''Manneken Pis'' (; ) is a landmark

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...

fountain sculpture in central

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

, Belgium, depicting a

puer mingens A puer mingēns (; plural puerī mingentēs ) is a figure in a work of art depicted as a prepubescent boy in the act of urinating, either actual or simulated. The puer mingens could represent anything from whimsy and boyish innocence to erotic sym ...

; a

naked Nudity is the state of being in which a human is without clothing. The loss of body hair was one of the physical characteristics that marked the biological evolution of modern humans from their hominin ancestors. Adaptations related to h ...

little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. Though its existence is attested as early as the 15th century, it was designed in its current form by the

Brabant Brabant is a traditional geographical region (or regions) in the Low Countries of Europe. It may refer to: Place names in Europe * London-Brabant Massif, a geological structure stretching from England to northern Germany Belgium * Province of Bra ...

ine sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder and put in place in 1618 or 1619. ''Manneken Pis'' has been repeatedly stolen or damaged throughout its history. The current statue is a replica dating from 1965, with the original being kept in the

Brussels City Museum The Brussels City Museum (french: Musée de la ville de Bruxelles, nl, Museum van de Stad Brussel) is a municipal museum on the Grand-Place/Grote Markt of Brussels, Belgium. Conceived in 1860 and inaugurated in 1887, it is dedicated to the hi ...

. Nowadays, it is one of the best-known symbols of Brussels and Belgium, inspiring many imitations and similar statues. The figure is regularly dressed up and its wardrobe consists of around one thousand different costumes. Due to its self-derisive nature, it is also an example of '' belgitude'' ( French; ), as well as of folk humour ('' zwanze'') popular in Brussels. ''Manneken Pis'' is an approximate five minutes' walk from the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square), at the junction of the / and the pedestrian /. This site is served by the ''premetro'' (underground tram) station Bourse/Beurs (on lines 3 and 4), as well as the

bus A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for cha ...

stops / (on line 95) and Cesar de Paepe (on lines 33 and 48).

Naming

The original name of the statue was ''Menneke Pis'' or ''Menneke Pist''. In fact, in the

Brabantian dialect Brabantian or Brabantish, also Brabantic or Brabantine ( nl, Brabants, Standard Dutch pronunciation: , ), is a dialect group of the Dutch language. It is named after the historical Duchy of Brabant, which corresponded mainly to the Dutch provi ...

of Brussels (known as Brusselian, and also sometimes referred to as Marols or Marollien),Jeanine Treffers-Daller, ''Mixing Two Languages: French-Dutch Contact in a Comparative Perspective'' (Walter de Gruyter, 1994), 25. ''een'' ''manneke'' means a small man, whereas ''een'' ''menneke'' means a little boy (it is the diminutive of ''men'', meaning boy), though in modern

Flemish Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...

(the local variant of

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

), ''menneke'' also means a small man (it is synonymous to ''mannetje''). Nowadays, the name ''Manneken Pis'' (

, ; "Little Pissing Man"; also used in English) is official in both French and Dutch. ''Manneken Pis'' is sometimes given the nickname of in French or in Dutch (both meaning "Little Julien"), which in fact refers to a now-disappeared fountain of the "Little Julien" (''Juliaenkensborre''). This stems from a confusion by the 19th-century historians Alexandre Henne and Alphonse Wauters, who mistook the two well-distinct fountains because of their proximity. Due to its long history, the statue is also sometimes dubbed ("the oldest bourgeois of Brussels") in French.

History

Origins of ''Manneken Pis''

The earliest mention of the existence of ''Manneken Pis'' can be found in an administrative document from 1451–52 about the water lines supplying the fountains of Brussels. From the beginning, the fountain played an essential role in the distribution of

drinking water Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, a ...

. It stood on a column and poured water into a double rectangular basin of stone. The only representations of this first statue can be found, very schematically, on a map by the

cartographer Cartography (; from grc, χάρτης , "papyrus, sheet of paper, map"; and , "write") is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an im ...

Georg Braun Georg Braun (also ''Brunus, Bruin''; 1541 – 10 March 1622) was a German topo-geographer. From 1572 to 1617, he edited the ''Civitates orbis terrarum,'' which contains 546 prospects, bird's-eye views and maps of cities from all around the ...

and

Frans Hogenberg Frans Hogenberg (1535–1590) was a Flemish and German painter, engraver, and mapmaker. Hogenberg was born in Mechelen in Flanders as the son of Nicolaas Hogenberg.

