Jeanneke Pis

History

Denis-Adrien Debouvrie, who lived in Brussels' Îlot Sacré district and owned several restaurants and properties on Impasse de la Fidélité, came up with the idea for Jeanneke Pis in 1985. He wanted to draw more visitors back to the alley and also create a female counterpart to the city's famous Manneken Pis, which he saw as a way to balance things between men and women. The concept struck him one morning while he was eating breakfast, and he jotted down the design on a paper tablecloth. When he finished, he reportedly said, "Now we have gender equality." The statue's look was supposedly based on his younger sister Jenny as a little girl.

Debouvrie then hired a sculptor to bring the sketch to life. The bronze figure, which stands 50 centimeters tall, was placed in a niche above a water basin at numbers 10 and 12 of the alley. The official unveiling happened on June 24, 1987, with the mayor of Brussels and members of The Order of the Friends of Manneken Pis at the first ceremony; a second event featured Italian politician and former adult film star Ilona Staller, better known as "Cicciolina." Not long after the statue went up, people started tossing coins into the fountain, believing it would keep them faithful to their partners. In 1987, the nonprofit Horizon-Espoir ASBL was formed to gather those coins, first giving the money to groups researching HIV/AIDS treatments.

Coin tossing, charity and legacy

Later, funds also went to the National Fund for Scientific Research, UNICEF, cancer research, and other Belgian charities. To stop vandalism and theft, the statue was eventually locked behind iron bars. Over the years, Jeanneke Pis became a popular spot for tourists. In 2003, the Delirium Café opened in the alley and gained fame for its huge beer selection, and more businesses followed, turning the area into a real visitor destination.

Legend

The statue and the alley are traditionally associated with fidelity. Visitors throw coins into the fountain's basin, a practice believed to reflect the depth of one's affection for a loved one, and this custom has also become linked to making wishes at fountains. A plaque next to the statue originally described the fountain as dedicated to loyalty, with coins symbolising tenderness and fidelity. In December 2021, the plaque was replaced with one written from the statue's perspective, noting that collected coins are used annually for medical research and charitable purposes.