It is one of the famous landmarks in Brussels and is also known as Petit Julien in French. It is a fountain made up of bronze showing a naked little boy urinating into the fountain’s basin. It was placed in the year 1618 and was designed by Jerome Duquesnoy. It is located at the junction point of Rue de l Etuve. To reach at this spot one should take left lane from Brussels Town Hall from the Grand Place and a walk able distance of few hundred meters to reach the spot it will be visible on the left corner.
There are many stories behind this statue but the most famous is about Duke Godfrey III of Leuven. The fight was going on between the troops of this two year lord and Berthouts in the year 1142. It is said that the troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung the basket on a tree to encourage them and from the top the boy urinated on the troops of Berthouts who lost the battle. While the other myth says Brussels was under the control of foreign power in the 14th century, and the attackers planned to keep explosives at the city of walls. A little boy named Juliaanske was spying them when they were preparing and he urinated on the burning fuse and saved the city. A similar statue was made of stone in the middle of 15th century was placed and was stolen many times. But finally in the year 1619 it was replaced with the current bronze statue made by sculptor Jerome Duquesnoy.
The most common story as told often to tourists tells about a wealthy merchant who missed his son in the city of Brussels when came for tour with family, so he made a search party to search his son people found his son urinating in a small garden and he gave this statue as a gift of gratitude to the locals who help to find his son. The fourth story about this statue was again a missing complain of a small boy while shopping with his mother in the center of the city created panic in the city, a wide search in the city at last found the boy peeing in the corner of the street. This story was passed from over the time and statue erected as honor to this fable. However the fifth legend says the story of a small boy trying to save the king’s castle from burning down with urinating.
This Statue is dressed many times each week the schedule of which is published around the railings of the fountain. The attire of this small statue consists of hundred of costumes which are displayed many times in the exhibition inside the City Museum, located in the Grand Place opposite the Town Hall. “The Friends of Mannenken-pis” is a non-profit association which manages the costumes of this small statue and also reviews hundred of designs every year from which a very small number of costumes are used. The oldest costume is of 17th century origin which is on display in the City Museum. Many costumes of this statue represent the national dress of nations whose citizens come to Brussels as tourists while the other costumes are assorted trades, professions, associations and branches of the civil and military services. When there are any organized festivals in the city the statue curved up with beer which flows from the statue and distributes among the people pass by. This statue got stolen seven times and lastly it was stolen in 20th century when some students took him after a bet. This is one of the most attractive destinations in Brussels, but you can also find similar statues in Belgian cities of Hasselt, Ghent in the town of Braine-l Allued and another one in the French Flemish village of Broxeele a small town with the history same as Brussels. Mannenken Pis is also located in Tolushima, Japan while since 1987 the Mennenken had a female Jeanneke Pis located in Getrouwheidsgang.
Brussels is the capital city of European Union and one of the urban areas in the Belgium. Brussels converted into a metropolis from a 10th century castle town with more than the population of one million people and one of the largest area in Belgium with the population of 1.8 million and above. It became the centre of international politics after the end of Second World War. The NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) headquarters are also located in this city. The French speaking people came in Brussels in the 19th and 20th centuries with a minority of Dutch speaking people. At present both the languages occupy official status.
How to Reach Brussels
Brussels National Airport serves international flights from different countries on daily basis. A train station is located at the lowest floor of the airport. However the Brussels airport is also connected with other European cities. Nearest destinations from Brussels include London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris. If you want to hire a car or motorcycle then the offices are located at Gare du Midi with reasonable prices and taxes included, which require deposits to be kept with the owners. Bourse Tram is also a convenient way to travel Brussels and regular public bus services are also available for the tourists.
Accommodation in Brussels
There are many hotels available at the central places of the Brussels including the Grand place, The City Center and Avenue Louise. If you want a high budget luxury hotel you can move to Conard Brussels where you will find the 5 star hotels of the city, while the 4 star hotels are located at Crowne Plaza near Airport and 3 star hotels are also available at near by location depending on the budget. Euro is the currency in Brussels which you can exchange with US $ at the major places like airports, travel agents etc. You can also use the traveler’s cheques to spend money.
The weather is quite warm and mild in the early summer and autumn which is the best time to visit Brussels; you will find it hard to travel in hot and warm months of summer. You will find peace in the city in the months from July to August. People prefer to stay at home in winter season as at this time the museums and sights are less crowded.
Must see famous places in Brussels
The Lower Town
The Grand Palace
Hotel de Ville
Galeries Saint Hubert
The Upper Town
Palais Royal
Musees Royaux des Beaux- Arts
Les places Sablon
Notre Dam du Sablon
Greater Brussels
The Atomium
Waterloo
The fancy look of the pissing boy statue is one of the glorious statues in the Brussels. You will relish yourself by watching the walls of this awful city with a great history and legends of its own kind.