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Brussels
See alsoOverviewBrussels (Bruxelles in French, Brussel in Dutch, Brüssel in German; pop. 140,000 for Brussels City, 1 million for Brussels-Capital Region) is the capital of Belgium and of the European Union and the seat of numerous international organizations, such as NATO. Brussels is a global city, ranked in 1999 as the sixth most important world city in Europe (and 15th worldwide) by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network (GaWC). Language & governmentAlthough Brussels is geographically in Flanders, 70% of its inhabitants speak French and only 10% Flemish. 20% of the population speak non-native languages as their mother-tongue. English is the de facto 3rd language, due to Brussels' international character. Brussels is a very cosmoplitan city, composed of 31% of non-Belgians and 6% of naturalised foreigners. The biggest groups of non nationals are French, Italian and Moroccan, but there is a great diversity of origins, thanks to the international institutions.Belgium is a federal country, made of juxtaposed geographic region-states (Flanders, Brussels, Wallonia) and linguistic community-states (French, Dutch and German), each with specific powers (e.g. economic matters are managed by the regions, while education and tourism are managed by the communities). One of the 3 region-states is the Brussels Capital Region, which also acts as the capital of the French Community of Belgium (Communauté française Wallonie-Bruxelles in French) and of Flanders (both Region and Community). All Flemish capital institutions are established there, from the Flemish Parliament to the Flemish government and its administration. As a result Brussels is officially a bilingual city, with all street signs written in French and Dutch, and often also in English. Being also an independent state, the status of the Brussels-Capital Region somewhat resembles that of the US District of Columbia, although in more complicated. Orientation & MapBrussels is an agglomeration made up of 19 communes (municipalities), not unlike the 20 arrondissements of Paris, known as the Brussels-Capital Region. One of these municipalities is the City of Brussels itself (pop. 140,000). Alphabetically, the 19 communes are : Anderlecht, Auderghem, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels City, Etterbeek, Evere, Forest, Ganshoren, Jette, Koekelberg, Ixelles, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Schaerbeek, Saint-Gilles, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Uccle, Watermael-Boitsfort, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. (see Map of Brussels Capital Region)The historical centre (see Map of Central Brussels) is divided in 9 quarters; clockwise from the north-east corner : Libertés, Royal, Sablon, Marolles, Midi-Lemonier, Senne, Quais, Marais-Jacqmain and Centre. The old city walls around historical centre were replaced by an Inner Ring Road (R20), which also coincides with the line 2 of the metro. The names of the old city gates have survived in metro station names, like Porte de Namur/Naamsepoort or Porte de Hal/Hallepoort. The Brussels Capital Region is encompassed by the Outer Brussels Ring Road (R0). The east and south of the Brussels region have two additional partial ring roads between the R20 and the R0, namely the R21 (the boulevards running between La Cambre and Laeken, via Montgomery and Meiser) and the R22 (running between Uccle and Zaventem via Boitsfort, Auderghem and Woluwe). Click on Brussels City Centre to get detailed map of central Brussels.Click here for a Map of (dis)advantaged districts in the Brussels-Capital Region Getting aroundThere are five main train stations in the city centre : Public transports are well-developed, but may be a bit confusing for first timers. There are 3 metro lines (1A, 1B and 2), 11 additional "pre-metro" lines (partly underground tramway), 6 tramway lines and 46 bus lines. Each line has a number rather than a name. Note that 5 pre-metro lines (No 3, 52, 55, 56, and 81) run between Brussels-North and Brussels-South train stations, via the stations Lemonier, Anneessens, Bourse, De Brouckere and Rogier. The 5 lines will soon be merged into a new metro line (line 3). The whole network is managed by the STIB/MIVB, a semi-public company founded in 1954. Tickets for the metro, tram and bus are the same. A single journey cost 1.5 €, a 10-ride pass is 10 €, while a day-pass is 3.8 € and a one-month season ticket is 36 €. There are numerous other passes and discounts. Don't forget to stamp your ticket once before riding to validate it. The municipality of Brussels City has installed over 20 bicycle stations around the city, providing hundreds of bicycles with automated rental 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The system is easy; buy a weekly or yearly subscription card with your credit card, then rent a bike and return it to any Cyclocity station whenever you want. Stations are distant of about 300 meters from each others. A one-week card cost 1.5 &euro, while an annual card is 10 €. Each half-hour cost 0.5 €, (or 1 € from the second half-hour with a weekly card). More information on the website of Cyclocity. History
Brussels was officially founded in 979, when a small castle was built near the Senne River. Lambert II of Leuven built a new castle and a city wall in the mid-11th century. From the 12th century onwards, Brussels developed as an important stop on the commercial road from Bruges to Cologne. Brussels was part of the Duchy of Brabant, which passed by marriage to the Dukes of Burgundy in 1406. Duchess Mary of Burgundy, who was born in Brussels. married Archduke Maximilian of Austria (afterwards the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I) in 1477, and Brussels passed to the Habsburgs. When Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (1500-1558) abdicated, he left the Habsburgian Netherlands and Spain to his son Philip II. Brussels would from then on be ruled by the Habsburgs of Spain, then, from 1713, by the Habsburgs of Austria. King Philip II of Spain (1527-1598) ordered the Inquisition and thousands of Protestants were executed on the Grand Place, including nobles like the Counts of Egmont and Hoorn. It is for this very Count of Egmont that J.W. von Goethe wrote his tale of the same name, and for which Ludwig van Beethoven later composed his famous overture. In 1695, Louis XIV' s army commanded by Marshal De Villeroy bombarded the city for two days and destroyed 4000 houses and most of the Grand Place in retaliation after failing to take Namur. Everything was however rebuilt within five years. The Austrians built Brussels neo-classical buildings such the Royal Palace, the Palace of Egmont and others buildings near Place Royale. The fate of Brussels changed dramatically in 1830, when its citizens revolted against the Dutch "occupation" and proclaimed the Southern provinces the new independent Kingdom of Belgium, of which Brussels was to become the centralized capital. From that time on, Brussels was to grow tremendously, expanding about 20 times in size over a century. Karl Marx (1818-1883) was forced out of France in 1845 