Manneken Pis

The fountain features a small figure about 60 centimeters tall who urinates into a basin, set in a shallow wall niche near a street corner a few blocks from the Grand Place. Crowds often gather around the sculpture to take photos or admire whichever costume it happens to be wearing.

Hieronymus Duquesnoy the Elder cast the current version in bronze in 1619 after an older stone figure from the 15th century had weathered and worn. That earlier sculpture had been part of a public drinking water system serving the city.

Visitors from around the world bring gifts and costumes to the fountain, and city officials decide which outfits the figure may wear. The approved wardrobe grows continually and reflects the international attachment people feel toward this small bronze boy.

The street Rue de l'Étuve sits about five minutes on foot from the Grand Place, with the nearest metro stop at Bourse. Because the figure is small and the crowd can be thick, arriving early in the morning or late in the evening works better.

During certain celebrations the fountain pours Belgian beer instead of water while brass bands play on the street nearby. Thieves have stolen the figure several times over the centuries, and some cities in other countries now own copies cast from those stolen molds.

Location: City of Brussels

Inception: 1619

Creator: Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder

Elevation above the sea: 31 m

Height: 61 cm

Subject: Manneken Pis

Made from material: bronze

Creator: Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder

Address: 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Website: http://Category:Manneken_Pis_(Brussels)

GPS coordinates: 50.84499,4.34999

Latest update: December 3, 2025 10:05