Manneken Pis became a symbol of Brussels' rebellious spirit and irreverent humor. Legend says a boy saved the city by urinating on enemy explosives. The statue has been a landmark since 1388, and the tradition of dressing him began in 1698 when a foreign dignitary gifted him his first costume.

No, the current statue on display is a replica installed in 1965. The original 1619 bronze by Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder is safely preserved in the Brussels City Museum on Grand Place due to multiple theft attempts.