and sought refuge in the young kingdom of Belgium, which he considered the most liberal country in Europe at the time. He stayed until 1848, during which time his two sons were born and he wrote his famous Communist Manifesto with Engels. A commemorative plaque can be seen on the Maison du Cygne ("Swan House") on the Grand-Place, where Marx used to drink and write. Victor Hugo (1802-1885) came into exile in Brussels in the winter 1851-52. In 1861, he completes his masterpiece Les Misérables on a trip to Waterloo, on the outskirt of the Belgian capital. Hugo also resided in Brussels between 1866 and 1870, where he lived Rue de l'Astronomie, then Place des Barricades, both in the Quartier des Libertés (between the Parliament and the Botanic Garden). This is where his second son, Charles, was born, and where his wife died, soon after childbirth. Brussels also served as temporary home to other famous French exiles, such as Jacques-Louis David (1815 to 1825), Alexandre Dumas (1851), Charles Baudelaire (1864 to 1867), Auguste Rodin (1870 to 1886) and Paul Verlaine (1872 to 1873). It is in Brussels that the Belgian comic strip was born. Hergé (1907-1983), author of the Adventures of Tintin, became the key figure of the Brussels school of comics in the 1930's. There are now hundreds of active comics writers and artists, generally based in Brussels or Charleroi, as well as a museum dedicated to the "ninth art", the Belgian Centre for Comic Strips. Brussels has been the capital of the European Community (then the European Union) since 1958, and the political seat of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) since 1967. Nowadays, thanks to its international status, Brussels enjoys the highest GDP per capita of any European administrative region after Luxembourg and central London. Sightseeing
* Note that the Royal Palace is only open from late July to mid September, and the Royal Greenhouses from late April to early May. 8 out of 10 of these places were constructed or modified by King Leopold II (ruled from 1865 to 1909). Ilot Sacré, Grand Place, Bourse & Rue Neuve
Called "Grote Markt" in Dutch and "Grand Place" in French, Brussels' town square (or "old market square") is an architectural marvel of Brabantine Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. The square is surrounded by the Houses of the Guilds (or Guildhalls), the Town Hall and the King's House. The Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville in French) was constructed between 1402 and 1455 and was the only building to escape French bombardment of 1695. The 96m high gothic tower was designed by architect Jan Van Ruysbroeck. It is adorned with a golden statue of St. Michael, the patron of Brussels, at the top. The King's House (Broodhuis in Dutch, Maison du Roi in French) was originally a bakery in the 13th century, and was replaced by the present stone building in the 15th c . as an administrative building for the duke of Brabant. It was restored in neo-gothic style in the 18th century. It is somewhat of a misnomer as no kings ever lived there. It now houses the Brussels City Museum (open Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm; admission 3 €), which has various historical relics, including a floor painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder of 1567. That is also where Manneken Pis' wardrobe (see below) is kept, with only about 100 on display at a time. Most buildings around the square were destroyed in 1695 by French troops led by De Villeroy as retaliation for the lost battle of Namur. The guild houses were rebuilt in Baroque style. The area around the Grand Place is known as the Ilot Sacré ("Sacred Isle"). About 100m north-west of the Grand Place is the Bourse (stock exchange), a beautiful neoclassical construction from 1873. North-east of the Grand Place, the notorious Rue des Bouchers ("Butchers' Street") does not owe it name from a particularly barbaric battle, nor to the presence of serial-killers, but to the old guild of the butchers which was once doing business here. It is now filled with meat and seafood restaurants from one end to the other. It is mostly a tourist trap though. The Galeries St Hubert, inspired by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, are composed of the Galerie de la Reine and the Galerie du Roi, divided by the intersecting Rue des Bouchers. They are some of Europe's most lavish shopping arcades, and were in fact the first shopping galleries to open in Europe when they were inaugurated by King Leopold I in 1847. You will find mostly posh boutiques selling refined clothes, classical music, antiques and, well, chocolate (it's Belgium after all), with numerous cafes and restaurants in between. A few hundreds metres north from the stock exchange is the Théatre de la Monnaie, which also acts as Brussels' opera. It marks the entrance to the city's most popular shopping street, the Rue Neuve (literally "New Street"). A side street to the east leads to the magnificient neo-classical Place des Martyrs. Manneken Pis
The world-famous statue of the small peeing boy has become an emblem of Brussels. Many tourists are disappointed by its unimpressive size, but what matters is its history behind it. Manneken is also famous for his wardrobe, with some 725 costumes used for various occasions, from Christmas and local festivals to sports events. The costumes are kept in the King's House on the Grand Place. There are several legends about the origin of Manneken Pis. The most famous is the one about Duke Godfried II of Brabant. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of Grimbergen, in Ransbeke (currently Neder-over-Heembeek). The troops put the little boy in a basket and hung it in a tree, to encourage them. From there, he urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle. Another legend goes like this: in the 14th century, Brussels was under siege by a foreign power. The city had held their ground for quite some time. The attackers had thought of a plan to place explosive charges at the city walls. A little boy named Juliaanske ("Little Julian") from Brussels happened to be spying on them as they were preparing. He urinated on the burning fuse and thus saved the city. Yet another legend has it that a little boy peed on a witch's doorstep, and the angered witch turned him into a statue. There was already a similar statue made of stone in the middle of the 14th century, perhaps as early as 1388. The statue was stolen several times. In 1619 it was replaced by a bronze statue, created by Franco-Flemish Baroque sculptor Jerôme Duquesnoy. Manneken Pis stands proudly near the Grand Place, on the corner of Rue de L'Etuve (Stoofstraat) and the Rue du Chêne (Eikstraat). There is also a Jeanneke Pis, the female version of Manneken, squatting in Impasse de la Fidélité off the north-western part of Rue des Bouchers. The statue was built in 1985 by Denis Adrien Debouverie. If you haven't had your fill of indecent statues, the dog version known as Zinneke Pis with its leg cocked, stands at the corner of Rue des Chartreux and Rue du Vieux Marché aux grains. This one was designed by Flemish sculptor Tom Frantzen and represents Brussels' irreverent spirit.
