Madame Chapeau - Brussels, Belgium
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 50° 50.699 E 004° 20.909
31U E 594935 N 5633452
Madame Chapeau is a character (and a male transvestite) from a play and apparently recurrent character in the Brussels theatrical productions.
Waymark Code: WME8T7
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Date Posted: 04/19/2012
Views: 15
Located at the corner of the Rue du Midi and the Sparrow Street in Brussels, this sculpture depicts a woman (look closer and you can discern male features) who is counting her money..while walking with her large handbag that has baguettes sticking out. The statue is in an area in Brussels known for frequent pickpockets...and acts as a warning. The character is apparently well known from the Theatre Royal. The artist is Tom Frantzen.
This website (
visit link) informs us about the character:
"Madame Chapeau, de son vrai nom Amélie Van Beneden, est un personnage de fiction de la pièce de théâtre belge Bossemans et Coppenolle, pièce représentative de la zwanze et de l'humour bruxellois. Il s'agit d'une dame âgée, jouée par un homme travesti.
La Ville de Bruxelles lui a d'ailleurs rendu hommage avec un bronze grandeur nature dans la capitale (à l'angle de la rue du Midi et de la rue des Moineaux).
Une réplique célèbre de Madame Chapeau : « ça est les crapuleux de ma strotje qui m'ont appelée comme ça parce que je suis trop distinguée pour sortir en cheveux ! »
La pièce est régulièrement jouée au Théâtre royal des Galeries. Un des acteurs qui a souvent incarné ce rôle est Jean Hayet.
Billy Pitt interprète en 1938, ce rôle dans le film de 1938 de Gaston Schoukens."
which Google translates with flaws as:
"Madame Chapeau, whose real name is Amelia Van Beneden, is a fictional character in the play and Belgian Bossemans Coppenolle zwanze piece representative of the Brussels and humor. This is an older woman, played by a male transvestite.
The City of Brussels has also honored with a bronze monument in the capital (at the corner of the Rue du Midi and the Sparrow Street).
A replica of the famous Madame Chapeau: "it is the foul of my strotje who called me like that because I'm too out distinguished human hair! "
The play is regularly performed at the Theatre Royal Galleries. One actor who has often embodied this role is Jean Hayet.
Billy Pitt performer in 1938, this role in the 1938 film of Gaston Schoukens"
This website (
visit link) has additional photos.
This website in French (
visit link) informs us that the play is entitled "Bossemans et Coppenolle" and is by Joris d'Hanswyck et Paul Van Stalle