Manneken Pis is a statue of a peeing boy in the center of Brussels. The 55.5 cm tall guy on a pedestal is placed on the corner of the Stoofstraat and the Eikstraat, not far from the Grote Markt.
It has become one of the most famous Belgian and Brussels monuments and a symbol/mascot of the city of Brussels.
In addition to the Manneken Pis in Brussels, there are also in Geraardsbergen, Westmeerbeek, Broksele and Koksijde, but that of Brussels is the best known.
It is a bronze creation by Hieronymus Duquesnoy from 1619.
The Manneken gained the favor of kings and princes. He was endowed with a rich stock of garments, the safekeeping of which the city entrusted to a chamberlain. He is also responsible for dressing the Manneken on special holidays. Since the mid-seventies, the Manneken has had the true Brussels resident Jacques Stroobants as its official dresser (state 2006), whose wife has made about two hundred costumes for Manneken Pis.
These are carefully kept in the Stedelijk Museum, the Broodhuis, on the Grote Markt. The extensive wardrobe of more than 700 suits is known worldwide.
The Manneke received its first uniform on 1 May 1698 from the governor of the Austrian Netherlands, Maximilian II Emanuel van Beieren, on the occasion of the festivities of one of the guilds of Brussels. The museum also displays the uniform donated by King Louis XV of France. In addition, there are also a piece of clothing from the time of Louis XVI, two gala costumes and a costume of an ex-warrior from 1830, composed of a blue blouse with shako, boots, belt and tricolor scarf. The old inventories of the Manneken's wardrobe, compiled around 1750, mention the existence of two umbrellas; one of which is stored in a copper casing.
Every opportunity is still taken to be able to give the Manneken a new costume. These are made in such a way that the little guy can still carry out his daily work. His jacket length is 25 cm, his trousers length 26 cm.
His wardrobe includes an Elvis Presley costume, football uniforms, a Mickey Mouse outfit and many others.