This is Fonske statue created by the Belgium artist Jef Claerhout. It was given to the city in 1975 in honor of the 550th anniversary of the University of Leuven and established in the heart of the city. Fonske represents the life of a student in Leuven.
Fonske’s full name is Fons Sapientiae, which means “Fountain of Wisdom.” The statue shows a student reading a book while pouring water from a mug into his open-top skull. It represents the flow of knowledge and wisdom into his head. In his book, a math formula creates the Dutch word “happiness.”