Place Royale & SablonThis area is located just east and south-east of the Central Station. It is the neo-classical upper-town where the Royal Palace (Palais Royal in French) stands. Originally built by the Austrians in the 18th century, the palace was modified and extended by King Leopold II. The main facade is longer than Buckingham Palace in London. The interior is absolutely sumptuous; Greek columns compete with the marble panels and gilded decorations. The collection of antiques and paintings is worth of some of the greatest museums. Although it is still the official residence of the Royal family, the King and Queen now live at the (larger !) Royal Estate of Laeken, near the suburb of Heysel. The Royal Palace is open to visitors from late July to mid September from Tuesday to Sunday 10:30am to 4:30pm. Admission is free. It is definitely one of the most impressive sight in Brussels, so do not miss it if you are in Brussels during this period.The Dynasty Museum (open Tue-Sun 10am to 6pm, until 5pm from October to March), housed in the elegant Hôtel Bellevue next to the Royal Palace, retraces the history of the Belgian Royal family. The Royal Palace faces the Parc de Bruxelles. At the opposite end of the park is the Palais de la Nation, designed by Barnabé Guimard in 1783. It is the seat of the two chambers of the Belgian Parliament (see below). On the western side of Place Royale, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts are probably Belgium's most compelling art museum, with paintings by Bruegel the Elder, Rubens and surrealists like Magritte or Ensor. Regency Street (Rue de la Regence in French) starting south from Place Royale, is full of neo-classical buildings. Our Lady of Sablon's Church stands out with its 15th century Gothic architecture. The church was originally founded as a chapel by the guild of the archers in the 13th century. On nearby Place du Petit Sablon, the majestic Palais d'Egmont is home to the Ministry of Finance. Its beguiling garden has 48 bronze statues representing the medieval guilds. In the middle is a monument to the Counts of Egmont and Hoorn who were decapitated on the Grand Place by the Spaniards (see History). The collosal Palais de Justice (court of justice) on Poelaert Square, at the end of Regent's Street, dominates the Sablon and Marolles neighbourhoods. This staggering edifice is one of King Leopold II's most extravagant project. It was erected on what is known as Gallows Hill, where Brussels' gallows once stood, and was designed in the fashion of ancient Egyptian temples to inspire awe. In fact, with its 26,000 m2 of built area, it is larger than St. Peter's in Rome (21,000 m2), and is one of the largest pre-20th century edifice in the world. The Palais de Justice was built between 1866 and 1883. Its architect, Joseph Poelaert, died during the construction in 1879. Some people say his sudden death was due to witchcraft used by the working-class residents of the Marolles who had been evicted. Note the "SPQB" signs around the edifice, mimicking the ancient Roman "SPQR" (Senatus Populusque Romanus), the "B" obviously standing for "Brussels".
