The iconic peeing statue Manneken Pis in Brussels’ city centre is taking a symbolic toilet break on the occasion of World Continence Week.
World Continence Week is an annual health campaign which raises awareness of incontinence-related issues, held from 16 to 22 June this year. The Belgian capital is marking the event by shutting off one of its main, and most appropriate tourist attractions, the Manneken Pis peeing statue located just off Grand Place in the city centre. The aim is to get people talking and break the taboo, as many are embarrassed to discuss the health condition.
“People experiencing urinary incontinence may experience feelings of isolation, embarrassment, and intimacy issues, if their condition restricts them from living life as they would like. It can impact relationships and even employment, if the person is not able to participate in their job as they used to. It can significantly lower self-esteem and lead to a loss of independence in some cases,” noted the Urology Foundation.
Belgian non-profit PlasPraat and Dutch organisation Bekkenbodem4all are therefore teaming up this week to draw attention to continence issues, which affect about one in three people.
With their campaign ‘Never Too Late’, PlasPraat and Bekkenbodem4all want to highlight that, on average, people with incontinence or urination problems wait 6.5 years before seeking medical help. Shame is often the reason for the long delay, urologist and PlasPraat chair, An-Sofie Goessaert, told The Brussels Times.
“Many people wait longer to address the problem out of shame and, as a result, they miss out on help, isolate themselves and end up in social isolation,” she said. Many also assume the condition is simply part of ageing. “The risks do increase with age, but that does not mean that nothing can be done about it.”
One solution is preventing children from developing bad habits, Goessaert added. This is partly due to poor hygiene in school toilets and insufficient drinking opportunities. “If children drink or urinate too little during the day, this can lead to problems later on.”
Goessaert told Belga News Agency that there are also now several treatments available: “in the majority of patients, we can control the problem fairly easily with pelvic floor physiotherapy, nerve stimulation or medication. There are more specialised techniques such as Botox injections or implantable nerve stimulators. We can often control the problem well so that people can resume their lives.”
The non-profit aims to provide everyone with the best possible information about urination, urinary problems and how to deal with them. We want to promote healthy urination and drinking habits and thus prevent problems, she added.
The campaign also draws attention to public toilets. “More public toilets would help many people,” said Goessaert. “It’s not a treatment, but it does make their lives much easier and prevents social isolation.”
In its 2025 budget on Monday, the City of Brussels municipality noted that it would invest in expanding public toilets, road maintenance, soft mobility and cleanliness.
The Brussels Times contacted the cabinet of City of Brussels Mayor Philippe Close for comment, but was yet to receive a reply at the time of publication.