, in which the fountain appeared to be installed directly on the street and not on a corner as it is today. ''Manneken Pis'' is depicted again in a painting from 1616 by the

court painter A court painter was an artist who painted for the members of a royal or princely family, sometimes on a fixed salary and on an exclusive basis where the artist was not supposed to undertake other work. Painters were the most common, but the cour ...

Denis Van Alsloot Denis van Alsloot or Denijs van AlslootDenis van Alsloot
at the

and

Antoon Sallaert Antoon Sallaert or Anthonis Sallaert (1594–1650) was a Flemish Baroque painter, draughtsman and printmaker who was active in Brussels. Sallaert produced many devotional paintings for the Brussels court of Archdukes Albert and Isabella as we ...

representing Brussels' Ommegang of 1615, as well as in a preparatory drawing to this painting, in which it is dressed as a shepherd. The first statue was replaced by a new

version, commissioned in 1619 by Brussels' city council. This bronze statue, on the corner of the / and the /, was conceived by the Brabantine sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder (1570–1641), father of the architect and sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Younger and the famous sculptor

François Duquesnoy François Duquesnoy or Frans Duquesnoy (12 January 1597 – 18 July 1643) was a Flemish Baroque sculptor who was active in Rome for most of his career. His idealized representations are often contrasted with the more emotional character of Ber ...

. It was probably cast and installed in 1620. During that time, the column supporting the statue and the double rectangular basin collecting water were completely remodelled by the stone cutter Daniel Raessens.

17th–19th centuries

During its history, ''Manneken Pis'' faced many hazards. It survived undamaged the

bombardment of Brussels The bombardment of Brussels by troops of Louis XIV of France on August 13, 14 and 15, 1695, and the resulting fire were together the most destructive event in the entire history of Brussels. Brussels was mostly untouched by most other confl ...

of 1695 by the French army, but the pipes having been affected, it could not deliver its water for some time. A

pamphlet A pamphlet is an unbound book (that is, without a hard cover or binding). Pamphlets may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths, called a ''leaflet'' or it may consist of a ...

published the same year recounts this episode. This text is the oldest attesting that ''Manneken Pis'' had become "an object of glory appreciated by all and renowned throughout the world". It is also the first time that it served as a symbol for the people of Brussels. It is also traditionally said that after the bombardment, it was triumphantly placed again on its pedestal. On that occasion, the following passage from the

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...

was inscribed above its head: ("The Lord placed me on a stone base, and now I raise my head above my enemies"). As shown by an engraving by

Jacobus Harrewijn Jacobus Harrewijn (baptized 15 September 1660 in Amsterdam – buried 10 June 1727 in Brussels) was an engraver who was mostly active in the Southern Netherlands. He married in 1682 in Amsterdam, but joined the Antwerp Guild in 1688. He rem ...

, dating from 1697, the fountain was no longer located on the street, but in a recess at the corner of the / and the / and was protected by a gate. In 1770, the column and the double rectangular basin disappeared; the statue was integrated into a new decor, in the form of a stone niche in

rocaille Rocaille ( , ) was a French style of exuberant decoration, with an abundance of curves, counter-curves, undulations and elements modeled on nature, that appeared in furniture and interior decoration during the early reign of Louis XV of France. ...

style, originating from another dismantled fountain of Brussels. The water simply flowed through a grating in the ground, which was replaced by a basin in the 19th century. In its new setting, ''Manneken Pis'' gives the impression of being smaller than in its original layout. Mannekin Pis (8293232485)

The whole structure is protected by railings, the last version of which dates from 1851. The latter prevented access to water, relegating the fountain to a decorative and symbolic role. It is also the case, around the same time, of the other fountains in Brussels. This correlates with efforts by the

City of Brussels The City of Brussels (french: Ville de Bruxelles or alternatively ''Bruxelles-Ville'' ; nl, Stad Brussel or ''Brussel-Stad'') is the largest municipality and historical City centre, centre of the Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, as well a ...

, starting in 1855, to allow for the distribution of

in homes. The figure has repeatedly been the object of theft or attempted theft. Legend has it that the statue was removed in 1745 and found in the Flemish town of

Geraardsbergen Geraardsbergen (; french: Grammont, ) is a city and municipality located in the Denderstreek and in the Flemish Ardennes, the hilly southern part of the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Geraardsbergen prop ...

