You could say that Jeanneke Pis is the younger sister of Manneken-Pis, but perhaps we could dig a bit deeper? Like her famous brother, Jeanneke-Pis is a bronze statue and fountain measuring around 50cm, supported by a basin. The piece was designed in 1985 by artist Denis-Adrien Debouvrie, who also owned several restaurants in the Îlot Sacré neighbourhood in the historical centre. The female equivalent of the Manneken-Pis was inaugurated in 1987, in the presence of former porn star Cicciolina! The sculptor-restorer was commissioned to create this statue for a variety of reasons: firstly, to bring people back to this somewhat neglected cul-de-sac, where Debouvrie himself owned several establishments; secondly, to re-establish the equality between men and women that Manneken-Pis had undermined for centuries; and thirdly, to add a touch of zwanze, that subversive Brussels sense of humour. As for the legend, it took shape gradually: Jeanneke promised fidelity to couples in the impasse of the same name. It became customary to throw coins into the fountain's basin, with the money collected being donated to charities.
Jeanneke Pis
Location: Getrouwheidsgang, 10, 1000 Brussels