Quartier des Libertés & Place du CongrèsJust north of the Park of Brussels, locked between Rue Royale, Rue de la Loi and the Metro line 2, the Quartier des Libertés ("Quarter of Liberties") was named in honour to the independence of Belgium in 1830. We can still hear the heights of the Belgian Revolution in such street names as Rue du Gouvernment Provisoire or Place des Barricades. This is also where French writer Victor Hugo lived during his 5 years of exile in Brussels.This is one of Brussels' most pleasant neighbourhood. Its streets have a distinct Paris feel, and are remarkably quiet for the city centre. At its heart lies the Cirque Royal (Royal Circus) is a popular venue for musicals, circus, operettas and other spectacles. Other concerts and exhibitions are held at Le Botanique inside Brussels' Botanic Garden, just across the boulevards from the Metro Station of the same name (see Entertainment below). Apart from the Belgian Parliament and several major ministries, a good reason to come here is for the proud 47m-high Colonne du Congrès (Congress Column), the tallest such column in Europe (in comparison the Vendôme Column in Paris is 44 m tall and Nelson's Column in London rises to 46 m). It was erected between 1850 and 1859 by architect Poelaert (see Palais de Justice above) in commemoration of the National Congress of 1831 proclaiming the Belgian Constitution. On top of the column, a statue of King Leopold I dominates the Place du Congrès (Congress Square), with its neoclassical façades reminding of Northern Italian palazzi. An eternal flame burns at the base of the column for the lost lives of the two World Wars. Given fair weather (always uncertain in this part of the world), the square commands one of the city's rare panoramic views, with the gothic spire of the Town Hall rising above the roofs of the historical centre, and the dome of the Basilica of Koekelberg (see below), 4km away. The highest viewpoint in Brussels is the recently renovated Madou Tower (120m, 33 floors), occupied by the European Commission (see EU district below). Between Congress Square and the Central Station stands the gothic St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral, facing the National Bank of Belgium. The cathedral traces back its roots to the 9th century, when it was just a chapel dedicated to archangel St Michael (Brussels' patron saint). Relics of Saint Gudula were added in 1047 by Lambert II, Count of Leuven, and the new "St. Michael and Gudula" was promoted to the rank of collegiate church. The present structure mostly dates from the 13th century (choir) and 15th century (facade). It was only elevated to an archiepiscopal cathedral in 1962, and is now often used for catholic ceremonies of national interest, such as royal marriages and state funerals.
Jubilee Arch, Jubilee Park & MuseumsThe Parc du Cinquantenaire ("Jubilee Park") was named after 50-year anniversary of the independence of Belgium in 1880. It marks the border between the EU quarter and the municipality of Etterbeek. It is immediately recognisable by its 45m high Triumphal Arch (probably the largest such arch in the world), built by Leopold II in 1900 for the 70th anniversary of the country's independence. The arch is prolonged by a semi-circular gallery lined with classical columns and frescoes reminding of ancient Rome. On each side stands imposing structures. The hangar-like northern section houses the Army Museum and Autoworld Museum, while the southern building is home to the Museum of Art and History.The park itself was laid in an intermediate Franco-British classical style, with broad alleys and well-lined trees (French style), as well as neoclassical statues and temples (British style). Note that the north-west corner of the park is occupied by the National Mosque of Belgium (the largest in the country), right next to the copy of a pagan Greco-Roman temple. This has caused dismay of some Belgians, who see it as a provocation of the Muslim community to Europe's historical past and values, with a barely dissimulated irony as the park is supposed to commemorate the independence of Belgium and Belgian nationalism at its apex.
Basilique Nationale du Sacre-Coeur (Koekelberg)The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is located in the north-western district of Koekelberg, at the end of Boulevard Leopold II. The nearest Metro station is "Simonis".This eerie neo-gothic and art-deco cathedral is the 4th largest church in the world, after St Peter's in Rome, St Paul's in London and the Duomo in Florence. It is 140.9m long and has a 90m high dome. The construction started in 1905, but the First World War brought financial constraints and the plans were changed in the 1920's, explaining the discordant style. Although the church itself is not so appealing, the panorama at the top of the dome (admission 2.5 €) is well worth the climb. Atomium & Parc des ExpositionsLocated in the Heysel Park, Atomium was built for the Expo '58, the World's Fair in Brussels in 1958. It was designed by the architect André Waterkeyn.This strange construction consisting of 9 spheres represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. It was originally meant to last only 6 months, but was not dismantled after the Expo and became a touristic attraction. The monument has a total height of 103 meters (335 feet). The spheres, which have a diameter of 18 meters, are connected by escalators. Three of the upper spheres have no vertical support, and so for safety reasons are not open to the public. In the top sphere one can enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Brussels through the windows, and in the other spheres there are several exhibitions. Much-needed renovation work was started in March 2004. The Atomium was closed to the public between October 2004 and January 2006, and re-opened in great pump in February, its spheres shining like never before. The adjacent Parc des Expositions is a cluster of buildings constructed in the 1930's to commemorate the century of independence of Belgium. There are several extensive halls used for various exhibitions, such as the annual Automobile Show. The largest of them is the art-deco Palais du Centennaire. At the foot of the Atomium, Bruparck is a leisure centre and one of Brussels top touristic destinations for people with children. Bruparck most popular attraction is Mini-Europe, a park with miniature reconstructions of some 300 of Europe's most famous sights, from London's Big Ben to San Marco's in Venice. "The Village" is the restaurants, bars and shops zone. It connects Mini-Europe to Oceade, a large tropical swimming pool kept at 30'C all year round and with huge water slides. The last zone of Bruparck is the Kinepolis Cinema, Belgium's largest cinema complex with no less than 29 theatres. Films are shown in original versions (OV) or dubbed in French (VF) or Dutch (NV).
