Brussels, famed for its culinary delights like Belgian waffles, top-tier chocolates, and the somewhat misnamed French fries said to originate from Belgium, is a foodie’s ultimate destination.
It’s the archetypal European capital bursting with Art Deco bars, unmatched Flemish artwork, and imposing Gothic churches, not forgetting the iconic landmarks scattered throughout.
With the city welcoming well over a million sightseers each year, it’s no surprise that many flock to the renowned Manneken Pis statue. In place since 1619, and standing as Brussels’ second most high-traffic sight, it draws in upwards of 30,000 daily admirers.
Yet, certain visitors have given it a thumbs-down, branding the famous figurine “overrated” and disappointing, reports the Express. This captivating piece, a small-scale bronze of a lad nonchalantly peeing into the base of a fountain, may measure just 55cm tall but punches above its weight in terms of visitor numbers in Brussels.
Shrouded in history with several origin stories up its sleeve, one popular yarn features a wee noble boy who managed to sprinkle his way to military success by urinating from an oak tree onto enemy troops.
Manneken Pis might be a big deal on tourist brochures, but it’s failing to charm some visitors. One disappointed traveller, ‘Judy S’, slated their visit on Tripadvisor: “Don’t bother…overrated and overcrowded! We arrived at the statue and found at least 100 others trying to get their picture taken with this tiny statue behind them. It was underwhelming at best and can easily be skipped.”
Dating back to the 15th century, the famous Brussels landmark isn’t usually caught in the buff; it’s got a whopping collection of over 1,000 costumes and is often seen sporting different get-ups.
(Image: (Image: Getty))
Still, even the statue’s fashion game hasn’t been able to scoop up fans. A traveller remarked on Tripadvisor: “Interesting only because it is so well known. Rather disappointing, tucked away literally on a street corner.”
Another visitor left a less-than-glowing review, jotting down: “Literally a two-minute trip to see what he is dressed up in and then get a quick picture. Don’t see what all the hype is about, actually find it a bit weird and even more so there are replicas in every shop window about the city.”
The Manneken Pis has company when it comes to disappointing tourists, with Rome’s Trevi Fountain also capsizing under the weight of its visitors. Versailles Palace’s majesty is equally diminished by the crowds, and even Cinque Terre, often acclaimed as the world’s most idyllic village, can leave holidaymakers feeling packed like “sweaty sardines” in its narrow streets.
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