Belgium’s Iconic Manneken Pis Statue Dressed in Traditional Croatian Costume

One of Belgium’s iconic statues, Manneken Pis, has been dressed in traditional Croatian folklore costume on Sunday to mark the 25th anniversary of international recognition of Croatia’s independence.

Thanks to an initiative from Croatian MEP Dubravka Suica, the small bronze statue of a young boy urinating into a pool was dressed in traditional costume from the Slavonia region.

“I believe Croatia’s national costume suits Manneken Pis very well, today he is a little less ‘Bruxellois’ and a little more Croat, but in any case he is European”, said Marc Guebel, deputy chairman of the Friends of Manneken Pis Committee, reported hina.

“Today is a great day for Croatia. The central celebration ceremony is in Zagreb and we, the Croatian diplomatic community and Croats in Brussels, are proud of this little celebration in the open, alongside Manneken Pis in a traditional Croatian costume,” said Mario Nobilo, Croatian Ambassador to Belgium.

Manneken Pis is a 61 cm tall bronze statue which is located on the corner of Rue de l’Etuve and Rue des Grands Carmes in Brussels. It was made in 1619 by Brussels sculptor Hieronimus Duquesnoy the Elder, father of the more famous François Duquesnoy.