Royal Greenhouses & Castle of LaekenOnce a year the sizeable Royal Greenhouses of Laeken are open to the public for 3 weeks (entry 2 €, open 1pm to 4pm, from late April to early May, check official website for exact dates). This is an opportunity to approach the Castle of Laeken (closed to the public), where the Belgian royal family resides. The greenhouses and gardens accessible to visitors make up the north-eastern corner of the Domain of Laeken, one of the largest green space in the Brussels Capital-Region.The Greenhouses buildings were designed in 1873 by architect Alphonse Balat for King Leopold II. There are hundreds of species of plants and flowers, and part of the original 19th-century collection still exist. The collection of camelias (over 100 species) is the largest and oldest of the kind in a greenhouse. Visitors will be able to contemplate blossoming cherry trees in the gardens, with the Japanese pagoda (see below) in the backdrop. It is a real must for plant lovers if you happen to be in Brussels during this period of the year. Japanese Pagoda & Chinese PavilionOne of the most unexpected sight in the Belgian capital would probably be the duo of the Japanese Pagoda (Tour japonaise) & the Chinese Pavilion (Pavillon chinois) in the Domaine Royale de Laeken. They are located about 1km south-east of the Heysel Stadium, one on each side of Avenue Van Praet.Erected in 1901 and 1903 by the architect Alexandre Marcel for Leopold II, they were originally just another fancy of the king, who had seen similar buildings at the 1890 World Fair in Paris. The construction was done by Belgian enterprises and French decorators, with the exception of the the Japanese sculpted pannels and copperwork commissioned in Yokohama, and the external woodwork of the Chinese pavilion produced in Shanghai. At the king's death in 1909, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took over their management, which turned them into museums for Oriental arts, first opened to the public in 1911 (Japanese Pagoda) and 1913 (Chinese Pavilion). The Japanese Pagoda closed down in 1947, only to re-open after emperor Hirohito's death in 1989, but long closed again for renovation works. It now houses temporary exhibitions, and since 2005, the Museum for Japanese Arts, which possesses a collection of 17th and 18th-century porcelains as well as various works of arts from the mid 19th to the early 20th century. The Chinese Pavilion contains Chinese porcelains from the same period. Both places are open from 9:30am to 5pm and closed on Mondays. Admission in 3 €. Trams No 19, 23 and 52 and buses No 53, 230 and 231 will get you there. Note that tram No 52 is the only one passing through the city centre (via South Station, Bourse and North Station), and also has the most convenient stop. The European Union area
Brussels is the seat of the European Parliament (the EU's legislative body) and the European Commission (the EU's executive body). The EU district is roughly comprised between the Park of Brussels, Jubilee Park (Parc du Cinquantenaire) and Leopold Park, i.e. between Arts et Loi, Trone and Schuman Metro stations. Its main thoroughfares are Joseph II Street (Rue Joseph II), Law Street (Rue de la Loi) and Belliard Street (Rue Belliard). It is one of the most modern part of the city, along with the new business district west to North Station. The European Commission has its headquarters in the Berlaymont building, while the and the Council of the European Union is located in the Justus Lipsius building opposite, both on Rue de la Loi (Wetstraat in Dutch). The European Parliament's main entrance is on Rue Belliard, just above Brussels-Luxembourg Station. The EU Parliament is made of of two wings, the Paul-Henri Spaak building (constructed from 1988) and the Altiero Spinelli building (erected between 1991 and 1997). The whole parliament has an built area (on the ground) of 35,000 m2. The EU Parliament is open to visitors. When the parliament is in session, headphones give almost instantaneous translations of what is being said in all of the EU's 20 official languages. Once a year (usually in May), the main EU institutions open their doors to visitors for a day. This is a good opportunity to see the meeting rooms of the EU Commissioners and EU heads of state in the Berlaymont and Justus Lipsius buildings. Museums & Art Galleries
Brussels has a great number of interesting museums. Art lovers will find their happiness at the Museum of Fine Arts (divided in the Museum of Ancient Art and Museum of Modern Art) on Place Royale. The Parc du Cinquantenaire, between Schuman and Mérode stations, houses the Museum of Art and History, Army Museum and Autoworld Museum. Architecture buffs will be delighted by the former residences of the Van Buuren family (in Uccle) and art-nouveau architect Victor Horta (in Saint-Gilles), as well as the former Old England Department Store, also in art-nouveau, next to Place Royale. Another private house worth mentioning is the Charlier Museum, a classical stately home featuring historical paintings, sculptures, tapestries, silverware and furniture. It is located between Madou and Arts & Loi stations. Unusual museums include the Belgian Centre of Comic Strip Art (near Brussels-Congrès Station) and the Royal Museum for Central Africa (in the suburb of Tervuren). For an extensive listing of museums, try our Directory or Museums in Brussels. Attractions outside BrusselsBrussels' central location, and the small size of Belgium mean that all places in Belgium could be visited on a day trip from the capital. You could even plan for several destinations if you have a car.Places in the immediate vicinity of Brussels (within 20km) include : You could combine a visit to Waterloo and Beersel, both to the south-west of Brussels, on the same day, and another to Leuven and Horst, to the north-east, on another. For something quite different, you could visit the House of the Future in Vilvoorde, just north of Laeken. FestivalsBrussels, as the capital of Belgium and Europe, has its fair share of festivals and events. There are unfortunately too many too list here. Let's note, for instance, the Brussels Arts Festival (held for three weeks in May), the Brussels Jazz Marathon (last weekend of May), and the Eu'ritmix (in August).Brussels hosts no less than 11 film festivals, including the European Film Festival of Brussels, the International Festival of Fantastic Film, the Festival of Cartoons and Animated Films, and the Short Film Festival of Brussels. The most famous historical festival is the Ommegang, held every year for 2 days in early July in the streets around the Grand Place. It originated in 1348 in the Sablon neighbourhood, and was more famously organised in honour of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg in 1549. Only held exceptionally for the following centuries (for instance, upon the visit of Napoleon in Brussels), the Ommegang was revived in 1930 and has been an annual event ever since.
