Bronze Zinneke

The Bronze Zinneke is an award handed out by the cabinet of the Brussels Region to individuals, personalities, organisations, or companies that perform a role as informal ambassador of the Brussels Region or otherwise add to the positive image of the City and Region of Brussels.

The award is a miniature bronze version of Het Zinneke, a bronze sculpture of a urinating dog in central Brussels. A "zinneke" is a mutt or bastard in Brusselian dialect, a cross between different races of dogs, and as such a symbol of the diversity of races and cultures in Brussels.

The first Bronze Zinneke was awarded in 2001 to singer Johan Verminnen.

Recipients
Past recipients of the award include:


 * footballers Paul Van Himst, Vincent Kompany and Youri Tielemans
 * cycling legend Eddy Merckx
 * chef Pierre Wynants
 * jazz musician Toots Thielemans
 * actor Pascal Duquenne
 * patissier Herman Van Dender
 * Paralympic bronze medal winner Pieter Cilissen
 * foundation Fonds Carine Vyghen for organ donation
 * football trainer Besnik Hasi
 * racing car driver Jacky Ickx
 * founder and former director of Brosella Folk & Jazz Festival Henri Vandenberghe
 * illustrator, cartoonist, caricaturist and comic strip artist Eddy Vermeulen aka Ever Meulen and political cartoonist, graphic artist and painter Gerard Alsteens aka GAL
 * Olympic silver medal winner Lionel Cox (sport shooter)
 * entrepreneur Eric Everard
 * owners of World Heritage Site Hôtel Solvay, the Wittamer family
 * choreographer and founder of dance company Rosas, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker
 * singers Salvatore Adamo and Angèle
 * former rectors of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Caroline Pauwels and Paul De Knop
 * artist Marie-Pierra Kakoma aka Lous and the Yakuza
 * organist, composer, conductor and opera director Bernard Foccroulle
 * 2022 world champion road cycling Remco Evenepoel
 * estaminet 'In 't Spinnekopke'
 * president of the Companions of St. Lawrence, organizers of the Meyboom procession, Jan Brusten