Brussels' Manneken Pis, a small statue of a little boy peeing, is a strange and mysterious tourist attraction. For centuries, people have been drawn to the boy, but why?
Belgium and its capital Brussels, in particular, have a lot to offer travelers. Who can resist Belgian waffles piled high with strawberries and whipped cream? Or what about the irresistible Belgian chocolates? Belgian beer is reputed to be some of the best in the world. Beyond its culinary delights and the world-renowned lace, however, its monuments - or at least Brussels' most famous monument - leave visitors wondering exactly what the Belgians are up to.
Manneken Pis is one of Brussels major tourist attractions and for the life of me, I can't figure out why. Essentially, Manneken Pis, which means "little man piss," is, well, exactly what it says: A two-foot-tall bronze statue of a little boy urinating.
Now, had this rather odd statue had an interesting history, purported magical powers or been the work of a famous sculpture, I might be able to see the allure. But Manneken Pis' history is unknown, although there are plenty of speculative legends out there. No one claims it heals the sick or brings luck to the downtrodden. And its original sculptor (it's had a tumultuous history including thievery and remakes) is unknown.
So, what draws visitors to this statue day after day, year after year, century after century (legend has it that it's been around since possibly 1388)? Is it the "if you build it, they will come" theory? Pretty much everywhere you go in Brussels, you can find a sign pointing you toward the statue, which gives visitors the sense that they're about to stumble upon something of importance. Is it the mystery behind the odd creation? Maybe the Belgians just have a strange sense of humor and they enjoy watching throngs of naive but wealthy tourists pour into the tiny square where the statue resides.
The popularity of the statue has created a cottage industry all its own: Tourist can buy post cards, bells, cork screws, shot glasses and just about every other souvenir you can think of all emblazoned with the boy's image. Plus, there is an entire museum in the King's House devoted to the clothes given to the boy. This tradition began during the reign of Louis XV when his soldiers stole the statue. Louis XV had the statue returned with a magnificent costume. Since then, hundreds of costumes from a gold-lamay Elvis-inspired outfit to a samurai costume have been given to the boy.
Whatever the appeal, that little boy has created quite a stir over the years and it doesn't appear that he's giving up anytime soon.
For more information about the legends behind the statue, visit www.manneken-pis.com/