ShoppingMain shopping areasThe two main shopping streets in Brussels are the Rue Neuve and Avenue Louise. Rue Neuve runs from Place de la Monnaie, about 300m north of the Grand Place, to Place Rogier, near Brussels-North Station. It is where you'll find big department stores like Galeria Inno or the City2 shopping centre. The area around Rue Neuve is a bit ill-frequented though. If gangs of (mostly Arabic) young males make you feel uncomfortable, you might prefer the Woluwe Shopping Centre below.Avenue Louise is Brussels' Champs-Elysées, where most of the posh boutiques and the great names of international fashion can be found. Avenue Louise is one of Brussels longest streets. It runs from Place Louise (Metro : Louise), between the Palais de Justice and Palais d'Egmont, to the Bois de la Cambre, 3km downhill. The upper section is where all the shops are. The rest of the street hosts numerous embassies and international companies (eg. airlines). Designer boutiques are in fact between "Louise" and "Trone" metro stations, on the inner side of the ring road (see map), on either side of the Hilton. Brussels' biggest and nicest shopping mall is the Woluwe Shopping Centre. It has over 150 shops, including a major branch of Inno Department Store. It is located at the junction of Avenue Paul Hymans and Boulevard de la Woluwe in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, opposite Malou Castle. Using public transports, the easiest is to take the Metro line 1B until Roodebeek Station, which is connected to the shopping centre. Buses 29 (passing through Central Station), 42, 45 and 359 also stop nearby. Speciality shoppingChocolate lovers will find the finest praline-makers on the Place du Grand Sablon, located between the Central Station and the gigantic Palais de Justice. This is where you will find Pierre Marcolini and Wittamer, as well as more prevalent brands like Neuhaus and Godiva. This area is also the place to go for antique shops. Going northward on Rue Royale till the Place du Congrès, you will find yet another celebrated chocolate-maker, Mary's - which only has that one shop. The rising star among chocolate makers is Jean-Philippe Darcis, who opened his first shop in Brussels (Petite rue au Beurre, 14) in 2007.If you are in for a splurge, one of the "secret" places that most locals don't even know of is the Neuhaus Chocolate Outlet. In this "chocolate factory", you will be able to purchase pralines by boxes of 1 kg at rock bottom price (e.g. 1 kg for 10 € instead of 35 €, and 3 kg for 20 €). It is located just outside the outer ring of Brussels, near Erasmus metro station (line 1B). The address is 2, Postweg in Vlezenbeek (Sint-Pieters-Leeuw). Most souvenir shops are to be found in the historical centre around the Grand Place. This is the place to buy Manneken Pis corkscrews, Belgian beers playing cards or glasses, traditional lace or gobelin tapestries, souvenir postcards or even EU collectibles. The streets immediately around Place Sainte-Catherine and Bourse/Beurs Station are some of the most cosmopolitan of the capital. This is the place to look for ethnic shops, supermarkets and restaurants, especially Asian ones. The area has the highest concentration of Chinese restaurants in Brussels. A street like Van Praet could be called "Brussels' China Town", although it is not officially known as such. Most of the businesses catering for the Japanese community of Brussels can be found around the junction of the Chaussée de Vleurgat and Avenue Louise. Among them, Tagawa has a Japanese supermarket, a Japanese bookshop and a Japanese restaurant. Eurex and JAL Pack ( in the Louise Centre building ) are two travel agencies with Japanese staff specialising in flights and tours to/from Japan. Tea connoisseurs have not been forgotten. Brussels has its share of fine tea shops, where you will find over 100 varieties of black, white, green or herbal teas, coming in all imaginable flavours. Here are our recommendations :
For electronics and home appliances, try the chain Vandenborre. For computers, the chain Exell has branches in the main shopping areas listed above. For photographic and video equipment or mobile phones, Action Shop has franchises (shop names may vary) all over the country, including 8 in Brussels. If you need a combination of all the above, go to the huge Media Markt, on the last floor of the Inno Department Store in Rue Neuve. Hypermarkets & decentralised shopping centersThere are 6 Carrefour hypermarkets around the greater Brussels. They are located in Auderghem, Kraainem, Evere, Berchem, Strombeek-Bever, Drogenbos and St.Pieters Leeuw. The two first ones can be accessed by metro (Demey Station on line 1A for Auderghem, and Kraainem Station on line 1B for Kraainem).IKEA has 3 branches in the EU capital. They are in Zaventem (north-east), Anderlecht (west) and Ternat (north-west, towards Ghent). The largest shopping centres in outside central Brussels are the Westland Shopping Center in Anderlecht, the Woluwe Shopping Center in Woluwe-St-Lambert, and the Basilix Shopping Center in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe. Libraries & BookshopsPlease consult the French version of this page for the list of libraries in Brussels.The best English-speaking bookshop in Brussels is Waterstone's, located at 71-75, Boulevard Adolphe Max, a stone's throw from City2 Shopping Centre and Inno Department Store in the northern part of Rue Neuve. There is another big English bookshop, Sterling Books, next to the southern end of Rue Neuve, at 39, Rue Fossé aux Loups ("Wolves Ditch Street"). The EU quarter's place to to go for English-language publications is The English Shop, located at 186, Rue Stevin. Food MarketsSecondhand Markets & Book FairsGardeningMost of the big tree nursery and gardening shops are outside Brussels, or around Laeken and Uccle. The largest of the kind in Brussels (15,000 m² including 1,600 m² of greenhouses) is the Pépinières de Boitsfort in Watermael-Boitsfort, at the corner of Avenue des Archiducs and Square des Archiducs.
