Welcome to BRUSSELS

Europe’s Meeting Capital

Home to key European institutions, NATO and the city with the highest number of diplomats, Brussels is one of the world’s most powerful and influential cities. The global and multicultural city mixes both historical and modern elements and is home to over 200 hotels, 100 museums and an expansive public transportation and bike rental program. Known as a power center of the European Union, the city blends a mix of cultures, dialects and flavors with a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

EUROPEAN QUARTER PHOTO

Home to 19 distinct districts and 183 nationalities, Brussels is truly a worldly city and has become a city capital to 500 million Europeans. Set foot in the European Quarter, which is built around four main squares and is made up of lively plazas, original shops, brilliant green spaces, and museums.

Start at Place du Luxembourg – Luxemburgplein, nicknamed Plux, and explore numerous terraces and restaurants or head to the trendy shops and businesses in Place Jean Rey. The international and local hub at Place Jourdan features nice restaurants serving local and international food and Rond-point Schuman offers an incredible view of the center and at night provides a lovely walk alongside the Europa building.

ARCHITECTURE PHOTO

From Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Belle Epoque gems, Brussels is a city filled with impressive architecture finds like the Maison Saint-Cyr, the beautiful Cauchie House and the gigantic buildings of Cinquantenaire park, built by King Leopold II. Other must-sees when in the city are the Berlaymont Building, the new Europa building and the Caprice de dieux.

Built for the 1958 World’s Fair, the Atomium is an unmistakable symbol of Brussels and Belgium. The model of a crystalline iron molecule magnified 165 billion times, offers guests a surrealist walk through tubes and spheres and exhibitions on its history. Head up to the upper sphere for spectacular views of Brussels and its environs.

Renowned for its aesthetic and historical richness the Grand Place of Brussels has been an important historical landmark and has been on the World Heritage of UNESCO list since 1998. Surrounded by the City Hall, the Broodhuis and many guild houses, come see the flower carpet in square where every two years the floor is covered with more than 500,000 begonias or the traditional Ommegang, medieval pageant. Along with stunning architecture throughout the city, the ADAM – Art & Design Museum presents a striking collection, the only one of its kind in the world, bringing together several hundreds of plastic objects ranging from the most commonplace to works of art. Started in 1980, the museum’s exhibits are changed every year while almost half of the 5,000 sqm is devoted to a permanent exhibition of the collection of Philipe Decelle.

OUTDOOR

Also, with more than 8,000 hectares of green spaces including an array of historic parks, small inviting squares and wide shady avenues, Brussels contains an exceptional range of biological diversity, with 800 species of plants and 45 species of mammals. At the southeast edge of Brussles, the Sonian Forest covers more than 5,000 hectares and is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise and also is home to three big fishing lakes for doing a spot of carp fishing.

Home to a numerous number of parks, at the edge of the Sonian Forest, Bois de la Cambre / Ter Kamerenbos is a great spot to have a picnic or exercise while Parc d’Egmont is a hidden gem and is an oasis of calm. Talk a walk through the majestic leafy-green area of the Florist’s Gardens or explore the beautiful manicured 92-hectare Jardin botanique Meise (The National Botanic Garden of Belgium). An abundant of small parks are scattered throughout the city as well such as the: Park Royal, Parc Leopold and Petit Sablon Square.

To read more about the fascinating city, find historic sites to visit or a plethora of other activities, visit https://visit.brussels/en.

COMIC STRIPS

Brussels is also a capital of comic strips with a long history of the birth of legendary comic book characters. It is where Tintin, Spirou and the Smurfs (and many more) grew up and they now decorate restaurants, hotel rooms are celebrated and paraded in the streets. Comics are ingrained in Belgian culture and there is even comic book route with pays tribute to characters and authors of the Franco-Belgian comics on the walls in the city center and Laeken.

Located in the heart of Brussels, in a majestic Art Nouveau building created by Victor Horta in 1906, the Belgian Comics Art Museum opened its doors to the public on 6 October 1989. In no time this impressive museum became one of the main attractions in Brussels. Each year tens of thousands of visitors come here to explore 4,200sqm of permanent and regularly changing temporary exhibitions.

GASTRONOMY

Gastronomy has a long history with deep-rooted traditions, quality produce and bold flavors in the city. Among the many Belgian specialties are four favorites: chocolate, beer, frites and waffles.

The most-exported gourmet product from the city, nearly arranged in ballotin boxes, pralines (invented in Brussels) are true jewels. World-renowned chocolatiers like Frédéric Blondeel, Godiva, Laurent Gerbaud, Mary, Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini and Wittamer can be found there while places like the Belgian Chocolate Village and Choco-Story Brussels are devoted strictly to the discovery of chocolate. And for those chocolate lovers and professional chocolate makers alike, the annual Salon du Chocolat/Chocoladesalon (Chocolate Fair) has become a not-to-miss event. From casks or bottles, beer is a favorite among citizens and visitors which can be enjoyed after taking a bite at a frites stall (called friteries, or fritkots in Brussels parlance).

Like everyday life in Brussels, the food is a palette of many colors and draws upon the flavors of the world from Italian, Spanish and Portuguese dishes to more exotic cuisine from Asia or Africa. Highlighting the more than 2,000 restaurants in Brussels are five two-star Michelin rated restaurants. And although fires are the national dish of Belgium, Brussels also has a lot to offer for the sweet palate. Famous for the Belgian waffle, which is more of a breakfast dish, the Brussels waffle or gaufre de Bruxelles shine as treat food which can be purchased at a street stand and top with everything from fresh fruit, chocolate and numerous other toppings.