(french: Grammont, link=no). As a sign of their appreciation, the people of Brussels gave this city a replica of the statue. In reality, the first attempted theft was made in 1747 by a group of French

grenadier A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word '' grenade'') was originally a specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in battle. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when grenadiers were recruited fr ...

s stationed in Brussels. The population rebelled against this deed and threatened a bloody revenge. To calm things down, the King of France,

Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (french: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reache ...

, offered a gentleman's gown of

brocade Brocade is a class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabrics, often made in colored silks and sometimes with gold and silver threads. The name, related to the same root as the word "broccoli", comes from Italian ''broccato'' meaning "embos ...

, embroidered with gold, to ''Manneken Pis''. He also authorised the statue to carry the sword, and decorated it with the Cross of St. Louis. The statue was stolen in 1817 by the fugitive Antoine Licas. The perpetrator was heavily punished; he was condemned to forced labour for life, and was first tied for an hour to stocks on the Grand-Place/Grote Markt. The original statue was broken into eleven pieces during this abduction and was restored by a specialised welder, under the supervision of sculptor

Gilles-Lambert Godecharle Gilles-Lambert Godecharle (2 December 1750 in Brussels − 24 February 1835 in Brussels) was a Belgian sculptor, a pupil of Laurent Delvaux, "the only sculptor of international repute in Delvaux's retinue", who became one of two outstanding repr ...

. The pieces were matched and used to make a mould in which the bronze statue was poured. The statue was then screwed onto a new base marked "1620 – REST 1817".

20th century–present

''Manneken Pis'' experienced similar misadventures in the 20th century. Two attempted thefts occurred in 1955 and 1957. Some accounts say that it has been stolen up to seven times; in January 1963 by students of the

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

student's association "De Wikings" of the Sint-Ignatius Handelshogeschool (Higher Business Education), now part of the Antwerp University, who "hijacked" the statue for five days before handing it over to the Antwerp authorities. The local and international press covered the story, contributing to the students' collection of funds donated to two orphanages. The case did go further, however, and the base was replaced identically by the former foundry of ''La Compagnie des Bronzes de Bruxelles'', to which the statue was anchored by a reinforced bronze attachment. Things were more serious when it disappeared in 1965; the statue had been broken by the thief and only the feet and ankles remained. In June 1966, the Antwerp magazine ''De Post'' received an anonymous phone call, signalling that the "body" was in the Charleroi Canal. It was found there by divers, sent by the magazine, and was brought back to Brussels on 27 June. Restored once again, the statue was sheltered and the original version is now kept and displayed on the second floor of the Brussels City Museum, at the King's House, on the Grand-Place. In the meantime, a replica of the statue had already been commissioned by Brussels' authorities and cast by ''La Compagnie des Bronzes''. The new statue was thus installed in place of the old one and this version still adorns the niche on the Rue du Chêne to this day. In late 2018, it was discovered by city technician Régis Callens that the basin of the statue had developed a leak, leading to a reported of water being used per day. The leak occurred for an unknown number of years, unnoticed among the several hundred water features in the City of Brussels and was only later discovered with the help of Shayp water monitoring technology. The statue received a temporary fix in March 2019, with a permanent recirculating system set to be installed. The solution was announced during Brussels Water Week where city officials cited the situation as motivation to check for similar problems in other fountains.

Legends

There are several legends behind ''Manneken Pis'', but the most famous is one involving Duke

Godfrey III of Leuven Godfrey III ( nl, Godfried; c. 1142 – 21 August 1190) was count of Louvain (or Leuven), landgrave of Brabant, margrave of Antwerp, and duke of Lower Lorraine (as Godfrey VIII) from 1142 to his death. Origins He was the son of Godfrey II and ...

. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of

Grimbergen Grimbergen () is a municipality in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, 10 km north of the capital Brussels. It comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek, and Strombeek-Bever. In 2017, it had a population of 37,030 and an are ...

, in Ransbeke (now

Neder-Over-Heembeek Neder-Over-Heembeek (; ) is a northern part of the City of Brussels municipality, inside the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. It is a former municipality which lost its municipality status when it was merged with the City of Brussels. Now it i ...

