Manneken Pis

Manneken Pis is a small bronze fountain statue of a urinating boy, standing at the corner of Rue de l'Etuve and Rue du Chêne in the Historic Centre of Brussels, Belgium. The design dates to 1619, while the statue seen today is a 1965 copy, with the original kept safe in the city's museum. Despite its modest size, the figure is a beloved symbol of the city's irreverent humour and has inspired countless legends about its origin. Its most distinctive tradition is the wardrobe: the statue is dressed in costumes on a regular schedule, and the collection runs to more than a thousand outfits donated by countries, associations and organisations. Costume days are published on the Brussels City website calendar, and are often marked by small ceremonies with music. The outfits are displayed at the GardeRobe MannekenPis museum at Rue du Chêne 19, a short walk from the statue, which is worth visiting to understand the tradition. On a typical visit, the statue itself takes only ten to fifteen minutes, so it fits easily into a walk around Grand Place, which is five minutes away. The statue is behind a railing at the street corner and is visible at any hour, so it can be seen in the early morning before the crowds arrive. Midday and summer afternoons are crowded, with visitors queuing to take photographs. Visitors are often surprised by the size of the statue, which stands only about 55 centimetres tall. The streets around it hold chocolate shops, waffle stands and souvenir stores, and this lively area suits a relaxed stop. The nearest premetro stop is Bourse, and the area is entirely pedestrian-friendly.