Well, what can I say about the city of Brussels?
I've been there a couple of times now and its actually one of my favorite cities in Europe. I can't really say why though.
Maybe it's because it was one of the first destinations that we traveled to or maybe I just like its vibe.
Regardless of the reason, I think it's a place that's worth mentioning and worth checking out if you're ever in the area.
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the administrative capital of the European Union. It's official languages are French and Dutch but most people also speak English there, which I've found to be quite common in most Belgian cities.
The following are some of the things you can do and see in the big city. I hope you enjoy.
Visit Grand Place
Grand Place was originally built between the 11th and 17th century and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.
Its located in the heart of the old town and is a very popular tourist destination for visitors.
The cobblestone square is lined with an impressive array of gilded Baroque style buildings that once served as important guildhalls for the city.
At the right time of day the buildings shine golden in the fading sunlight.
Today the halls are home to a variety of shops selling fine chocolates and various other foods items. There are also more than a few bars and restaurants within the square.
I don't really know what the upper floors are used for but I imagine that some of them are used as office buildings and Airbnb's.
Among the Baroque style rowhouses is one building in particular that really stands out among the rest.
The French call it the Kings House but in Dutch it is known as Broodhuis, which translates to Breadhouse in English.
The building was built in 1536 by the Duke of Brabant as a show of power against the towns authorities.
Broodhuis was designed in an impressive neo-gothic style which makes it much different than any other building within the area.
Historically it served as a bread and cloth market but was later converted into a museum dedicated specifically to the city - the history and folklore of Brussels.
The building is located directly across from the town hall building, which happens to be equally impressive in its own right.
The buildings main tower stands 96 meters above the square and is crowned by a three foot tall statue of St. Michael slaying a demon. Don't spend too long craning your neck up to see it though, there are plenty of other sights to see in the city, like Manneken Pis.
Manneken Pis
Manneken Pis, which aptly translates to "Little Man Pee," is a public fountain that holds a small bronze statue of a young boy peeing.
Its located just a short walk from Grand Place and is actually a really famous landmark in the city.
The statue originally dates back to the 17th century but today its actually just a replica. Apparently the statue has been stolen (or kidnapped) multiple times and then returned. I'm guessing that the original statue is currently in some rich guys collection of antiquities right now.
Something that is interesting about the statue is that his costume is changed regularly, so there is always something new to see each time that you visit it. Apparently his costume has been changed at least 800 times and the costumes can be viewed in the city museum.
On weekends and at certain times of the day the area gets quite busy so beware of pickpockets. I'm personally always skeptical of random overly friendly strangers in crowded places.
There are many other cool fountains and statues around the city as well. You could almost do an entire tour on just fountains alone.
For some reason though, the city is particularly enamored with statues of things peeing. There is a Jennika Pis - a statue of a little girl peeing and a Zenneke Pis - a statue of a dog doing the same.
Jennika Pis is an interesting one but it's located down a narrow alleyway and built into a cubby hole behind some metals bars. It's not only hard to find but also in a terrible spot for photos. I thought that Jennika Pis was a slightly more unique fountain than Manneken but I couldn't get a good photo of it.
Belgian Beer
Belgium produces some of the best beer in the world in my opinion. I don't think you can go anywhere in the country without having a beer or two.
Café Leffe is dedicated to Leffe beer but I've never actually gone in because the reviews online are pretty terrible.
I have been to the Delerium District though, which is multiple floors of bars and beer halls and is sort of a famous landmark of Brussels night life. It was cool but I personally felt to be a little too old and out of place when I was there. It could have been the day we were there but I felt like it was meant for a slightly younger crowd?
Nonetheless, there are plenty of other bars and restaurants in the city, so there is definitely something for everyone.
The photos above are of a more upscale bar that serves really fancy drinks. I haven't been in it but the building is one of the oldest buildings in the city and worth checking out just to see it, if you have time.
Visit Mont Des Arts and Museums
There are many museums in the city that you can visit but at a minimum you should check out Mont Des Arts.
Its a neat location and has a really good view of the city. It's also a completely free thing to do, which I always a plus when traveling.
Around the corner is a bank of more interesting rowhouses as well.
Among them is the old England building, which is an old department store that has been turned into a museum of music.
It was built in the 19th century and has a really unique and interesting exterior facade.
Walk Through Les Galeries Royales
Sometimes referred to as the Umbrella of Brussels, the Royal Galleries are two Renaissance style arcades that were built in the mid 1800s.
The shops lining both sides of the gallery sell mostly chocolate from what I remember, as well as some clothing accessories (I remember seeing hats and handbags) and possibly some jewelry.
There are a lot of chocolate shops in Brussels. I don't think you can go there without buying some.
Ooo so colorful and decedent.
Other Interesting Things
The country of Belgium is the birthplace of several famous comic book characters including the Smurfs and the legendary Tintin.
In the Old Town right near the main square is a pretty cool store dedicated entirely to Tintin. There is also a comic book store in the area and even a comic book museum somewhere in the city if that's something that you're interested in. I haven't been to the museum but I did by a Tintin comic when I was there as a souvenir and to commemorate the occasion.
I also really liked all of the murals scattered throughout the town, many of which were comic related or done in a similar comic style.
Something else just to look at is the old stock exchange. It is a neat building and pretty cool to see if you're passing by anyway.
There's also a Ferris Wheel with a panoramic lookout spot over the city. There you can see the Atomium museum way off in the distance.
Overall there's just so much to do and see in Brussels that I can't help but love the city.