, a northern part of the

). To give themselves courage, the soldiers placed the infant lord in a basket which they hung from a large

oak tree An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

overlooking the battlefield. While his men were in dire straits, the little duke rose up in the basket, and from his perch, urinated onto the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle. The fountain perpetuates the memory of this victory. The name of the / ("Oak Tree Street"), at the corner of which the statue is located, recalls the famous tree. * Another legend suggests that, in the 14th century, Brussels was under siege by a foreign power. The city had held its ground for some time, so the attackers conceived of a plan to place explosive charges at the city walls. A little boy named happened to be spying on them, as they were preparing. He urinated on the burning fuse and thus saved the city. There was, at the time (middle of the 15th century, perhaps as early as 1388), a similar statue made of stone. The statue was stolen several times. * Another story tells of a wealthy merchant who, during a visit to the city with his family, had his beloved young son go missing. The merchant hastily formed a search party, which scoured all corners of the city, until the boy was found happily urinating in a small garden. The merchant, as a gift of gratitude to the locals who helped out during the search, had the fountain built. * Another legend tells that a small boy went missing from his mother, when shopping in the centre of the city. The woman, panic-stricken by the loss of her child, called upon everyone she came across, including the mayor of the city. A citywide search began, and when at last the child was found, he was urinating on the corner of a small street. The story was passed down over time and the statue was erected as a tribute to the well-known legend. * Another legend tells of the young boy who was awoken by a fire and was able to put out the fire with his urine. In the end, this helped stop the king's castle from burning down.

Traditions

Costumes and wardrobe

''Manneken Pis'' is dressed in costumes, several times each week, according to a published schedule, which is posted on the railings around the fountain. Since 1954, the costumes are managed by the non-profit association ''The Order of the Friends of Manneken Pis'', who review hundreds of designs submitted each year, and select a small number to be produced and used. His wardrobe consists of around one thousand different costumes, many of which could previously be viewed in a permanent exhibition inside the

, located on the

Grand-Place The Grand-Place (French, ; "Grand Square"; also used in English) or Grote Markt (Dutch, ; "Big Market") is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger ...

, immediately opposite the

Town Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

. In February 2017, a specially designed museum, at 19, /, called ''Garderobe MannekenPis'', opened its doors. Although the proliferation of costumes is of 20th-century origin, the occasional use of costumes dates back almost to the date of casting. The oldest evidence of the tradition of dressing ''Manneken Pis'' dates back to 1615; during the

Ommegang of Brussels The Ommegang of Brussels (french: Ommegang de Bruxelles, nl, Ommegang van Brussel) is a traditional Ommegang, a type of medieval pageant, celebrated annually in Brussels, Belgium. Originally, the Ommegang was the largest lustral processio ...

organised that year in honour of Archduchess

Isabella Isabella may refer to: People and fictional characters * Isabella (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Isabella (surname), including a list of people Places United States * Isabella, Alabama, an unincorpor ...

, sovereign of the

Spanish Netherlands Spanish Netherlands (Spanish: Países Bajos Españoles; Dutch: Spaanse Nederlanden; French: Pays-Bas espagnols; German: Spanische Niederlande.) (historically in Spanish: ''Flandes'', the name "Flanders" was used as a ''pars pro toto'') was the Ha ...

, ''Manneken Pis'' was dressed in a shepherd's costume. He received his first costume on 1 May 1698 from the Governor of the Austrian Netherlands,

Maximilian II Emanuel of Bavaria Maximilian, Maximillian or Maximiliaan (Maximilien in French) is a male given name. The name " Max" is considered a shortening of "Maximilian" as well as of several other names. List of people Monarchs *Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1459� ...

, on the occasion of the festivities of one of the

Guilds of Brussels The Guilds of Brussels (french: Guildes de Bruxelles, nl, Gilden van Brussel), grouped in the Nine Nations of Brussels (french: Neuf Nations de Bruxelles, nl, Negen Naties van Brussel), were associations of craft guilds that dominated the eco ...

. The oldest costume on display in the City Museum, the gentleman's gown offered by

King Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (french: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached ...

, is also of 17th-century origin. In 1756, an inventory indicates that ''Manneken Pis'' had five complete costumes. From 1918 to 1940, he was offered some thirty costumes. But it was especially after 1945 that the movement took on an exceptional dimension; he had more than 400 costumes in 1994, more than 750 in 2005, and more than 950 in 2016. The costume change on the figure is a colourful ceremony, often accompanied by brass band music. Many costumes represent the national dress of nations whose citizens come to Brussels as tourists; others are the uniforms of assorted trades, professions, associations, and branches of the civil and military services. As well as historical clothing, the wardrobe also contains modern costumes, such as ones of Dracula,

Mickey Mouse Mickey Mouse is an animated cartoon Character (arts), character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime mascot of The Walt Disney Company, Mickey is an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red sho ...

and

Santa Claus Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a Legend, legendary figure originating in Western Christianity, Western Christian culture who is said to Christmas gift-bringer, bring ...

