restauration finished. The administration of the bourse expects the young man make payments for the renovations. Local media outlets says the tourist was “clearly intoxicated”.

He tried to take a photo, but instead he damaged the statue. A video on the internet depicts the young man climbing carefully and cautiously over the monument while wearing a T-shirt and shorts. The statue has an unclothed man seated next to a lion while carrying an illuminated torch.

According to reports, he did not realise that he harmed the monument in any way. “An Irish tourist climbed onto one of the statues at the Brussels Stock Exchange building. Police arrived at the scene [and] a police report was drawn up against the tourist. When he wanted to get back down, he broke a piece of the statue”, a Brussels Police spokeswoman said.

Get the latest articles delivered to your inbox

Please check your inbox to activate your subscription, the building’s architect was upset.

The lion’s repair bill was €17,600. A recent extensive renovation operation included the addition of a co-working area and a beer exhibit to the historical Bourse structure. On Saturday, a variety of unique events were held to celebrate the opening of the recently refurbished facility, and guests were invited to partake in Belgian beer as part of the festivities.

Nel Van De Vannet, architect and CEO of the Brussels Stock Exchange Renovation Project, told RTÉ Morning Ireland on Thursday morning that the site is “symbolically important” and often used as a gathering place for both happy and sad times. The occurrence has left her and her teammates “very, very sad and upset”.

“For us, it’s a bit of a sad moment to see now after these three years of restoration where we know the sculpture and time it took to restore it is now broken off after two days of opening. It will take probably two months again before we can see the whole lion with the hand intact again. Again, it’s a long process”, she said.

The Brussels Royal Museum Director Resigns, Staff Allegations

By Angela Davic News, Discoveries, In-depth Reporting, and Analysis Angela is a journalism student at the Faculty of Political Science in Belgrade and received a scholarship for continued education in Prague. She completed her internship at the daily newspaper DANAS and worked as an executive editor at Talas.

Frequently Read Together

The Colosseum Vandalism Continues

Banksy Farmhouse Artwork in Britain Quickly Got Destroyed

Irish tourist damages newly renovated statue in Belgium's capital Brussels

An Irish tourist has been filmed climbing on top of a lion statue outside the Brussels stock exchange and damaging it as he tried to dismount.

In the video shared by Belgian media outlet, Sudinfo, a part of the statue can be seen breaking off — it looks like the torch held by a sculpted man.

Police arrested the tourist shortly after the incident on Sunday night, according to local media reports.

The two lion statues and stairs in front of the Brussels stock exchange, known as the Bourse, had only just been renovated at a cost of 90 million euros ($148 million). 

The building reopened its doors after three years of restoration on Saturday — one day before the incident took place.

Nel Vandevennet, the manager of the renovation project, told VRT NWS that repairing the damage could take "a few weeks or even months".

"The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen," he said.

"It is listed heritage and there will be follow-up from the monuments and landscapes agency of the Brussels region.

"We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it's very sad this happened."

• X (formerly Twitter)
• Arts, Culture and Entertainment

• Garden Worms
• Billie Eilish
• Local Change location
• Entertainment
• Perspectives

TV Programs

• Global National
• The Morning Show
• Video Centre
• More…
• Email alerts
• Breaking News Alerts from Global News
• License Content
• New Brunswick
• Peterborough

Close Local

Your local region.

• All event types

Quick Search

Trending now.

Add Global News to Home Screen Close

Instructions:

• Press the share icon on your browser
• Select Add to Home Screen

Comments Close comments menu

Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.

Drunken tourist climbs, breaks historic Brussels statue 1 day after reopening

If you get Global News from Instagram or Facebook - that will be changing. Find out how you can still connect with us .

A historic statue outside the Brussels Stock Exchange was damaged on Sunday evening after a drunken Irish tourist climbed on it to take a picture.

A major three-year restoration project to revamp the 150-year-old building had just been completed the day before, Belgium media reported. The restoration work cost 90 million euros, or about C$130 million.

The statue that was damaged depicted a lion and a man holding a torch, one of two lion statues that guard the entrance to the stock exchange.

Video of the incident was shared widely on social media, showing the Irish tourist sitting on the back of the lion statue. As he tries to get off the lion’s back, he grabs the arm of the man holding the torch and appears to put all of his weight on it.

