It was the twelfth edition of the Manneken-Pis Corrida in Brussels last night. As usual, the course went right through the historic heart of the Belgian and Flemish capital. This year, participants even got to run through the renovated stock exchange building.
Places for the annual end-of-year run were completely sold out this year. Participants could choose between two routes covering 4 or 8 kilometres.
Runners set off from the Spanjeplein near Brussels' central railway station at around 7:30PM. From there, the route took them through the Nieuwstraat and the Queen's Gallery and on to the courtyard of Brussels City Hall. This year, participants could also run straight through the newly renovated stock exchange building.
The Brussels Corrida is part and parcel of Christmas and this year again runners were asked to wear Santa hats. Manneken Pis too was dressed in honour of Czechoslovak runner Emil Zatopek, who in the 1950s broke several world records.
Part of the proceeds from the entry fee go to Solidarité Grands Froids, an organisation fighting poverty in Brussels.