. In the past, the costume was cut without a cutting pattern. The sleeves were padded with cotton wool and ended with gloves. It is only since 1945 that a pattern allowed the making of more fitted costumes.

Folklore

The ''Order of the Friends of Manneken Pis'' was founded in 1954 and has more than 150 members. The objective of the Order is to stimulate the cultural, tourist,

philanthropic Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...

and commercial development of Belgium in general, and more particularly to preserve the traditions linked to ''Manneken Pis''. The Order is always present during the ceremonies surrounding the presentation of new costumes and during the statue's official greetings and anniversaries. On certain folkloric occasions (e.g. Saint-Verhaegen,

Meyboom The Meyboom plantation (or Meiboom in Dutch, "May tree" – a bastardisation of the Dutch ''tree of joy'') is the oldest tradition in Brussels, Belgium, attested since 1308. It is held every year on 9 August, the eve of St Lawrence's Day, and ...

plantation), ''Manneken Pis'' is hooked up to a keg of beer. Cups are filled up with the beer flowing from the statue and given out to passers-by. File:Manneken Pis dracula.jpg, ''Manneken Pis'' dressed as Dracula (15 March 2002) File:MannekenPisDiablada.jpg, ''Manneken Pis'' in

Diablada The Diablada, also known as the Danza de los Diablos ( en, Dance of the Devils), is an Andean folk dance performed in the Altiplano region of South America, characterized by performers wearing masks and costumes representing the devil and other ...

(

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

) (786th costume, 3 March 2007) File:Manneken Pis arquebusier.jpg, Replica of the outfit offered by Maximilien Emanuel of Bavaria in 1698 (17 October 2009) File:Manneken pis costume ordre des amis.jpg, 25th anniversary of the ''Order of the Friends of Manneken Pis'' (3 September 2011) File:Manneken Pis en costume des Lignages de Bruxelles.jpg, ''Manneken Pis'' dressed as a

burgomaster Burgomaster (alternatively spelled burgermeister, literally "master of the town, master of the borough, master of the fortress, master of the citizens") is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief m ...

from the

Seven Noble Houses of Brussels The Seven Noble Houses of Brussels (also called the Seven Lineages or Seven Patrician families of Brussels; french: Sept lignages de Bruxelles, nl, Zeven geslachten van Brussel, Latin: ''Septem nobiles familiae Bruxellarum'') were the seven ...

(902nd costume, 22 June 2013 File:Manneken-Pis et Adolphe Sax.jpg, A

saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...

for ''Manneken Pis'' on the 200th birthday of

Adolphe Sax Antoine-Joseph "Adolphe" Sax (; 6 November 1814 – 4 February 1894) was a Belgian inventor and musician who invented the saxophone in the early 1840s, patenting it in 1846. He also invented the saxotromba, saxhorn and saxtuba. He played the f ...

(6 November 2014) File:Manneken-Pis 1000th costume (DSCF6202).jpg, ''Manneken Pis'' 1000th costume (13 May 2018)

Replicas and similar statues

In Belgium

Although Brussels' ''Manneken Pis'' is the best known, others exist all across the country. As early as the 17th century, the statue was the subject of decorative replicas. The

exhibits a copy which was crafted by Jacques Van den Broeck in 1630, probably from a cast of Duquesnoy's statue. Another local copy, from 1636, currently in a private American collection, is attributed to the German founder Daniel Haneman. Similar statues can also be found in the Flemish cities of

Koksijde Koksijde (; french: Coxyde ; vls, Koksyde) is a town and a municipality in Belgium. It is located on the North Sea coast in the southwest of the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises apart from Koksijde, the villages of O ...

, Hasselt,

Ghent Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded in ...

, and

Bruges Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the countr ...

, as well as in the Walloon municipality of

Braine-l'Alleud Braine-l'Alleud (; nl, Eigenbrakel ; wa, Brinne-l'-Alou) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Walloon Brabant, Belgium, about south of Brussels. The municipality consists of the following districts: Braine-l'Alleud (includ ...

(where it is called ''El Gamin Quipiche'', meaning "The Peeing Kid" in Walloon).