The torch then snaps off and the tourist walks away.

A young Irishman has been arrested in Brussels, Belgium, after he climbed on to a recently renovated statue outside the stock exchange on Sunday and caused part of it to fall off, according to local media. Report here: https://t.co/dyx9mL0EDO pic.twitter.com/nalE6cGMjc — The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) September 13, 2023

Police were notified about the incident and tracked the Irishman down to a nearby fast food restaurant.

Brussels police told Insider that the man was briefly detained and will face criminal charges. Police did not identify the tourist by name.

The statue will now have to be restored again. Management for the building are hoping to recover the cost of the repair from the tourist, to the tune of 17,600 euros, about C$25,000, Het Nieuwsblad reports.

“The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen,” said the project manager for the restoration, Nel Vandevennet. “It is listed heritage and there will be follow-up from the monuments and landscapes agency of the Brussels region.”

“We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months,” Vandevennet told VRT News .

“The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions which were in a bad way. We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened.”

The Brussels Stock Exchange was founded by decree of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801, though the building wasn’t erected until 1873, designed by architect Léon Suys.

In 2000, the stock exchange merged with the Paris and Amsterdam stock exchanges to form Euronext, a pan-European exchange. In 2015, the company moved out of the historic stock exchange building in Brussels.

Since then, the building has been used to house temporary exhibits until renovations began in 2020 to restore the building and re-open it as a museum about Belgian beer.

Belgian Beer World opened inside the stock exchange building on Saturday offering 400 different kinds of beer on the menu.

The day after the opening was when the drunken tourist damaged the statue. It’s unclear if he had visited Belgian Beer World.

• Mint Butterfield, child of billionaire tech CEO, found alive, man arrested
• Gold watch owned by richest Titanic passenger sells for record-breaking $2M
• McGill University mulls ‘next steps’ as pro-Palestinian encampment triples in size
• Friends ‘fight off’ shark after it attacks man in Tobago

Sponsored content

Report an error, subscribe here.

• Skip to content
• Watch the latest news broadcast

VIDEO: 'Merry' Irish tourist damages historic lion statue outside Belgian Beer World

One of the two newly restored lions outside the Brussels Stock Exchange building was damaged by an Irish tourist on Sunday evening. The visitor climbed on top of the lion and damaged a sculpture in the process. Police have issued a charge sheet.

"On Sunday evening, an Irish tourist in a merry mood wanted to climb onto the lion in front of the Brussels Stock Exchange building," explains project manager Nel Vandevennet of the renovated stock exchange building that now houses Belgian Beer World. "In the process, the man broke off a newly restored sculpture 'The hand with a torch'."

The merry Irishman’s climb was filmed by a police camera allowing officers to intercept the visitor. "The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen," says Vandevennet. "It is listed heritage and there will be follow-up from the monuments and landscapes agency of the Brussels region."

"We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months. The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions which were in a bad way. We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened," concludes Nel Vandevennet.

Belgian Beer World at BourseBeurs

The newly renovated stock exchange building that accommodates the new Belgian Beer World experience only reopened on Saturday.  The centre is devoted to Belgian beer culture and includes a beer terrace that can also be visited outside museum hours.

It is not known whether our Irish visitor found inspiration at Belgian Beer World or enjoyed the offerings of the beer terrace or whether other pubs in the vicinity enjoyed his custom.

Top stories

2% top-up for wages and benefits as trigger index is exceeded, 2,000 drivers a year fined for middle lane hogging, man fights for his life after schaarbeek shooting, elderly couple victims of home invasion: locked in basement and found only hours later, sharp rise in unemployment, especially in flanders: national figure up 6.7% on a year ago, la lorraine’s ambition: "making erpe-mere the most modern bakery plant in europe", royal greenhouses open to the general public until 20 may, elections 24: what do the flemish socialists of vooruit stand for, elections 24: meet the open vld, "little girl playing with pussy": child focus stepping up battle against child porn via explicit video titles.

A tourist broke a historic statue in Brussels one day after it was unveiled to the public following a 3-year restoration project that cost more than $18,000

• A video showed a tourist climbing on top of a statue and breaking off a piece. 
• Police later arrested the tourist at a fast food joint.
• The man who helped restore the statue said he felt sad the statue was broken so soon after it was unveiled to the public.

