This famous landmark in Brussels is a small bronze fountain featuring a nude little boy who is peeing into the fountains basins. The sculpture is an iconic part of the history of Brussels, and was designed by Hieronymus Duquesnoy the Elder in either 1618 or 1619. It has a cultural significance that is similar to the Little Mermaid by Copenhagen.
The little boy is located in the junction of Rue du Chene and Rue de l’Etuve. This statue stands in a famous water feature. The tall sculpture is 61 centimeters. The original sculpture has been repeatedly stolen, and the original was a copy that was added in 1965. The original is how housed in the Maison du Roi on the Grand Place. The statue has many legends about it. The most famous story is that the Duke Godfrey III of Lueven, who was only two at the time, was put in a basket and placed in a tree to protect him from invading troops, and he then repeatedly peed on the invading troops. Another story was that invading troops were trying to plant explosives in the city walls, and a little boy had spied on them, and then peed on the fuse, thus saving the city. There are many stories as to the reason for the fountain, but it is unclear as to why this fountain actually came to be.
The fountain is full of many traditions. The little boy is often dressed, several times a week, according to a published schedule. This schedule is posted to the railings around the fountain. There are several hundreds of different costumes for the statue. Many of these costumes can also be viewed in the museum where the original statue is housed. The costumes actually come from designs that are submitted each year to The Friends of the Manneken-Pis, a non-profit group. They select a few to produce for the statue. Most of the costumes are dated to the 20th century, but some date almost to the time of the original casting.
When the costume is changed, it is typically a big deal. There is often brass band music as well. Many of the costumes are for the national dress of the nations whose citizens come to Brussels as tourists. Other costumes represent various trades, associations, branches of the military and professions. Another interesting occurrence is when the statue is hooked up to a keg of beer allowing beer to flow from the statue, and passersby are given cups to fill and drink!
The Manneken Pis has been replicated all throughout the world. The statue is found in many Belgian cities, in Japan, as well as in the United States, in Orlando Florida for example. There is also one in Brazil, where the fans will dress him in the jerseys of the football club when they win. In the Netherlands, there are a small chain of restaurants that take this name, as well as a Belgian Restaurant in Maryland, in the United States, with this name as well. In 1987 a female equivalent was creates named Jeanneke Pis, who is located on the east side of the Impasse de la Fidelite, which features a statue , made of blue-grey limestone, portraying a little girl, hair in short pigtails, squatting and urinating in a very relaxed manner.