Feud with Geraardsbergen

There is an ongoing dispute over which ''Manneken Pis'' is the oldest; the one in Brussels or the one in

. According to tradition, Geraardsbergen was in a rebuilding phase after the devastating passage of

Jean II de Croÿ Jean II de Croÿ (1390? – Valenciennes, 25 March 1473) was Count of Chimay and progenitor of the line of Croÿ-Solre. Jean belonged to the powerful House of Croÿ. Life Jean was the second surviving son of Jean I de Croÿ and Marie de Crao ...

's troops in the spring of 1452, during a war opposing the city of

and the Burgundian duke

Philip the Good Philip III (french: Philippe le Bon; nl, Filips de Goede; 31 July 1396 – 15 June 1467) was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty, to which all 15th-century kings of France belonge ...

. On that occasion, the spout from one of the city's fountains, in the shape of a copper lion's head, was taken by the people of Ghent. The aldermen of Geraardsbergen thus had their own ''Manneken Pis'' made in 1459 to replace it. The statue was cast in

brass Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other with ...

by Reinier Van Tienen, based on a model designed by Gillis Vander Jeught. It can be assumed that the first version of Brussels' ''Manneken Pis'', dating from before 1451, served as inspiration to Geraardsbergen's statue. Looking at the age of the current statues, both of them are replicas; the one in Brussels dating from 1965 and the one in Geraardsbergen from 1985. The design of Geraarsbergen's original statue, however, which dates from 1459, is anterior to that of Duquesnoy's statue, dating from 1619. It is on this basis that Geraardsbergen asserts that its ''Manneken Pis'' is the oldest, but since there was probably already a ''Manneken Pis'' in 1452 in Brussels, the tradition might thus be slightly older there.

Internationally

Since the 20th century, numerous copies or imitations of ''Manneken Pis'' have been created abroad. It is necessary to distinguish the official copies offered by the

from copies and imitations carried out privately by admirers of the little statue. Official copies were offered to: * Colmar, France (1921) *

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...

, Japan (1928) *

Monaco Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...

(1951) *

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, United Kingdom (1959) *

Broxeele Broxeele (; nl, Broksele) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is south of Dunkirk and also west of the Belgian border. Name The name is derived from the Dutch ''Broec sele'' (modern name: ''Broksele''), which means "h ...

, France (1979) * Benalmadena, Spain (1991) *

Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most pop ...

, Japan (2015) Hamamatsucho 20030913

A replica of ''Manneken Pis'' has pride of place in the lobby of the police station of

Poitiers Poitiers (, , , ; Poitevin: ''Poetàe'') is a city on the River Clain in west-central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and the historical centre of Poitou. In 2017 it had a population of 88,291. Its agglomerat ...

, France, commemorating the fact that this city was, for 26 days, the seat of the Belgian government during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. Similar copies of the statue exist in the Danish town of

Bogense Bogense () is a town in central Denmark, located on Funen in Nordfyn municipality, Region of Southern Denmark. The town has a population of 4,059 (1 January 2022). With its half-timbered houses, narrow streets and large marina, it is a popular t ...

, as well as in

Chiayi Park Chiayi Park () is a park at East District, Chiayi City, Taiwan. History The park was built in 1911 during the Japanese era. It was once renamed to Zhongshan Park in 1949, but reverted to its current name in 1997. Architecture The park spans o ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

. Another working replica stands on the platform of

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

Hamamatsuchō Station is a railway station in Hamamatsuchō, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and also by Tokyo Monorail. Lines Hamamatsuchō Station is served by two JR East lines: the circular Yamanote Line and Keihin-Tōho ...

. There, the statue is a great source of pride for station workers who dress it in various costumes—traditional and otherwise—at different times of year. In September 2002, a Belgian-born waffle-maker set up a replica in front of his waffle stand in the

Orlando Fashion Square Orlando Fashion Square is a split one-story, two-story indoor shopping mall located in Orlando, Florida. Opened in 1973, it features 79 stores in over one million square feet of shop space. The mall's anchor stores are Macy's, Floor & Decor, and Di ...

mall, in

Orlando, Florida Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Greater Orlando, Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, acco ...

. He recalled the legend as "the boy who saved Brussels from fire by extinguishing it with his urine" (confusing the legend with an incident in ''

Gulliver's Travels ''Gulliver's Travels'', or ''Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships'' is a 1726 prose satire by the Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan ...