A tourist climbed onto a historic statue in Brussels, Belgium, on Sunday and accidentally broke a portion of it, Brussels police told Insider in a statement. The incident was first reported by the local newspaper Het Nieuwsblad .

In a video posted by Het Nieuwsblad, a man in a white shirt and a pair of black shorts was shown trying to get down from the statue. The man is from Ireland, police said in the statement.

Later in the video, a piece of the statue — which the man was shown holding — broke off and fell to the ground. The man was then shown walking away from the statue.

Related stories

The statue, which comprises a lion and a figure of a man with a torch in hand, is a part of the Brussels Stock Exchange building, the police said. The tourist had broken the statue just a day after it was shown to the public, following a three-year restoration project that cost 17,600 euros, or around $18,750, per Het Nieusblad.

Police later arrested the man at a fast food joint that was located near the statue, according to Het Niewsblad. The Brussels Stock Exchange said it expects the man to pay for the broken statue's restoration, per the report.

"The police arrived at the scene and found the tourist a bit further away. He was temporarily held in police custody and will face criminal charges," Brussels police told Insider, declining to reveal details about the man's identity.

Nel Vandevennet, who was part of the team that renovated the statue, said that the repairs are going to take a few weeks or even months. "We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it's very sad this happened," he told the Belgian broadcaster VRT .

"The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen," Vandevennet said. 

It's not the first time a tourist has misbehaved overseas. In October last year, an American tourist smashed two sculptures and hurled them into the ground during a visit to the Vatican Museum. In July, a tourist defaced part of the Colosseum in Rome and used a key to carve "Ivan+Haley 23" on a wall.  

Watch: Former art thief and detective rate 9 art heists in movies and TV

• Main content

• Entertainment

Irish tourist arrested in Brussels after allegedly damaging newly-restored statue

An Irish tourist has been arrested in Brussels after allegedly damaging a newly-restored statue of a lion worth over €17,000.

Police arrested the man at the Brussels Stock Exchange on Sunday night after he broke a piece of the statue when attempting to climb up to the lion, who is joined at its side by a man holding a torch.

Today's top videos

Story continues below.

Appearing to try get a photo with the lion in a video of the incident, the tourist knocked off the man’s torch when trying to climb up from the back of the statue.

The man was soon arrested by police shortly after the incident in a nearby restaurant, where he was said to have pleaded he intended no harm.

The news arrives as a blow for the restored Stock Exchange building as the €90 million property only opened its doors to the public on the day before the incident after three years of anticipation.

Despite just being restored, the statue will now have to be reworked once more to get it back to its prestine condition for tourists to marvel at.

According to Het Nieuwsblad , a Flemish newspaper, the Stock Exhange will be looking for the man to pay for the repairs of the damage he caused.

Four men arrested and firearm seized on M50 following suspected kidnapping

Man arrested at dublin airport over fatal kerry assault, man, 20s, arrested in connection with fatal assault at tralee cemetery, must read news.

More: Trending News

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Tourist damages historic Brussels statue one day after £15,000 restoration revealed

Irish holidaymaker arrested after snapping off part of monument’s hand, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts

Get simon calder’s travel email, thanks for signing up to the simon calder’s travel email.

An Irish tourist has broken a historic statue in Belgium just one day after it was unveiled to the public following a £15,000 restoration.

The unnamed man was arrested after snapping off part of the hand bearing a torch on the monument in front of the newly reopened Brussels Stock Exchange, reports Belgian outlet VRT NWS .

The building, now home to the new Belgian Beer World experience, had reopened the day before, on Saturday 9 September, after undergoing major renovation work that cost £77m in total.

Video shared online shows the moment the holidaymaker, who appears to be drunk, clambered on the statue depicting a man holding a torch next to a lion.

The footage shows him then steadying himself as goes to jump back down, managing to break off the torch and a large part of the statue’s arm.

Police cameras captured the act of accidental vandalism, and the man was reportedly intercepted and arrested by law enforcement in a nearby fast food restaurant not long after.

The building is now keen to claim the thousands of pounds-worth of damage directly from the tourist.

Nel Vandevennet, who managed the restoration project, described the man as being “in a merry mood”.

“The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen,” he said.

“It is listed heritage and there will be follow-up from the monuments and landscapes agency of the Brussels region.

