Manneken Pis is a small bronze fountain statue, about 55 cm tall, standing on a street corner in Brussels' old town and depicting a naked little boy urinating into the basin. It is Brussels' best-loved emblem, traditionally attributed to the sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy and dating to 1619; after repeated thefts the original was moved to the Brussels City Museum, and the figure on the fountain today is a copy. The living tradition of dressing him continues into 2026, with 20 to 30 new costumes added each year from a wardrobe of more than a thousand, so what he wears changes constantly. Tiny as he is, he sits just a five-minute walk from the Grand-Place, making him an easy anchor for a stroll through the historic center.
Whatever costume he is wearing that day — chosen from a collection of over 1,000 outfits, with a monthly dressing calendar posted by the nearby GardeRobe museum and on the official site
The surprisingly small scale of the real statue (about 55 cm) — the 'smallness' is the whole point of the Brussels-style joke
The older stonework around the fountain, including the blue-stone rocaille niche dating from 1770
The family of nearby statues — the female 'Jeanneke-Pis' and the dog 'Zinneke Pis' just streets away
Occasional festival events when beer is dispensed through the statue's plumbing
Good to know
SafetyThe Grand-Place / Manneken Pis area is dense with tourists and a known hunting ground for pickpockets. Wear bags in front and keep phone and wallet secured at all times.
CautionFake petition sign-ups, forced 'friendship' bracelets, and street shell games target visitors busy taking photos. Do not engage — just keep walking.
CautionWaffle and souvenir shops right by the statue tend to charge tourist-premium prices; check the price before paying, and pick nearby restaurants by reviews rather than by touts.
SeasonBrussels sees frequent rain year-round and cool mornings and evenings even in summer; pack a waterproof layer, and expect the heaviest crowds on summer afternoons.
RulesThe statue itself is a free, open-air public monument you can see any time, but the indoor GardeRobe costume museum is closed on Mondays; entry is free on the first Sunday of each month.
MannersThe corner is cramped, so take your photos and step aside for others; avoid blocking the passage with tripods or climbing on the railings or the statue.
Practical info
The statue is roughly a 5-minute walk (about 265 m) from the Grand-Place: alight at Bourse or De Brouckère (metro/premetro) or Gare Centrale / Brussels-Central (train and metro), with trams also stopping at Anneessens. Viewing the statue is always free; the nearby GardeRobe MannekenPis costume museum and the Brussels City Museum charge separate admission (a combined ticket exists), so please confirm current opening hours, prices, and the dressing calendar on the official sites before your visit.
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