0-euro notes : 1 e. Belgium : Brussels Market Square

When visiting Belgium, Brussels is surely on the list of places to be.
Although it was called a 'sh*t h*le' by some people, Brussels yearly attracts millions of tourists.
Highlight of the city for sure, is the Market Square or 'Grand Place/Grote Markt'.
At walking distance from the Grand Place, in a narrow street called 'Stoofstraat', a small corner is probably the most photographed spot in the city.
'Oh but he's so small... ' is often heard among the tourists, but hey, what can you expect from a peeing toddler?

Brussels' Market Square (city hall) and Manneke Pis

But did you also know that there is more than one 'manneke pis' in Belgium?
South West of Brussels, in the city of Geraardsbergen, there is also a 'manneke pis'
Looks like there is something 'smelly' going on...

Manneke Pis, left in Brussels, right in Geraardsbergen

Both cities claim to have the oldest, original, 'real' manneke pis
The answer however is not that simple. The shown statues in both cities are in fact not that old, since both are replicas.  The one in Brussels dates from 1965 and the one in Geraardsbergen from 1985.
The original one of Brussels, is stored in the 'Bread House' at the Brussels' Grand Place. This design dates from 1619 and was made by Jerôme Duquesnoy the Elder.
Now, the original one of Geraardsbergen dates from 1459, but got stolen and was replaced by a copy in the 18th century.
So, if the original would still have been there, Geraardsbergen has the oldest design.
Now comes the tricky part, as already in 1452... the name of 'manneke pis' appears in some Brussels' documents. Although the name of the fountain was 'Juliaensken Borre' (fountain of young Julian), it was called 'manneke pis' by the people of Brussels. This fountain existed since 1388 ! but the design is not documented.

Maximilian II Emmanuel of Bavaria

In 1698 Manneke Pis got his first suit from Maximilan II Emmanuel of Bavaria
Maximilian II Emmanuel was the last governor of the Spanish Netherlands (Belgium and the Netherlands under Spanish influence). Now, Manneke Piss has over 600 different costumes.

Manneke Pis costumes

Some trivia :
* donating a suit to Manneke Pis, is rewarded with a barrel of beer (from 'draught').
* Manneke Piss was stolen 3 times, one by a British soldier, twice by French soldiers
* because of the theft by French soldiers, and in order to avoid rebellion against the French king, King Louis XV donated a golden woven suit, a hat with feathers and a sword, in 1747.
* Manneke Piss is actually a knight in the order of Saint Louis (since 1747)
* in 1817 it was stolen again, and broken. With the original pieces, a new statue was molded in 1818.

Manneke Pis in Corona-pandemic

0-euro notes : 1 d. Belgium : Brussels Koekelberg Basilica

When entering Brussels capital region from the western side, a large avenue runs from the exit of the highway towards the basilica of Koekelberg (Koekelberg is the name of the suburb where the church was built - although it is also on the territory of the suburb Ganshoren).

In 1905, Belgium celebrated the 75th birthday after it's independence. King Leopold II introduces the idea of building a sanctuary similar to the Sacré Coeur in Paris.
The idea was to build a huge church in neo gothic style, similar to lots of buildings in Bruges for example.

1905 design of Koekelberg Basilica

Under the rule of Leopold II, the building of the foundations of the church start. However, the death of the king in 1909 and the beginning of the first world war, brings the building to a stop.
After the war, there is not much money left and the whole project is stopped completely.
In 1926 a new architect, Albert Van Huffel, is asked to re-design the building, as the neo gothic style is considered to be old fashion. It takes till 1970 to complete the whole church in art deco style.
With a length of 164.5 m, it is the largest art deco building in the world, and the 5th longest church in the world.
In 1951 the curch was inaugurated and one year later 'upgraded' to 'basilica minor' by Pope Pius XII.

0 euro note Koekelberg Basilica - Brussels - 2018-1

Koekelberg Basilica Brussels

The note can be purchased inside the church, next to the elevator to the balcony.
From the balcony (52.8m), you have a superb view on Brussels and the surrounding area.