“We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months.

“The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions which were in a bad way.

“We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened.”

It is the latest in a long line of incidents of tourists behaving badly this summer.

A British tourist in Rome hit headlines when he carved his name into the Colosseum ; the same act was repeated not soon after by a teenage girl on holiday in the Italian capital .

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

The Straits Times

• International
• Print Edition
• news with benefits
• SPH Rewards
• STClassifieds
• Berita Harian
• Hardwarezone
• Shin Min Daily News
• Tamil Murasu
• The Business Times
• The New Paper
• Lianhe Zaobao
• Advertise with us

Tourist climbs onto newly restored historic statue in Brussels and breaks part of it

An Irish tourist may have to foot a staggering bill of around €17,600 (S$26,000) for breaking a portion of a recently restored statue in Brussels.

The incident occurred on Sunday and was first reported by local newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.

The man, identified as an Irish national, was allegedly intoxicated. He reportedly wanted to have a photo taken while sitting on the back of the statue, which features a lion and a man holding a torch.

In a video circulated online, the tourist is seen trying to get down from the statue.

He balances himself by holding on to the torch, which then breaks off.

He was later arrested at a fast food restaurant, reported Het Nieuwsblad.

The building’s management has reportedly called for the tourist to foot the cost of the repairs.

The damaged statue is one half of a pair of lion statues located outside the stock exchange building, known as The Bourse, in the Belgian capital.

Just a day before the incident, the building had been reopened to the public after a three-year restoration project that cost €90 million (S$131 million). The statues were part of the restoration.

Mr Nel Vandevennet, the project manager for the restoration, said the building and statues were heritage listed.

The repairs will cost a lot of money because “the work will have to be done by real craftsmen”, he told news outlet VRT NWS.

He noted that it would take at least a few weeks or even months to get the work done.

“We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened,” Mr Vandevennet said.

This is not the first time tourists have behaved badly.

In July, a tourist defaced part of Rome’s Colosseum when he used a key to carve out his and his girlfriend’s names on a wall.

Earlier in 2023, Indonesia’s Bali island banned tourists from riding motorcycles after a string of road accidents and even deaths.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

• Tourist attractions

Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards

Spin the wheel now

latest in US News

Voters sick of Biden, Trump aren't sold on RFK Jr. either, poll...

Cops raid illegal NYC pot shop just one day after defiant worker...

Heist gang behind brazen Los Angeles daylight robberies of...

Israeli units committed 'gross violations of human rights' prior...

Tipping? Fuhgeddaboudit! NYers blast $500 a year 'tipflation'...

NYPD 'mobilizing' for action at Columbia, but admin has not asked...

Desperate MTA mulling art installations to fill empty retail...

Influencer runs the Brooklyn Half Marathon without registering...

Seemingly drunk tourist climbs statue, causes $19k in damages at iconic brussels building day after it reopened to public.

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

An Irish tourist has broken a statue out the front of an iconic building in Brussels one day after it reopened to the public following a three-year $150 million restoration.

The man was allegedly intoxicated and was filmed trying to ride the lion statue, which also features a man with a torch, at the Brussels Stock Exchange in Belgium.

There are two of the statues located on either side of the entrance to the building and they were also restored as part of the project.

As the tourist tried to climb down, a part of the statue, believed to be the torch, broke off.

He was arrested by police at a nearby fast food restaurant and said he was unaware of the scale of the damage he had caused, according to local media.

The restoration of the statue is estimated to cost about $19,000 and the Brussels Stock Exchange plans to make the tourist pay, local newspaper  Nieuwsblad  reported.

Nel Vandevennet, project manager for the restoration, said the building and statues were heritage-listed.

“We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months,” he told news outlet  VRT NWS .

He continued: “The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions which were in a bad way.

“We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened.”

The building opened to the public on Saturday and the video of the tourist was filmed on Sunday night.

The reopened building plans to be a public place for exhibitions, performances, and other events.

There is a cafe and it is expected a restaurant will eventually be opened too.

It is also home to the Belgian Beer World museum, but it is unknown if the Irishman had visited.

Share this article:

Advertisement

Drunk tourist damages newly renovated statue at Bourse in Brussels city centre

The Bourse in Brussels city centre recently reopened after a big renovation, but has already been damaged again by an intoxicated tourist on Sunday night.

