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Manneken Pis: Brussles' Pissing Boy
Created in 1619, Manneken Pis is among Brussels' most famous statues. Literally translated as "Little Man Piss," the statue -- only 2 feet tall -- can be found behind a small fence at the corner of rue de l'Etuve and rue Chênet. If you show up on the right day, he may even be wearing one of his 600 costumes -- most of which are freaking hilarious! -- and all of which can be seen at the Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles.
Despite numerous legends about how he got there -- to deter enemies; to extinguish a lit fuse -- Manneken has led a bizarre and action-packed life, including escaping numerous kidnappings.
If you doubt the value of taking time out of your chocolate-tour to see the diminutive statue, check out the hundreds of positive reviews of the attraction on Virtual Tourist. Despite being small, Manneken Pis sure is a big hit.
If you visit, don't pass up the chance to get a commemorative corkscrew. Also, be sure to spend a few minutes checking out his sister, Jeanneke Pis.
Filed under: Belgium
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bonnie Booker Apr 26th 2008 9:12PM
My father brought home two small statues of the peeing boy from WWII. But these statues are about 2 inches high and mounted on what I assume is a part of a hollowed out shell (as in ammunition). The entire things stand about 4-4 1/2 inches tall. One is engraved on the bottom and has several sets of numbers and 1938. The other has nothing on the bottom. The boy screws off and around the bottom is "bruxells". I don't think I would part with these, but was wondering if they have any value.
zdragonphoenix Apr 1st 2007 2:25PM
I wanna see a pissing little girl... just to have some equality.
r1303 Apr 1st 2007 2:41PM
I wish you wouldn't use this word: freaking or any variations of it. I would much rather see the good old "f" word than these supossed ways around it. Use certainly shows a lack of vocabulary or any creative writing skills.
don k Apr 1st 2007 3:04PM
it's a pisser!!!!!
don k Apr 1st 2007 3:03PM
it's a pisser!!!!!
BMZjr Apr 1st 2007 3:18PM
i think the lil' pisser is great,cant wait to see him...oh i like the word Freaking too,ur doing a great job writing............
Ron Prior Apr 1st 2007 3:21PM
Saw this in 1956 while on a bicycle trip. Story then was the king lost his son and promised to build a shrine where he was found, doing what he was doing at that moment. I like this version.
Raymond E. Alston Apr 1st 2007 3:23PM
A Pissing little girl? Ha that would be something But that will never happen.
Ann Apr 1st 2007 7:39PM
When I had the privilege of visiting in Brussels and taking a tour, the guide referred to the little guy as, "holding his own" and that was way back in 1966. It got its laugh.
Ann Apr 1st 2007 7:41PM
When I had the privilege of visiting in Brussels and taking a tour, the guide referred to the little guy as, "holding his own" and that was way back in 1966. It got its laugh.
basbleu Apr 1st 2007 3:34PM
Maennekin piss ( peeing boy translated) has been in Brussels as long as I can remember. In fact, I have a small 1 1/2 inch statue in brass of the guy on my mantle in the great room. He is a symbol and nobody ever mentions that he wears no cloth, unless you have an American puritan marching along and finds the guy offense.
Pee on, Maenneken, Europe loves you.
RoZita Apr 1st 2007 3:32PM
That kid must drink a LOT of sodapop!!!
Dick Wetzel Apr 1st 2007 3:49PM
I first saw the Manniken Piss in April of 1952, on leave with my brothers from an Army posting at Ulm,
Germany. I told my son, check out that statue if he wss ever in Brussels and in 2001 he stood on the same spot that I and his Uncles had 50 years earlier.
ALLAN Apr 1st 2007 3:53PM
A Peeing Girl..careful what you wish for. Even us American Ex Pat's know there ACTUALLY is a "Peeing Girl" as well. It's a bit harder to find...but there is one...not far from the Grand Place!
JACK Apr 1st 2007 4:04PM
Hate to say it but alot of you are showing your age with your comments. remembering what u did in 1956? wow I cant remember what I had for breakfast lol
DUANE Apr 1st 2007 4:08PM
THE PEEING STATUE IS CONSIDERED HARMLESS...WHAT EVER THAT MEANS.
BUT!
AH YES...THE NEXT THING YA KNOW, NYC, LOS ANGELES OR SAN FRANFREAKO, NOT TO BE OUT DONE, WILL HAVE A STATUE OF A SEX ACT PLACED IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, THE COURT HOUSE OR LIBRARY....OR MAYBE ALL THREE.
LET'S ALL GIVE A ROUSING ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR IRRESPONSIBLE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
Johnny Wheeler Apr 1st 2007 4:13PM
This is ironic! I wrote a poem about Manneken Pis in 2003 for a contest!! Here it is!
Oh Say Can You Pee
Manneken pis, why must you do this?
Boy you're peeing all over the ground
Go in the gutter where no one will utter
And pee while you're looking around
You stand on the corner of Stoofstraat/Rue
Rue de L'Etuve, and look what you do!
You're sure to get punished and that's a sure bet
Gee now you've done it! You got me all wet!
Manneken Pis put your wingy away
And never more pee on my head
You should really go home, leave your wingy alone
And try not to pee in your bed!
Copyright 2003 By Johnny Wheeler
FJC Apr 1st 2007 4:45PM
OMG...this is so funny. I know I've seen that statue before. In "The Money Pit" with Tom Hanks..somehow he gets dunked in plaster stuff with a towel-like thing all full of plaster, he falls out a window onto a scaffold thing, it tips, he goes rolling down the scaffold in a wheelbarrow, gets thrown off the scaffold, while STILL in the wheelbarrow...he goes down a hill and is thrown into a fountain....while he sits there, the statue of this peeing boy, starts to pee...ON Tom Hanks. That was the funnist thing I've ever seen....almost made ME pee MYSELF. LOL If you've never seen "The Money Pit" ....DO IT !
Witt Apr 1st 2007 5:21PM
I have seen this several times. My favorite was a replica in the form of an ashtray, made around 1940. Mannekin Pis stands on the raised rim of the ashtray's bowl, leaning back. If he had released a stream, it would have landed in the middle - right on the Nazi swastika.
Of course, a user would put his cigarette butt out on that vulgar symbol, a nice combination of pissing and butts on those who truely deserved it, those who supported the obscenity of censorship. I say, "Go, Pis!"
Dark Apr 1st 2007 5:40PM
China already has urinals on street corners for men (no such amenity for women). It's hilarious because from the back, only the midsection is covered so you can see their head and legs as they piss live in public.