The Myth, the Legend, the Statue of a Peeing Boy.
Manneken Pis, a bronze statue of a little boy eternally taking a whiz, perfectly sums up Belgium. The more you think about it, the stranger it gets. Yet, somehow, it’s weirdly likable.
Some say he saved Brussels by peeing on a lit fuse. Others claim he’s a nobleman’s son caught with his pants down. Whatever the truth, the Manneken Pis you see isn’t the original. That one was stolen and smashed to pieces back in 1817 by a French ex-convict. It was pieced back together and now resides in the Brussels City Museum, eternally dry. A replica takes its place on the street.
For centuries, Manneken Pis has been a fashion icon. VIPs and foreign countries give him costumes, turning him into a tiny Elvis, samurai, or Santa. With over 1,000 outfits in his wardrobe, you’re in for a treat on your visit. Don’t forget to watch the commotion this little guy causes: people-watching the crowd is part of the full experience.
Curious to his full wardrobe? Head to the GardeRobe MannekenPis museum, where you’ll find military uniforms, traditional clothing and everything in between. Each outfit tells another story in the life of Brussels’s most famous wildplasser. (Hint: It’s exactly what it sounds like.)