Manneken Pis

Manneken Pis is a small bronze fountain in central Brussels. The statue shows a naked boy urinating into a basin. It stands on a corner where two streets meet, surrounded by old buildings. The statue has stood here since 1619, designed by Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder. It replaced an earlier version mentioned in records from the 15th century. Over the years, Manneken Pis has been stolen and damaged many times. Today a copy remains on site while the original is kept in the Brussels City Museum. The figure has become a famous symbol of Brussels and Belgium. Visitors find the statue in a small blue stone niche with iron railings around it. Nearby is the Grand-Place, Brussels’ main square, only a short walk away. The area is lively with shops and cafés. A museum nearby displays the many costumes once worn by the statue. The surroundings keep the spirit of old Brussels alive.