'' perhaps). Some shocked shoppers made a formal complaint. Mall officials said that the waffle-shop owner did not follow procedures when he put up the statue and was therefore in violation of his lease. In contrast, there is a similar statue in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

, in front of the quarters of

Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas Botafogo (local/standard alternative Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: ) is a beachfront neighborhood ('' bairro'') in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a mostly upper middle class and small commerce community, and is located between the hills of ...

, a famous Brazilian football club. There, the presence of the statue is taken lightly, and it has even been adopted as a mascot by the club. Fans usually dress it with the club's jersey, after important wins.

Statues inspired by ''Manneken Pis''

''Jeanneke Pis''

''Manneken Pis'' is not the only peeing statue in Brussels. Since 1987, it has had a female equivalent, ''

Jeanneke Pis ''Jeanneke Pis'' (; ) is a modern fountain sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium. It was commissioned by Denis-Adrien Debouvrie in 1985 and erected in 1987 as a counterpoint to the city's famous ''Manneken Pis''. The bronze statue depicts ...

'' ("Little Pissing Joan"), located on the eastern side of the / ("Fidelity Alley"), a narrow cul-de-sac some long leading northwards off the restaurant-packed /, in central Brussels. The

sculpture represents a little girl with short

pigtail A woman with long pigtails and braids. In the context of hairstyles, the usage of the term pigtail (or twin tail or twintail) shows considerable variation. The term may refer to a single braid, but is more frequently used in the plural ("pi ...

squatting Squatting is the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use. The United Nations estimated in 2003 that there ...

and urinating on a blue-grey

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

base. It feeds a small fountain and is now protected from

vandalism Vandalism is the action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property. The term includes property damage, such as graffiti and defacement directed towards any property without permission of the owner. The term f ...

by iron bars. It is, however, less illustrious than its masculine counterpart.

''Het Zinneke''

Het Zinneke ''Het Zinneke'' ( Brusselian dialect for "the mutt"), sometimes called ''Zinneke Pis'' by analogy with ''Manneken Pis'', is a bronze sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium, erected in 1998. Created by Tom Frantzen, it represents a urinating ...

'', sometimes called ''Zinneke Pis'', another bronze sculpture in central Brussels, depicting a dog urinating against a marker, can also be seen as a reference to ''Manneken Pis''. It is, however, not associated with a fountain. ''Zinneke'' is a nickname chosen to represent people from Brussels. The word means "mutt" or "bastard" in Brusselian dialect, and originally referred to the city's stray dogs that hung around the streets by the Lesser Senne (a tangent canal of the river

Senne Senne may refer to: Places * Senne (Germany), a natural region of Germany *Senne, a district of Bielefeld, Germany * Senne (river), a river of Belgium *Senné (disambiguation), places in Slovakia People with the name *Yōkō Senne, a 13th-centur ...

, which circumnavigated Brussels along the city walls) until the end of the 19th century. It is located at the junction of the / and the /, not far from the /. File:Jeanneke Pis, Brussels, Belgium (DSCF4010).jpg, File:Het Zinneke (DSCF5238) Brussels, BE.jpg,

In popular culture

Being of prominent symbolic nature to Brussels and Belgium in general, ''Manneken Pis'' is widely used to represent both the city and country (as well as its people) in advertising, branding, tourism and as a national personification. The statue's self-derisive nature also embodies the typical Belgian identity referred to as '' belgitude'' ( French; ), as well as a type of folk humour specific to Brussels (called ''zwanze'' in Brusselian dialect). Brussel - Rue de l'Etuve - Manneke Pis

Surrounded by souvenir shops, the fountain has become a major tourist attraction.

Figurine A figurine (a diminutive form of the word ''figure'') or statuette is a small, three-dimensional sculpture that represents a human, deity or animal, or, in practice, a pair or small group of them. Figurines have been made in many media, with cl ...

-sized replicas of ''Manneken Pis'' in

fiberglass Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass (Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass cloth ...

, or even

Belgian chocolate Belgian chocolate (french: chocolat belge, nl, Belgische chocolade) is chocolate produced in Belgium. A major industry since the 19th century, today it forms an important part of the Belgian economy, nation's economy and Culture of Belgium, cul ...

, are commonly sold there. ''Manneken Pis'' has also been adapted into such ''risqué'' souvenir items as

ashtray An ashtray is a receptacle for ash from cigarettes and cigars. Ashtrays are typically made of fire-retardant material such as glass, heat-resistant plastic, pottery, metal, or stone. It differs from a cigarette receptacle, which is used speci ...

s and corkscrews.

