Manneken Pis
Bronze fountain statue of a urinating boy in Brussels.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Manneken Pis is a small bronze fountain in central Brussels, Belgium. It shows a naked little boy urinating into the basin below. The statue stands about 55.5 cm tall. The earliest record of its existence comes from the mid-1400s, but the current version was created by the Brabantine sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder and installed in 1619. The blue stone niche that frames it, in a rocaille style, was added in 1770. Over the centuries, the statue has been stolen or damaged many times. Since 1965, a replica has been on display at the site, while the original is kept in the Brussels City Museum.
This figure is one of the most famous symbols of Brussels and Belgium. Many legends have grown up around it, and it has inspired numerous copies and similar statues in Belgium and other countries. The statue is often dressed up, and its wardrobe includes about one thousand different costumes. Since 2017, these costumes have been shown in a dedicated museum called GardeRobe MannekenPis, located on the same street. Because of its self-mocking character, Manneken Pis is seen as an example of "belgitude" (a sense of Belgian identity) and of the local folk humour known as "zwanze."
The statue is about a five-minute walk from Brussels' main square, the Grand-Place, at the corner of Rue du Chêne and Rue de l'Étuve.
**Naming**
The statue's original name was Menneke(n) Pis or Menneke(n) Pist. In the local Brussels dialect, "een manneke" means a small man, while "een menneke" means a little boy. In modern Flemish, "menneke" can also mean a small man. Today, the name Manneken Pis (Dutch for "Little Pissing Man") is official in both French and Dutch.
It is sometimes nicknamed "Petit Julien" in French or "Julianske" in Dutch, both meaning "Little Julian." This nickname actually refers to a different, now-lost fountain called the "Little Julian," and the confusion arose because 19th-century historians Alexandre Henne and Alphonse Wauters mistakenly thought the two fountains were the same due to their close locations. Because of its long history, the statue is also called "le plus vieux bourgeois de Bruxelles" in French or "de oudste burger van Brussel" in Dutch, meaning "the oldest bourgeois of Brussels."
**History**
**Origins**
The earliest mention of Manneken Pis comes from an administrative document dated 1451–52, which discusses the water lines for Brussels' fountains.
- Type
- Fountain sculpture
- Material
- Bronze
- Height
- 55.5 cm (21.9 in)
- Location
- Brussels, Belgium
- Date of current version
- 1619
- Original designer
- Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder
- Known for
- Symbol of Brussels and Belgianness
Lore & Background
The earliest mention of Manneken Pis dates from the mid-15th century, found in an administrative document from 1451–52 about water lines supplying fountains. The first statue was replaced with a new bronze version commissioned in 1619 by the Brussels City Council, conceived by Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder. It was probably cast and installed in 1620. The statue survived the bombardment of Brussels in 1695 undamaged, though pipes were affected. A pamphlet from that year is the oldest attesting that Manneken Pis had become 'an object of glory appreciated by all and renowned throughout the world.' In 1770, the statue was integrated into a new blue stone niche in rocaille style.
Reader's Guide
Manneken Pis is one of the best-known symbols of Brussels and Belgium, inspiring several legends and numerous imitations. The figure is regularly dressed up, with a wardrobe of around one thousand costumes exhibited since 2017 in the GardeRobe MannekenPis museum. Owing to its self-derisive nature, it is an example of belgitude and of the folk humour known as zwanze popular in Brussels. The statue has been repeatedly stolen or damaged throughout its history; since 1965, a replica has been displayed on site, with the original stored in the Brussels City Museum. Its name, meaning 'Little Pissing Man' in Dutch, is official in both French and Dutch, and it is sometimes nicknamed 'Petit Julien' or 'the oldest bourgeois of Brussels.'
Did You Know?
- The statue's original name was Menneke(n) Pis or Menneke(n) Pist.
- Manneken Pis is approximately five minutes' walk from Brussels' main square, the Grand-Place.
- The statue was stolen in 1817 by freed convict Antoine Licas or Lycas and broken into eleven pieces.
- In 1965, the statue was broken by a thief; only the feet and ankles remained, and the body was later found in the Charleroi Canal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Manneken Pis?
Manneken Pis is a small bronze fountain sculpture of a naked boy urinating into a basin, situated in the heart of Brussels, Belgium. The figure stands roughly 55.5 centimeters tall and has been a fixture of the city since at least the mid-1400s.
Who sculpted the current Manneken Pis?
The bronze figure installed in 1619 was made by the Brabantine sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder. The decorative blue-stone niche in a rocaille style that frames the statue was added two centuries later, in 1770.
Is the Manneken Pis in Brussels the original statue?
No. Since 1965 a replica has occupied the public spot, while the original bronze is stored in the Brussels City Museum. The repeated thefts and damage the statue suffered over the centuries prompted the city to swap in a copy for safekeeping.
How old is Manneken Pis?
The earliest surviving record of the fountain dates to the mid-15th century, so the tradition is more than 550 years old. The specific bronze casting that defines the statue's current appearance, however, dates to 1619.
Why is Manneken Pis considered important to Brussels?
It is one of the city's most instantly recognizable landmarks and a perennial tourist magnet in central Brussels. The statue also functions as a living cultural symbol, frequently dressed in specially made outfits to mark events, causes, or visiting dignitaries.
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