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 group of giggling girls. His parents had picked it up on a recent trip to Brussels.
I had no idea that I would be living in Mannekin Pis’s homeland decades later or that my visiting friends would have such a hankering to see him. A must-see? Really? I didn’t get it.
In Europe, iI’s not all that unusual to see men peeing in public — and in the strangest places. In Paris, I’ve spotted a construction worker ready to leave work 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 Flanders, 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 wall next to their garage. Port-o-potties were nearby, but I guess when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go.
And then there was the guy who pulled his car over by my garden in Tervuren to relieve himself. Seriously, dude? (The side of the highway is also a frequent “watering hole,” not only in Europe. It seems to be an international phenomenon.)
I wonder if Belgium is obsessed with the art of urination. Maybe so many people are peeing in public because there is a fee to use most public toilets here. Always be sure to carry some coins with you!
Where Is He?
Is a visit to “the little peeing man” on your itinerary? You’ll find him a hop, skip and jump away from Grand Place, the spectacular UNESCO town square with its opulent, Baroque guildhalls. Set your GPS for the corner of Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat and Rue de l’Étuve/Stoofstraat in Brussels. You won’t see the original statue there, though. It’s a replica. The poor little guy went through trials and tribulations over the centuries. Thefts, vandalism, and “amputations.”
Don’t expect a giant, impressive statue. Diminutive describes it best. Yes, Mannekin Pis stands about two feet tall. You’ll be disappointed if you expect more. When he’s not in his birthday suit, it is fun to see him decked out in fun costumes.. Check out the nearby Garderobe Museum and discover more than 100 of his outfits.
A Little History
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 water pipes and provided drinking water in a basin below. Yes, Belgian humour has existed for centuries. In 1620, A bronze version by sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder replaced the original.
The original Duquesnoy statue stands in the Museum of the City of Brussels, in the Maison du Roi in Grand-Place. Tickets are € 10, or free with a Brussels Card, which offers free admission to 45 museums, including the Garderobe Museum where you can see the costumes Mannekin Pis has worn over the years.
The Garderobe Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Book your tickets online. Tickets are € 5 each. Admission is free for those under 18, visitors going to the museum on the first Sunday of the month and Brussels Card holders.
Mannekin Pis is generally naked, but on special occasions, he is dressed to the nines. He 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 royal, a sports figure, or a shepherd. Check out his May 2026 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 DO have a sense of humor.