Recommended Restaurants in central Brussels Brussels is one of the best city in Europe to satisfy your taste buds. If you are looking for typical Belgian dishes such as Moules Frites (mussels'n chips), beef steaks or seafood, you could try the Rue des Bouchers near the Grand Place. It's a bit of a tourist trap though. For Asian and Middle Eastern cooking, wander around the streets between Bourse and Sainte-Catherine metro stations. Rue Van Praet in particular has many Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants.The world-famous Michelin Red Guide lists over 300 recommendations for Brussels, while the rival Gault Millau Guide also exceeds 200 listed restaurants. Here is a short list of some of the best restaurants in the touristic centre, sorted by price category. (N.B. : the stars indicate the Michelin Guide rating, the score on a scale of 1 to 20 indicates the Gault Millau Guide rating). Over 50 €
20 to 50 €
Under 20 €
For more restaurants, please refer to our list of restaurants in Brussels (nearly 200 restaurant websites listed), guide to the best restaurants in Brussels, our guide to Japanese restaurants in Brussels (34 restaurants listed), or Sensum for detailed reviews of the best restaurants. Home delivery in the Brussels Region is available from over 30 reputed restaurants via Resto Presto. BakeriesCheck our list of reputed bakeries in Brussels.Ice Cream Parlours
Recreation & EntertainmentCinemasThere are over 35 movie theatres in Brussels. The biggest ones are the UGC de Brouckère (Metro : Brouckère), UGC Toison d'Or (Metro : Louise) and Kinepolis (Metro : Heysel).For small productions try Galeries Arenberg (Metro : Central), Ciné-club Sérénades en Chambre Noire (366, Chaussee de Wavre - 1040 Etterbeek) or the Styx in Ixelles (72, Rue de l'Arbre Benit - 1050 Ixelles). For aficionados of Korean films, try the Europa Korea Foundation Cine Club ( 337, Avenue Louise). A full listing of cinemas with timetables is available on Cinenews (French and Dutch only). Theatre, Opera and SpectaclesFor more classical entertainment, try the Théâtre de la Monnaie (Metro : Bourse or Brouckere), both for theatre and opera. The Bozar Theatre (Metro : Central or Parc) in the Upper Town is a famous venue for classical music, theatre, art exhibitions, dances, cinemas, and other cultural activities. The smaller Théâtre Royal du Parc (Metro : Parc or Arts & Loi) in the Park of Brussels has mostly plays in French.Le Cirque Royal & le Botanique (Metro : Parc or Madou) in the Rue Royale-Congrès neighbourhood are the places to go for circus, varieties, spectacles, concerts and musicals. The most famous venue in Belgium remains nevertheless Forest National (bus/tram lines No 48, 52 or 54), that is also one of the biggest theatre in the country, with 7000 seats. Tour & Taxi (Metro : Ribaucourt), inside 19th-century warehouses restored in 2001, is used as a commercial and cultural centre, with all sorts of events, from theatre and exhibitions to trade shows and business summits. You can reserve and order your tickets for any kind of venue in Belgium on Sherpa.be. Recreation, Sports & Fitness
Parks & GardensAlthough the city centre only has a handful of relatively small parks (Park of Brussels, Botanic Garden, Leopold Park, Jubilee Park...), the southern part of Brussels is incredibly green. Great places for jogging, cycling or just relaxing include the 2km long Bois de la Cambre (304 acres or 1.23 km2, about the same size as Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park in London), starting at the end of Louise Avenue, and the parks and ponds of Woluwe, along Tervuren Avenue and Sovereign Boulevard. The latter are made of Springs Park (Parc les Sources), Parmentier Park, Luxor Park, the Mellaerts Ponds and Val Duchesse. Express tramway lines 39 and 44 from Montgomery Metro Station will drop you there. Get off at Chien Vert/Groene Hond ("Green Dog") or Woluwe.The Josaphat Park separates posh Schaerbeek to the West from immigrant Schaerbeek to the East. The legend has it that the place reminded Christian pilgrims of the Josaphat valley in the Holy Land, after which it was named. The long and narrow 20 hectate park does indeed look like a deep valley. It is one of the most beautiful English style park in the capital, with magnificent trees, rocks, a pond with fowls - and even rabbits ! The northern section, normally reserved for school groups, has football fields, tennis courts, athletics tracks and petanque. The 4,300 ha (10.625 acres or 43 km2) Sonian Forest (Forêt de Soignes in French) divides the Brussels Region municipalities of Uccle, Watermael-Boitsfort, Auderghem and Woluwe-St-Pierre, with those of Tervuren, Overijse, Hoeilaart, La Hulpe, Genval, Waterloo, St-Genesius-Rode and Linkebeek in the provinces of Flemish and Walloon Brabant. This is Brussels', and indeed Belgium's most upper-class residential area. This is understandable given the quiet and beauty of the area and its proximity from central Brussels. The Forest of Soignes is the largest beech forest in Europe and is home to deer and wild boar. If you don't have a car, you can access the Forest of Soignes by train from Boitsfort or Groenendaal stations (train bound for Louvain-la-Neuve, every hour, 10-15 min from Brussels-Luxembourg station). Alternatively, try bus line 42 (e.g. from Woluwe Shopping Centre) or 95 (e.g. from Bourse or Brussels-Luxembourg Station), or tramway line 94 (e.g. from Rue Royale or Avenue Louise) until their last stop. The Bois de la Cambre is only separated from the Forest of Soignes by La Hulpe Road (Chaussée de La Hulpe), giving easy access to the forest for those already in the park, or vice-versa. In the north of the city, the best places are the adjoining parks of Laeken and Ossenghem (Metro : Stuyvenberg or Heysel) near the Atomium.
