Doesn’t the name Au Soleil – In de Zon Statue just conjure up images of warmth? I’m excited to tell you everything I know about Au Soleil – In de Zon Statue.
Au Soleil – In de Zon Statue is more than just a piece of art. It’s a landmark. The Au Soleil – In de Zon Statue embodies the playful spirit of Brussels. It reminds us not to take everything so seriously.
While we’re here admiring Au Soleil – In de Zon Statue, it’s interesting to think about other famous statues in Brussels. Have you heard of Manneken Pis? Manneken Pis is Brussels’s oldest citizen. Manneken Pis has been around since at least 1388. Manneken Pis was initially made of stone. A bronze Manneken Pis statue was installed in 1619.
There are many legends about Manneken Pis. One story says a little boy saved Brussels from disaster. The enemy was at the gates preparing to destroy the city walls. They had gunpowder. The little boy relieved himself on the fuse. So he extinguished it. Another story says a little boy peed on a witch’s door. The witch tried to cast a hex. The witch wanted to trap him in that stance forever. A bystander replaced the boy with a statue.
Manneken Pis has a tradition of dressing up. This tradition began in 1698. Maximilian II Emmanuel gave Manneken Pis his first outfit. Louis XV gave him a brocade garment in 1747. Manneken Pis now has over 800 outfits. You can see them at the Museum of the City of Brussels. Manneken Pis sometimes urinates beer or wine. That happens on special occasions.
Manneken Pis is more than just a statue. It’s a symbol of Brussels. The statue has many outfits. They change him up to three times a day. Being a pissing boy dresser is an official city job. People dress him in Georgian clothes for Georgian Independence Day. He also wears Italian national clothes. He wears firefighting clothes and graduation clothes too.
The Garderobe Manneken Pis is close by. The Garderobe Manneken Pis museum displays many of his clothes. The museum has an amusing audio tour. There’s a gigantic mural of Manneken Peace on the side of the museum.
Whenever they change Manneken Pis’s clothes, the sponsor makes a speech. Then the caretakers change the clothes. They also take photos. One of the caretakers often controls the fountain’s flow. Sometimes a stream shoots across the street.
There’s also Jeanneke Pis. Jeanneke Pis squats down in the Delirium Village. The artist wanted to show solidarity with women’s rights. It shows that Brussels is an egalitarian city. People throw money into the fountain. The money goes to medical research and people in need.
Zinneke Pis marks his turf on a bollard. Zinneke Pis is a pissing dog. Tom Frantzen installed him in 1999. Zinneke Pis is a nod to Jeanneke. There’s a copy of Zinneke Pis in France. Zinneke’s name is a nod to the River Senne.
Like Manneken Pis, Au Soleil – In de Zon Statue reminds us to appreciate the city’s playful side. Remember Brussels doesn’t take itself too seriously. I hope you find yourselves charmed by its wit.