The Bourse and the two lions on the stairs in front of it have only just been restored . On Saturday, the building finally opened its doors after three years of restoration, which cost €90 million. A day later, one of the lion statues has already been damaged.

A video shows an Irish tourist, clearly intoxicated, climbing on the back of the statue to have his photo taken, next to the statue of a man holding a torch. However, when trying to crawl off the statue, the torch breaks off.

Police were notified and the man was arrested shortly afterwards in a fast food restaurant nearby – unaware of the harm he had caused. The statue, which was also only recently restored, will now have to be repaired again.

The restoration of the lion cost €17,600, and the management of the Bourse reportedly wants to recover the costs from the Irishman, Het Nieuwsblad reports.

Related News

• A first look inside the renovated Bourse and the Belgian Beer World
• Two beaches open in central Brussels this week

Copyright © 2024 The Brussels Times. All Rights Reserved.

The Tom Dunne Show

22:00-00:00

‘Intoxicated’ Irishman arrested for breaking newly-restored lion statue in Brussels

13.52 13 Sep 2023

Share this article

An Irish tourist has broken a statue outside the Brussels Stock Exchange after climbing on top of it, according to local police.

Local media reports say the ‘clearly intoxicated’ man was trying to get his photo taken while sitting on the statue of a lion and a man holding a torch.

Video footage shows the man attempting to climb down from the statue and accidentally knocking the torch – which falls to the ground and smashes to the audible gasps of onlookers.

The Stock Exchange - known as the Bourse - and the lions flanking its entrance have only just been restored at a cost of around €90m.

Nieuwsblad reports that the Bourse now wants to see the man pay the cost of the restoration of the sculpture – which is estimated at around €17,600.

A Brussels Police spokesperson said the incident happened at around 1am on Sunday night – just one day after the building reopened.

“An Irish tourist climbed onto one of the statues at the Brussels Stock Exchange building,” she said.

“When he wanted to get back down, he broke a piece of the statue.

“Police arrived at the scene [and] a police report was drawn up against the tourist.”

local reports say the man was arrested not long after the incident at a nearby fast-food restaurant.

Read more about

Most Popular

‘You don’t lick it off the ground’ - Are personalities passed on from parents?

Social media age verification is a 'very trick thing to do' - Jess Kelly

Rishi Sunak looking to avoid election ‘oblivion’ in immigration row with Ireland

Guinness 0.0 sales up 50%: 'Sober culture has become huge'

Taoiseach to push for 'immediate' Gaza ceasefire at first European Council meeting

‘The people should decide’ – TD calls for referendum on EU Asylum Pact

Leo Varadkar attends final EU leaders summit as Taoiseach

Tourist climbs Brussels statue, breaks it

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

An Irish tourist was filmed climbing a recently-renovated statue outside the Brussels stock exchange, causing part of it to break off.

The man was arrested and the building's management has called for him to cover the cost of repairs.

Is this the summer of bad tourists? BBC Travel explores why raising awareness of misbehaving travellers is a good thing.

Footage courtesy of Sudinfo.

• Subsection Europe
• Published 14 September 2023

• Breaking News
• University Guide
• Meghan Markle
• Prince Harry
• King Charles III

Moment Irish tourist damages statue outside Brussels Stock Exchange the day after it was unveiled following £15,000 restoration

• Irishman was arrested after snapping off part of 'the hand with a torch' statue
• Stock Exchange had just undergone £77m restoration, including work to statue
• Do you know who the tourist is? Email [email protected]

By Elena Salvoni

Published: 10:32 EDT, 13 September 2023 | Updated: 13:37 EDT, 13 September 2023

View comments

An Irishman has been arrested in Brussels after breaking off part of a statue outside the city's Stock Exchange - which had just cost £15,000 to restore.

The building, known as the Bourse, was reopened just a day before the incident on Sunday, following a three-year £77million restoration project.

Shocking video shows the man, who appears to be drunk, climbing up the statue, which is called 'the hand with a torch' and is one of two which flank the entrance.

Astonished crowds watched as he clambered on to the sculpture, which depicts a lion and a man holding a torch.

As he goes to dismount the artwork, he grabs on to it to steady himself, snapping the torch and what appears to be part of the arm off as he jumps to the ground. 

