Manneken Pis
Manneken Pis features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Brussels. Give it roughly ~20 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type monument
- Suggested visit ~20 min
- Brussels Brussels guide
About Manneken Pis
A beloved 17th-century bronze statue of a little boy urinating, symbol of Brussels' irreverent spirit, with a wardrobe of over 1,000 donated costumes.
Manneken Pis, "Little Man Pee" in Brussels dialect, is one of Europe's most famous and most surprisingly tiny statues. The 61-centimetre bronze figure stands at the corner of Rue de l'Étuve and Rue du Chêne, just two minutes from the Grand-Place. The current statue was created by Flemish sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder in 1619, though an earlier stone version had stood here since at least the late 15th century.
Over the centuries, the statue has accumulated a remarkable wardrobe of over 1,000 costumes donated by countries, cities, and institutions from around the world. He has been dressed as Elvis, a Chinese mandarin, a Belgian footballer, and countless other characters. Every few days, city officials ceremonially dress and undress the statue. The costume collection is displayed in the Maison du Roi on the Grand-Place. Brussels loves this little figure precisely because he represents the city's defiant, humour-filled spirit.
Did you know? Manneken Pis is only 61 cm tall, most visitors are shocked by how small he is after seeing him on countless souvenirs and postcards.
How long is a visit to Manneken Pis?
Set aside roughly ~20 min for Manneken Pis. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Manneken Pis worth your time?
Manneken Pis is among the 22 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Brussels, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Brussels
Hear the story of Manneken Pis
Preview the Brussels tour free in the Gingerguide app.