It seems unlikely that people would be keen to line up and take pictures of a bronze statue depicting a urinating child, but Manneken Pis, or Little Man Pee in Marols, a Dutch dialect, is an irreverent and fun icon to Belgians. The statue was originally just one of many fountains around Brussels providing drinking water for local residents in the 17th century, but the 61 cm tall statue on the corner of Rue de l'Etuve and Rue des Grands Carmes has been adopted as a city symbol. Visitors can still drink the water today, so bring a drinking bottle to fill when you visit, or simply wash your face and hands in the water as the Belgians do.
The original statue was created in 1619 by local sculptor Hieronimus Duquesnoy the Elder. Unfortunately, that version is no longer on display in its original location – it can now be found at the Maison du Roi on the Grand Place – and many that replaced it after that have been stolen. The current statue dates from 1965 and you will find him in a small square beneath a row of colourful flags.
At regular points through the year, he will be dressed up in elaborate costumes to celebrate both local and international holidays. Many of the costumes have been donated as gifts from different countries around the world, and now the statue has an enviable wardrobe of more than 800 outfits. At Christmas, he is of course dressed up as Father Christmas, and during the festive period, locals replace his water supply with a beer keg, and beer flows freely allowing people to fill a glass with this amber nectar.
Manneken Pis is located in central Brussels. Visitors arriving by metro should stop at Central Station. It is easier to catch the metro than to drive as parking is very limited. You can visit Manneken Pis at any time, and there is no charge for admission.
