The Manneken Pis statue

The Manneken Pis statue

Introduction: One of the world’s most famous adorable children—the Little Pisser—is a must-see figure for visitors to Brussels. His bronze statue, standing 60 cm tall, was built in 1619 and is located at the corner of Rue de l’Etuve and Rue de Chene in the city center of Brussels.

There are several legends about this statue, but the most well-known one commemorates a little boy named Julianske who, through his mischievous act, extinguished a bomb that was about to blow up the entire Town Hall. Another legend says that the Little Pisser is the embodiment of Duke Godfrey III. In 1142, when he was just a few months old, he was brought to the battlefield of Ransebeke with his cradle hung from a tree branch to boost the morale of the troops, who were disheartened by the death of his father. Just as the army was about to retreat, the little duke suddenly stood up in his cradle and struck the pose later immortalized in the fountain statue—this action inspired the soldiers and turned the tide of battle in their favor.

Due to his popularity, many people enjoy giving the little boy outfits, the first of which came from King Louis XV of France. It has now become a tradition for visiting heads of state to present him with a set of traditional clothing from their home country. To date, he has over 700 different costumes, including a set of People’s Liberation Army uniform and a traditional Chinese tunic suit from China. These outfits are displayed at the Maison du Roi (King’s House), and on special commemorative days, he may also wear attire appropriate for the occasion. Transportation: Walk straight along Rue de l’Etuve on the right side of the Town Hall for about 200 meters. Although the statue is famous, it is actually quite unassuming, so keep an eye out and don’t miss it.

Belgium, Brussels