Books

* ''Manneken Pis'' is granted a humorous tribute in the comic album ''

Asterix in Belgium ''Asterix in Belgium'' (french: Astérix chez les Belges, lit=Asterix among the Belgians/ Belgae) is the twenty-fourth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny (story) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). It is noted as the last ...

''. For ''

Asterix ''Asterix'' or ''The Adventures of Asterix'' (french: Astérix or , "Asterix the Gaul") is a ''bande dessinée'' comic book series about a village of indomitable Gaulish warriors who adventure around the world and fight the Roman Republic, wi ...

''-related events taking place in Brussels, the sculpture has also been clad in Asterix's trademark garments.

Films

* The 1968 film '' The Party'', starring

Peter Sellers Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show'', featured on a number of hit comic songs ...

, includes a reproduction of the statue in the house's extended water feature. The statue's peeing can be changed at an extended intercom panel, and Sellers, as Hrundi V. Bakshi, soaks a guest when he hits the wrong button. * In the 1986 film ''

The Money Pit ''The Money Pit'' is a 1986 American comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long as a couple who attempt to renovate a recently purchased house. The film is a remake of the 1948 Cary Grant comedy film '' Mr ...

'', the lead character, Walter Fielding, played by

Tom Hanks Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, he is one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide, and is regarded as an American cultural icon. Ha ...

, accidentally falls in a construction area where workers are renovating his home. In a sequence reminiscent of a

Rube Goldberg machine A Rube Goldberg machine, named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, is a chain reaction-type machine or contraption intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and (impractically) overly complicated way. Usually, these mach ...

, he stumbles through a window, across the roof, down a scaffold, finally into a wheeled bin in which he rolls down a hill and is dumped into a fountain resting directly under a replica of ''Manneken Pis''. * ''

Manneken Pis ''Manneken Pis'' (; ) is a landmark bronze fountain sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium, depicting a puer mingens; a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. Though its existence is attested as early as the 15th century, it w ...

'' is a 1995 Belgian comedy-drama film, directed by

Frank Van Passel Frank Van Passel (born 23 June 1964) is a Belgian film director and producer. In 1995, he made his directorial film debut with ''Manneken Pis'', which premiered at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival and won the Mercedes-Benz Award, Grand Golden Rail, A ...

and written by Christophe Dirickx. It premiered in May 1995 at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

. It received the André Cavens Award for Best Film and four awards at the

Joseph Plateau Awards A Joseph Plateau Award was an accolade presented by the Flanders International Film Festival Ghent, first awarded in 1985. The awards were given in several categories to honor cinematic achievements in the film industry. They were restricted to ...

. The film was selected as the Belgian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 68th

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

, but was not accepted as a nominee.

Games

* A promotional expansion for the board game '' 7 Wonders'' allows a player to build ''Manneken Pis'' as an eighth wonder of the world. * In 2019, under pressure from owner

Hasbro Hasbro, Inc. (; a syllabic abbreviation of its original name, Hassenfeld Brothers) is an American multinational conglomerate holding company incorporated and headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Hasbro owns the trademarks and products of ...

, the Brussels

edition Edition may refer to: * Edition (book), a bibliographical term for a substantially similar set of copies * Edition (printmaking), a publishing term for a set print run * Edition (textual criticism), a particular version of a text * Edition Recor ...

of the ''

Monopoly A monopoly (from Greek language, Greek el, μόνος, mónos, single, alone, label=none and el, πωλεῖν, pōleîn, to sell, label=none), as described by Irving Fisher, is a market with the "absence of competition", creating a situati ...

'' board game

censored Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...

''Manneken Pis'' with swimming trunks. * ''Manneken Pis'' is featured in the 2021 party video game '' WarioWare: Get It Together!'' in a microgame titled ''Manneken Pis'' where the player must use the statue to douse flames.

References

Footnotes

Notes

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

manneken-pis.be
, ''Manneken Pis'' website
Brussels.be
Official website with calendar of costume changes

''Manneken Pis'': virtual visit, pictures and costumes

''Manneken Pis'' in 360 degrees
Manneken Pis on BALaT - Belgian Art Links and Tools (KIK-IRPA, Brussels)
{{Authority control Buildings and structures in Brussels City of Brussels Tourist attractions in Brussels 1619 sculptures Belgian culture Belgian folklore Belgian legends Bronze sculptures in Belgium Brussels in fiction Fictional Belgian people Fictional children Fountains in Belgium Medieval legends Sculptures of children Statues of fictional characters Stolen works of art