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About Brussels


Brussels, the capital of Belgium and of the European Union, is the second international city in the world, as measured by the number of headquarters of international organizations. About a third of its 1 million of inhabitants are foreigners, most of which are Islamic immigrants or civil servants, expert business people and diplomats working for the European Union, NATO, or one of the many other multinational institutions or firms that are located there. Being at the crossroads of cultures the Germanic in the North and the Romance in the South and playing an important role in Europe, Brussels fits the definition of the archetypal "melting pot", but still retains its own unique character. The architecture in Brussels is diverse, and spans from the mediaeval constructions on the Grand Place to the postmodern buildings of the EU institutions. Main attractions include the Grand Place, since 1988 a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Gothic town hall in the old centre, the St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral and the Laken Castle with its large greenhouses. Another famous landmark is the Royal Palace. Movie theater and concert hall which serves as home to the National Orchestra of Belgium.


The complex contains a large concert hall, a recital room, a chamber music room, lecture rooms and a vast gallery for temporary exhibitions. If you are staying in Brussels and have some time, it is worthwhile to make excursions to see some of the other famous sights in Belgium, such as the impressive Flemish Art cities, especially Bruges, but also Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven, or the forested region of the Ardennes, which begins upstream of the charming city of Namur, dominated by its citadel on a rock. All of these can be reached in about an hour by car or by train from the center of Brussels. Brussels is known for its local waffle, its chocolate, its French fries and its numerous types of beers. The Brussels sprout was first cultivated in Brussels, hence its name.


Brussels

The best way to appreciate all this is just to walk or drive around in any quarter of the town. There is plenty of good eating to be had in Brussels. Most people concentrate on the three classics: mussels (moules), fries (frites) and chocolate. A few more adventurous bruxellois dishes include aiguilles au vert / paling in't groen (river eels in green sauce), meat balls in tomato sauce, stoemp (mashed vegetables and potatoes) and turbot waterzooi (turbot fish in cream and egg sauce). For dessert, try a Belgian waffle (gauffre), also available in a square Brussels version dusted with powdered sugar, and choices of bananas, whipped cream and many other toppings. Although many prefer the round, caramelized version from Liège. Hotel rates in Brussels can vary widely (especially at the upper end) depending on how many EU bigwigs happen to be in town. Good deals are often available on weekends and during the summer when the bureaucrats flee on vacation. Brussels is generally a safe city. Some suburban neighborhoods have a poor reputation, but travelers are unlikely to visit them. The neighborhoods of Schaarbeek, Brussels North and Brussels Center should be avoided at night if possible. You can also get to any of the following 'foreign' cities from Brussels within 3 hours without the use of a plane:

Amsterdam / Rotterdam / The Hague / Utrecht (train or car), Luxembourg (car or train), Paris (train - longer by car), London (by train), Aachen (train or car), Lille (less than an hour by train or car), Cologne/Bonn train or car. The same variety and contrast can also be found in the different architectural styles that can be found in Brussels, the former capital of the medieval Duchy of Brabant. Gothic cathedrals and churches are next to - and sometimes in stark contrast with - gracious classical facades like the buildings around the Royal Square (Place Royale - Koningsplein), or beautiful art nouveau and art deco houses. This liveliness and international flair is, of course, intimately related to its role as a crossroads for all of Europe. If you want to travel to Brussels get train London to Brussels.


Destinations of London Paris Train
 Aachen | Aigle | Amsterdam | Angers | Ashford | Belfort | Berchem | Brest | Bruges | Brussels | Calais | Chambery | Disneyland | Ebbsfleet | Geneva | Lille | Rotterdam | Sion | Toulon | Vallorbe City | Zurich