Astonished crowds watched as he clambered on to the sculpture, which depicts a lion and a man holding a torch

Video taken of the incident on Sunday shows the man appearing to steady himself by holding onto the statue's arm

The man is thought to have been intercepted by police in a nearby fast food restaurant soon after and arrested. 

The Stock Exchange now wants to recoup the thousands in damages directly from the man, Belgian media reports.

Nel Vandevennet, who managed the restoration project, told outlet VRT NWS : 'The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen.

'It is listed heritage and there will be follow-up from the monuments and landscapes agency of the Brussels region.'

The torch and what appears to be part of the arm of the statue clatters to the floor as the man makes his way down 

The tourist looks down as he realises he's knocked part of the statue off 

Pictures show the statue in a state of disrepair before it was restored. Now, it will need to be worked on again

The reopening of the landmark has been highly anticipated in the Belgian city, with guided tours being put on as tourists are welcomed back

Pictures show the erosion suffered by the stone statue before it was restored. Now, it will need to be worked on again. 

READ MORE:  Tourist who carved his name into Colosseum wall is a fitness instructor who lives in Bristol

'We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months,' said Vandevennet.

'The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions which were in a bad way. 

'We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it's very sad this happened.'

The reopening of the landmark has been highly anticipated in the Belgian city, with guided tours being put on as tourists are welcomed back. 

It is not the only attraction to have suffered damage from tourists this summer, with Rome's Colosseum targeted by a holidaymaker in June.

Ivan Dimitrov, 27, who also goes by the name Ivan Hawkins, was caught on camera by an American tourist as he carved the words, 'Ivan and Hayley 23' into the brickwork with a set of keys.

Then in July, a 17-year-old Swiss girl was also caught carving into the walls of the ancient amphitheatre.

Share or comment on this article: Moment Irish tourist damages statue outside Brussels Stock Exchange the day after it was unveiled following £15,000 restoration

Comments 188

Share what you think

• Worst rated

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

• Follow DailyMail
• Subscribe Daily Mail
• Follow @dailymail
• Follow MailOnline
• Follow Daily Mail

From the Makers of Candy Crush

• Back to top

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

Must-see attractions in Brussels

11 March 2022

Are you a first-timer in Brussels? Don’t worry, then: you're in good hands. We've put together a list of must-see attractions for you. This way, you can discover our capital through its best-known and most valuable treasures. An excellent introduction to the city!

An absolute must: the Grand Place, and the neighbouring galleries

Visiting Brussels without spending some time in the Grand Place is simply unthinkable. Here you’ll see the town hall (one of the most beautiful in the country), the Maison du Roi , which is home to the Brussels City Museum, and a series of private houses built at the end of the 17th century. The architectural richness of this square is simply overwhelming.

Just a stone's throw away from the Grand Place are the Royal Galleries , one of the oldest covered galleries in Europe, as beautiful by day as by night.

Manneken Pis: it’s not the size that matters

Since the 15th century, the  Manneken Pis  sculpture has adorned one of the public fountains that supply the city with drinking water. Over time, this wee little man became a kind of mascot, with the people of Brussels seeing him as a symbol of the local temperament, a unique combination of mischievous, irreverent and droll. A much coveted symbol, since the present statue is a copy. The original, which has been stolen several times, is now safely housed in the Brussels City Museum . Nearby, you can discover the vast wardrobe of Manneken Pis at the GardeRobe MannekenPis Museum.

Comic Strips in the streets: the Comic Strip trail

Brussels is the undisputed capital of the comic strip. The ninth art can be found everywhere, in shops, galleries, flea markets, festivals and more. And since 1991, the city's walls have been gradually covered with frescoes that pay tribute to the authors and their many heroes. You can turn down a street and come face to face with Tintin , Cubitus, Billy and Buddy , Blake and Mortimer or Corto Maltese . In all, there are more than 80 murals immersing locals, visitors and tourists alike in the wonderful world of comics.