Emergencies & ServicesThis website has a list of contact information for all general practitioners in Brussels, with locations indicated on neighbourhood maps. Call 02.479.18.18 to know who is your nearest duty doctor or pharmacy outside normal visiting hours (nights and weekends included).
Expat lifeBrussels is one of the Europe's most international and multicultural cities, partly thanks to the European Union and NATO. About half of its population is of non-Belgian origin. It is also the world's second diplomatic city, after Washington D.C. With all this, expats in Brussels are well taken care of.Two indispensable publications for English speakers are Newcomer (trimestrial) to know all the basics about life in Belgium, and The Bulletin (weekly) to keep you up to date on the local news, arts, restaurants or TV programmes. AccommodationThere are plenty of hotels in Brussels, especially in the mid-range and top-end section. The array of luxury hotel is quite amazing for for a city of this size. Click here for a list of 5-star hotels in Brussels, with location and links to their websites. For a more general listing, please consults our directory of lodging in Brussels.If you are in Brussels for more than a week but no longer than a few months, staying at hotels quickly becomes hard on the wallet, and renting a regular apartment is close to impossible (most owners won't let for less than 6 months). The solution is to stay at a short-term furnished apartment, which is half-way between a hotel and long-term apartment, as much for the price as the size. You will have more space than at a hotel, have a kitchen and feel more like at home. It is also an excellent place to stay when you arrive and start looking for long-term accommodation, as the whole process usually takes a few weeks. Try the hospitable and cozy Villa Primavera, which has two locations - one on each side of the European district. In the budget range, Sleep Well Youth Hostel is probably the cheapest one can find in town, as long as you don't mind spartian rooms or bunk beds. Apartments & OfficesSee our listing of Brussels apartments and offices to let here
How to get thereFrom outside EuropeBrussels-National Airport, also known as Zaventem Airport (from the name of the municipality where it is located) is a major European airport, with flights to and from most major destinations worldwide. The former Belgian airlines Sabena went bankrupt in 2001 and was replaced by SN Brussels Airlines, but operates only in Europe, Africa and North America.If you can't get a direct flight to Brussels-Zaventem Airport, most European airlines have connections to Brussels. Another easy way to reach Brussels (and possibly cheaper) is to fly to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, then take the Thalys bullet-train from the airport to Brussels-South Station (59min). From inside EuropeBy plane, the cheapest way to reach Brussels is using a discount Internet airline like Virgin Express (which is based in Brussels and has all its flights transiting by Brussels anyway) or the even cheaper but less convenient Ryan Air. Note that Ryan Air does not serve Brussels-Zaventem Airport but Brussels-Charleroi, which is in the province of Hainaut, between Mons and Namur (see Map).By train, the Thalys bullet-train links Brussels South Station to Paris North station (1h20min) and Paris CDG Airport (1h), while the Eurostar bullet-train connects it to London Waterloo station (2h25min), via Lille (40min) and Ashford. The Thalys also connects Brussels to Amsterdam (2h45min), Rotterdam (1h40min), Aachen (1h35min) and Köln/Cologne (2h20min), among others. There are also direct Inter-City trains between Brussels and Frankfurt-am-Main (3h35min), via Aachen (1h30min), Cologne (2h10min), Bonn (2h30min) and Limburg-an-der-Lahn (2h55min). => See the Getting Around section. By coach/bus, Eurolines has buses to all major cities around Europe. If you are travelling only between big European cities, the Eurolines pass is the cheapest way. There are passes valid for 2 weeks, 1 month or 2 months. The longer the cheaper, and it is also considerably cheaper during the off-season (all year but mid-June to mid-September) or if you are under 26 years-old. From Brussels National AirportThe Belgian National Railway has 4 trains per hour between Zaventem Airport and the city. The journey takes from 20 to 25 min to Brussels-Central and cost 2.6 €.Alternatively, there is an express bus (3 €) between the airport and Brussels-Luxembourg Station (EU district), calling at NATO, Germinal, Genève, Diamand and Schuman. From inside BelgiumBrussels has trains to all main cities, usually within 1 hour, except in the Province of Luxembourg. Trains from/to Luxembourg City take 2h35 to 2h55min. Timetables and fares are available on the Belgian National Railway website. Here are the fares (without discount) and quickest journey times to/from a few major Belgian cities, with the closest train station in Brussels. Note that a 10-ride Rail Pass can be used between any two stations in Belgium for 6.8 € per ride (4.5 € for a similar Go Pass until 25 years old). |
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