I’ve always been puzzled by the fascination with Mannekin Pis. Why do people flock to see a bronze statue of a young boy urinating into a fountain?
In grade school, I first learned about Mannekin Pis when a neighborhood boy showed a miniature statue to a giggling group of girls.
I had no idea that I would be living in Mannekin Pis’s homeland decades later or that my visiting friends put him on their must-see lists. Really? I didn’t get it.
In Europe, iI’s not all that unusual to see men peeing in public. This week, I spotted a construction worker ready to leave work in Paris after a long day. He was peeing on the side of his truck. At least, I hope it was HIS truck.
In a small village in Belgium, grandparents led a young, red-headed boy to a fountain in a town square where water spurted up from the ground. Down went his pants as he urinated into the water below.
On the way to the annual Brussels marathon, a man raced off the tram and walked in front of someone’s house, where he let out a stream of urine on the stone.
And then there was the guy who pulled his car over by my garden in Tervuren to relieve himself. Seriously, dude?
I wonder if Belgium is obsessed with the art of urination.
What to Expect
Is a visit to “the little peeing man” on your itinerary? First, don’t expect a giant, impressive statue. Diminutive describes it best. Yes, Mannekin Pis stands just two feet tall. You’ll be disappointed if you expect more. It is fun to see him decked out in fun costumes.
The second surprise is the age of the statue. Mannekin Pis was first mentioned in an administrative document dating back to the mid-1450s. We don’t see things that old in the States, do we?. The original figure was connected to pipes and provided drinking water in a basin below. In 1620, A bronze version by sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder replaced the original.
Surprise #3: you won’t see the original 1620 statue. It’s a replica. The poor little guy went through trials and tribulations over the centuries. Thefts, vandalism, and “amputations.”
Where Is He Located?
You’ll find Mannekin Pis near Grand-Place, a spectacular main square of Brussels flanked by breathtaking Baroque guildhalls. Set your GPS for the corner of Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat and Rue de l’Étuve/Stoofstraat in Brussels. The original Duquesnoy statue is in the Museum of the City of Brussels, in the Maison du Roi in Grand-Place.
Mannekin Pis may be the best-dressed little guy in Brussels. You never know what he’ll be wearing since he has a wardrobe of about 1,000 outfits! He might be a doctor, policeman, a soccer player, or a shepherd. Check out his April 2022 wardrobe here.
More Peeing Statues
To promote equal opportunity peeing in Brussels, there is also Jeanneke Pis. The small fountain is located at Impasse de la Fidélité/Getrouwheidsgang (“Fidelity Alley”), near the Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwersstraat. The statue depicts a little girl squatting to relieve herself.
And don’t forget man’s best friend! Het Zinneke, the peeing dog, can be found at the intersection of Rue des Chartreux/Kartuizersstraat and Rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Grains/Oude Graanmarkt.
If you want a souvenir to take back home — one uniquely Belgian — pick up a little Mannekin Pis. The “little peeing man” is depicted in statues, corkscrews, chocolates, and t-shirts. The Belgians certainly have a sense of humor.