An 18th century masterpiece: the Royal Quarter

The Place Royale, which was built on the ashes of the Coudenberg Palace , has retained its historical function as the “executive power district”. You’ll find the Royal Palace , the “office” of the Belgian King, at the Place des Palais, bordering the Place Royale. Opposite is the Parc de Bruxelles or Royal Park. The streets bordering the park are also part of the same neoclassical ensemble. For instance, on the other side of the park, you will see the  Palace of the Nation , the seat of the Belgian Parliament. At the Place Royale, with the statue of Godfrey of Bouillon at the centre, you’ll discover the Church of St. James on Coudenberg that resembles a Greco-Roman temple and a series of similar, harmonious mansions.

Culture with a view: the Mont des Arts

The Mont des Arts is the junction between uptown and downtown Brussels and offers a delightful view in all seasons. Below, you can sit in the sumptuous gardens that lead to the statue of Albert I. The “knightly king” faces his love, Queen Elizabeth, whose statue stands on the small Place de l'Albertine on the other side of the road.The Mont des Arts is home to the KBR , the country's main library, and the KBR Museum , which houses the library of the Dukes of Burgundy and the Archives & Museum of Literature (AML). On the other side of the Mont des Arts you’ll find the Brussels Congress Centre Square . Within walking distance you’ll also find major museums and cultural institutions such as Bozar , the BELvue museum and the Museum of Musical Instruments (MIM), to name but a few.

Spotlight on the masters: the Royal Museums of Fine Arts

As beautiful from the outside as it is from the inside, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium is a treasure trove of art. In fact, it is the most visited museum in Brussels. Its pluralised name reflects the fact that it contains several sites, covering a variety of periods and themes. Near Place Royale, you can visit the Old Masters Museum , dedicated to European painters from the 15th to the 18th centuries, and the popular Magritte Museum . Not far away, in Ixelles, you can admire the Wiertz and Meunier museums.

The Marolles district: authentic and diverse

This district is arguably the most authentic part of Brussels. Here, you can often still hear the Brusseleir dialect being spoken. The Marolles have it all, from traditional cafés to trendy bars, family-run establishments to stylish new art galleries. Place du Jeu de Balle is the beating heart of this quarter, where the " Vieux Marché ", a gigantic flea market, is held every day.

When size does matter: the Palace of Justice

The colossal Palace of Justice was inaugurated in 1883. It was designed by the architect Joseph Poelaert, and towers over the working-class district of the Marolles at a location where, for centuries, death sentences were carried out. At the time of its construction, this monument of 40,000 m2 of usable space was the largest building ever built and it’s still one of the largest courthouses in the world today. However, restauration works have tarnished its visual spectacle since the 1980s, to the point that scaffolding had to be erected to ensure the renovation... of the scaffolding already in place! (currently not accessible)

The Atomium: the landmark

Created for the 1958 World Fair, the Atomium with its 9 balls represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times!  (It is often mistakenly thought to represent an atom, but in fact each ball represents an atom of iron). The significance of this construction is to celebrate scientific discoveries and breakthroughs. Inside, you will find exhibitions and, most importantly, a stunning view of the Brussels-Capital Region from the top ball. Only a short walk away, embark on a tour of all Europe’s wonders in miniature, thanks to  Mini-Europe . Design lovers won’t want to miss the  Design Museum Brussels  only a stone’s throw away, born following the Atomium’s acquisition of a private collection.

A cultural crossroads: the European Quarter

Far from being a neighbourhood of grey and austere offices, the European Quarter combines European institutions with community life, parks, museums and more. In this district, you can attend plenary sessions in the Parliament's hemicycle and learn more about the Union thanks to the Parlamentarium , the House of European History and Experience Europe . You can also stroll through Léopold Park , a green space that recalls the days when the bourgeoisie moved in en masse from the bustling heart of the city. The district is also a landmark for fans of contemporary and Art Nouveau architecture.

Triumphal splendour: the Cinquantenaire

Built in 1880 to celebrate Belgium's 50th birthday, the Cinquantenaire attracts locals who appreciate its formal garden , history buffs who visit the Art & History Museum , car fans who flock to Autoworld and curious minds who are amazed by the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History . The latter, an often underestimated attraction, also offers access to the arches for a 360° panoramic view of the city.

Once upon a time: the Institute of Natural Sciences

The Institute of Natural Sciences tops the list of the world's best dinosaur museums, which is hardly surprising given that it houses Europe's largest dinosaur gallery. With rooms covering all aspects of life on earth, the evolution of human beings, urban species and the creatures of the seabed, the Museum has something for visitors of all ages. You can even take a behind-the-scenes look at the scientific institute to which it belongs.

