The
Brussels Manneken Pis statue (of
a little boy taking a ‘leak’) is by now
world famous. It’s is located 3 blocks from
the Grand Place square on the corner of Rue de l’Etuve
and Rue du Chêne – check out your map
to find the location. If you walk quickly you’ll
miss it – except for the constant group of tourists
standing and admiring the statue. The figure is loved
by Belgians and over time it has become an important
honored citizen of Brussels. You can’t really
go to Brussels without paying him at least a short
visit.
He has a wardrobe of immense proportions and growing
– every visitor of note to Brussels makes a
presentation of a unique and beautifully made suit
of clothese of the Manneken. He has also spawned a
souvenir trade in minature Mannedken Pis
of all types of materials. If you're really lucky
you may see “important people” presenting
a new outfit and the Manneken Pis being clothed before
your very eyes.
Lots of legends surround this tiny statue (only 2ft
tall). One is that a boy peeing extinguished an arsonist’s
match and saved the city. Anolther that a father who
had been separated from his son for several days found
him peeing in a corner and was so delighted he commissioned
the little statue.
Some of the hundreds of suits can be seen in an upstairs
gallery in the Musee de la Ville
(the most interesting thing is to note who donated
which garment!).
TOP
10 ATTRACTIONS IN BRUSSELS
1 Manneken
Pis statue MORE
….
2 The Grand
Place Square ....
MORE …
3 Musée
de la Ville de Bruxelles
. MORE
...
4 Musée
du Costume et de la Dentelle
MORE....
5 Galeries
St. Hubert MORE
....
6 Rue
des Bouchers MORE
.....
7 Cathédrale
des Sts Michel & Gudule
MORE ....
8 Belgian
Centre for Comic Strip Art MORE
...
9 The Rue
Neuve Area MORE
....
10 The Atomium
MORE.
...
