{"id":5547,"date":"2016-12-27T09:00:24","date_gmt":"2016-12-27T14:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=5547"},"modified":"2016-12-26T12:04:50","modified_gmt":"2016-12-26T17:04:50","slug":"to-pee-or-not-to-pee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=5547","title":{"rendered":"To Pee or Not to Pee?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2016 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.<\/i><\/p>\n

There are many things to do in the Belgian capital of Brussels…museums, historic buildings, parks, peeing statues…<\/p>\n

Peeing statues? \u00a0What?<\/p>\n

Yes, there is a peeing statue. \u00a0In fact there are three, but the most famous peeing statue,\u00a0Mannekin Pis, is one of the most visited sites in Brussels. \u00a0Go figure…a small naked boy urinating into a fountain’s basin\u00a0brings thousands of tourists to a street corner in Brussels. He is so famous in fact, that he has his own wardrobe that is changed throughout the year with the changing accompanied by a brass band and much fanfare!<\/p>\n

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When I first visited Brussels, many years ago, one of the first things I did was to visit this statue. \u00a0He was adorable and fascinating, however, you could not help but be quite shocked as to how small he actually was. \u00a0So many people tell you that you absolutely “must” see the statue, that in your mind you envision him to be of epic proportions. \u00a0Instead, he is a diminutive 24 inches. \u00a0Everyone is right, however, you absolutely “must” go and find him!<\/p>\n

On my past visit to the Belgian city, I decided to go out in search of Mannekin Pis’ female counterpart, Jeanneke Pis. \u00a0I had heard of Jeanneke Pis, but had no idea where she was located. \u00a0While relaying my plans to\u00a0a friend, she surprised me with a question.<\/p>\n

“Are you going to go find the dog, too?”<\/p>\n

A peeing dog? \u00a0In Brussels? \u00a0Really? \u00a0I had never heard of this one. \u00a0I decided to add him to my to my sightseeing list for the day.<\/p>\n

\"image\"With vague instructions from my friend and a little help from Google, I headed out onto the streets of Brussels and found that Het Zinneke, the peeing dog,\u00a0was located quite near my hotel. \u00a0Although he is not actually a fountain like Mannekin and Jeanneke, he is still something of a tourist attraction with many people stopping to snap a picture or mimic his pose.<\/p>\n

The statue, sometimes erroneously referred to as Zinneke Pis, was erected in 1998 and created by Tom Frantzen. \u00a0Sadly, his position on the street level leaves him very vulnerable to vandals and street traffic. \u00a0In August of 2015, he was struck by an automobile, but was later restored by the sculptor.<\/p>\n

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Many consider Het Zinneke to be a mascot of the city which is logical as his name in Brussels dialect means “someone of mixed origins”, absolutely a representation of the mixture of populations living in Brussels.<\/p>\n

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Moving on, I made my way to the Rue de L’Ecuyer. \u00a0Checking my Google maps, the location showed as being in front of the Theatre Royal des Galeries. \u00a0Walking back and forth, and then into the shopping arcade, I saw nothing. \u00a0No crowd of gawkers, no statue.<\/p>\n

After traipsing back and forth, several times, I finally ducked into a gallery and asked for help. \u00a0For some reason, my map was showing Jeanneken Pis’ location directly on Rue de l’Ecuyer, however,\u00a0although it is extremely close, it is behind a building on the Rue de l’Ecuyer, accessible by small alleyways. \u00a0The friendly employees at the gallery began to explain to me how to find the statue, however, one of them, probably seizing the opportunity to duck out for a smoke break, offered to take me there. \u00a0Walking down the Rue des Dominicains, we took a right\u00a0onto Rue des Bouchers and then finally another right onto the Impasse de la Fid\u00e9lit\u00e9. \u00a0There, by the famous Delirium Bar, Jeanneke resides in the alley, locked behind bars.<\/p>\n

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Though there were a handful of\u00a0tourists admiring the statue, there were nowhere near the number that visit her brother\u00a0and I was a bit dismayed to find her in a dark, damp alley that smelled of stale beer. \u00a0Not a proper place for a little girl.<\/p>\n

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\"image\"Commissioned in 1985 by Denis-Adrien Debouvrie and erected in 1987, Jeanneke Pis, like Mannekin Pis is constructed of bronze and depicts a little girl with a short pig-tailed hairstyle, squatting and urinating on a blue-grey limestone base. \u00a0Protected by large, red steel bars, it is hard to get a good picture unless you poke your camera past the metal railings, however, once you’ve made the trek and actually found Jeanneke, you can reward yourself with one of the unique selections of beers at Delirium Bar across the alleyway.<\/p>\n

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My last stop that day, would\u00a0conclude my Peeing Statue tour. \u00a0Mannekin Pis. \u00a0Since, I had visited the dog\u00a0and his sister, of course, I would, once again, have to see the centuries old statue that started it all!<\/p>\n

The current Mannekin Pis, standing at the intersection of Rue de l’\u00c9tuve\/Stoffstraat and Rue du Ch\u00eane\/Eikstraat, is not the original that was designed by Brussels sculptor, Hi\u00ebronymus Duquesnoy the Elder,\u00a0and placed in this location in the early 1600’s. \u00a0The original figure was repeatedly stolen and finally replaced with the current piece\u00a0dating from 1965. \u00a0The original restored version is kept at the Maison du Roi\/Broodhuis on the Grand Place.<\/p>\n

\"image\"There are many stories behind the statue’s existence with the most famous being \u00a0one about Duke Godfrey III of Leuven, a two year old lord. \u00a0In 1142, his troops were battling the troops of the Berthouts and the lords of Grimbergen in Ransbeke. \u00a0It is said that the troops put the infant lord in a basket, hung in a tree to encourage them. \u00a0The\u00a0young lord urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle.<\/p>\n

Once again, standing before the small effigy, I marveled at the massive crowd gathered before him. \u00a0How could such a small statue, hold such a large place in the heart of Belgium? \u00a0Well, he just does. \u00a0Everyone loves Mannekin Pis.<\/p>\n

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\"image\"So, if you are in Brussels and wondering what your first port of call should be, head down to the intersection of\u00a0Rue de l’\u00c9tuve\/Stoffstraat and Rue du Ch\u00eane\/Eikstraat, fight the crowds and take a selfie with the iconic figure of Mannekin Pis. \u00a0Go to one of the many souvenir shops and buy a\u00a0chocolate Mannekin Pis and if you are lucky, you might see him in costume or be there on a day when he is connected to a keg of Belgian beer! \u00a0Grab a cup of the brew and go find his sister, Jeanneke and his friend, Het Zenneke.<\/p>\n

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.<\/p>\n

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Mannekin Pis<\/strong><\/p>\n