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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 3 of 3)
Sandy Apr 1st 2007 11:53PM
My parents, who were always very "proper", had a statue of this little boy. I often wondered where it came from, but all they would say was that my father brought it home from his time overseas during WWII. They have both since passed away, and I have it in a china cabinet. It always amused me because it was the last thing one would ever expect to see in my parent's home. I'm so tickled to know what it is. It makes it mean so much more.