Be Careful! He's small, but he has no decency...Manneken Pis Website
Today I played the complete tourist and went to see Manneken Pis. Who or what is Manneken Pis you ask? Only the symbol of Brussels. There are several legends, but according to Wikipedia the most common two go something like this:
The most famous is the one about Duke Godfrey III of Leuven. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of Grimbergen, in Ransbeke (now Neder-over-Heembeek). The troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung it in a tree, to encourage them. From there, he urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle.
The second is that in the 14th century, Brussels was under siege by a foreign power. The city had held their ground for quite some time. The attackers had thought of a plan to place explosive charges at the city walls. A little boy named Juliaanske from Brussels happened to be spying on them as they were preparing. He urinated on the burning fuse and thus saved the city.
So take your pick, but he certainly brings people to his corner of the world (and I do mean corner). Right around from him I had the most delectible Belgian waffle with chocolate and strawberries. I spent several hours photographing the Grand Place and then finally came in out of the cold after 8 hours of walking. More good food tonight.
Sammy Davis Jr, "Candy Man":
The most famous is the one about Duke Godfrey III of Leuven. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of Grimbergen, in Ransbeke (now Neder-over-Heembeek). The troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung it in a tree, to encourage them. From there, he urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle.
The second is that in the 14th century, Brussels was under siege by a foreign power. The city had held their ground for quite some time. The attackers had thought of a plan to place explosive charges at the city walls. A little boy named Juliaanske from Brussels happened to be spying on them as they were preparing. He urinated on the burning fuse and thus saved the city.
So take your pick, but he certainly brings people to his corner of the world (and I do mean corner). Right around from him I had the most delectible Belgian waffle with chocolate and strawberries. I spent several hours photographing the Grand Place and then finally came in out of the cold after 8 hours of walking. More good food tonight.
Sammy Davis Jr, "Candy Man":
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