The Miniature Statue That Became A Brussels Icon

Despite being just 22 inches tall, the world-famous Manneken Pis fountain has survived centuries of theft and destruction. This tiny bronze boy has served as a central symbol of Brussels since the 1600s.

The statue depicts a young boy urinating into a fountain basin, a tradition that dates back to the mid-1400s. Because the original figure is so frequently targeted by vandals, the city replaced it with a replica in 1965. You can now visit the original bronze sculpture safely tucked away inside the Brussels City Museum. It is fascinating that such a small, irreverent work of art has become a cherished national mascot.