What is the Sotscop or Opsinjoorke you may ask?   The Opsinjoorke portrays the eternal drunk, the bad husband who drinks far too much, the unfaithful husband always returning home late whilst not caring about the money he spends.  The people of Mechelen mock him by tossing a doll up into the air with a large linen sheet (perhaps this was to represent the bedlinen).

The Sotscop was made in 1647, and is about 1.11 metres. Traditionally the women of the neighbourhood would throw the doll up high into the air as he was not good to his wife.  The name Sotscop is translated as “bad groom” or “dirty bastard”.

During the procession on the 4th July 1775 the doll fell off the linen sheet and ended up hitting a man on the head from Antwerp.  He was accused of stealing the doll as he had raised his hands up in the air to protect himself.  Story be told, all this visitor intended to do was showcase his new hat and cane off.  Subsequently some locals took it into their own hands and beat the man up quite badly.  As the doll fell onto a”Signoren” (a nickname for an Antwerper) it was then renamed as “op” (up) and Signor.

In 1949 the doll was stolen by Antwerp students but was soon found and returned.  Again the doll disappeared in 1971 yet was found two days late in the Mechelen prison.  How this occurred is unsure, yet the story goes that the doll always returns to it’s home. The original doll is still used during ceremonial processions.  A replica can be viewed in the Tourist Office of Mechelen.

A bronze cast of the statue is located in the corner of the Grote Markt in front of the Town Hall.

In 2015 a yellow Opsinjoorke XXL was built for children to play and climb upon, yet during the first few weeks children kept on falling off and injuring themselves.  This then led to his arms and legs being shortened.  Perhaps the mischevious fellows legend still lives on to this day and age –  the Opsinjoorke is still up to his tricks!

You can also see during Summer when the Mechelen flags are flying there is a representation of the Opsinjoorke.  Do keep an eye out for them!