The Horta House: quintessential Art Nouveau

Between 1898 et 1901, the architect Victor Horta built Horta House , which consisted of two buildings: his office and his personal home. This prolific pioneer of the Art Nouveau style was responsible for many architectural gems in Brussels. In his own house, which has been converted to a museum, you’ll find all the hallmarks of the Art Nouveau style. The house, now a museum, is one of the many Art Nouveau gems dotted along the streets of the capital .

The Koekelberg Basilica: house of the holy

Legend has it that the idea of building a national basilica in Brussels came to King Leopold II after a visit to the construction site of the Sacré-Cœur in Paris. The construction of the basilica started in 1905, only to be completed in 1970. Some see it as the largest Art Deco church in the world, others as an excessive and ostentatious folly. We’ll let you decide for yourself.

Brussels’ culinary specialities

Brussels waffles, stoemp, waterzooi… the capital of Europe’s culinary specialities are a must when you visit the Brussels-Capital Region.

The best places to eat chips in Brussels

Check out all our addresses!

The best places to buy chocolate in Brussels

As the capital of chocolate, Brussels is full of shops where you can buy this delicious speciality.

Top 10 best spots for prawn croquettes in Brussels: edition 2023

Shrimp croquettes are veritable icons of Belgian gastronomy, and are a real “must” when you visit Brussels.

Our itineraries

Are you done visiting the must-see attractions? The exploration continues. Visit our itineraries page for a more profound introduction to Brussels through its quarters or by various themes.

10 must-visit Art Nouveau houses and mansions in Brussels

Along the streets of Brussels, numerous houses and mansions bear witness to the emergence and blossoming of the iconic Art Nouveau style.

UNESCO heritage in Brussels

Qu’est-ce que le Taj Mahal et les Pyramides d’Egypte ont en commun avec la Grand-Place et d’autres lieux exceptionnels à Bruxelles ? Ils sont tous reconnus par l’Unesco. Bruxelles est admirée pour la richesse de son patrimoine, témoignage de son histoire quasi millénaire, ce qui n’a pas échappé à l’UNESCO, l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’éducation, la science et la culture.

Brussels' top 10 museums and attractions

Are you coming to Brussels and need some inspiration for your visits? Join us to discover the capital's unmissable museums and attractions, thanks to our list of the most popular, in terms of visitor numbers.

Top 10 masterpieces to discover with the Brussels Card

Discover our top 10 masterpieces to behold in Brussels with the Brussels Card.

Video: Irish Tourist Causes Rs 16 Lakh In Damages To Historic Brussels Statue

A viral video shows a newly renovated statue at the brussels stock exchange breaking down when a tourist climbs onto it..

The man was arrested and asked to cover the cost of repairs.

An Irish tourist in Belgium was arrested after causing significant damage to a recently restored statue in Brussels. The damage is estimated to be worth $19,000 (Rs 15.83 lakh).

According to the New York Post , the tourist, reportedly intoxicated, was filmed trying to ride a lion statue at the Brussels Stock Exchange in Belgium. The statue, which also features a man with a torch, is one of two that were recently restored as part of a $150 million renovation project. As the tourist tried to climb down, he broke off a part of the statue, believed to be the torch.

Watch the video here:  

An Irishman climbed the statue in front of the Brussels Stock Exchange, which was reopened yesterday after 3 years of renovation, and broke its arm #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/Ne5yu5fFaU — 𝕬𝖐ı𝖓𝖈ı (@soneerbozkurt) September 15, 2023

The statue, known as The Bourse, incurred this damage just one day after its reopening.

According to local media, the police arrested the tourist at a nearby fast-food restaurant. The tourist claimed to be unaware of the extent of the damage he had caused.

Nel Vandevennet, project manager for the restoration, said the Brussels Stock Exchange building and statues were heritage-listed.

"We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months," he told news outlet VRT NWS.

He continued: "The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions, which were in a bad way.

Promoted Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

"We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it's very sad this happened."

According to Nieuwsblad , the authority is reportedly seeking compensation from the Irish tourist for the damage he caused to the statue.

Track Budget 2023 and get Latest News Live on NDTV.com.

Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world .

Track Latest News and Election Results Coverage Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.

Watch Live News: