There are many interesting things to do in Brussels. Brussels is the capital and the largest city in Belgium. It is also the capital of the European Union and the seat of the French Community of Belgium. The city was founded in 979 AD by Duke Charles of Lower Lotharingia and served as an important trade route by 1000 AD. By the 14th century, Brussels became one of the most important cities in Europe and was part of the Holy Roman Empire. The city was stormed by King Louis XIV of France in 1695 when it was bombarded with artillery, causing major damage to most of the city. After the Second World War, Brussels emerged as a rapidly developing urban capital with the building of several modern buildings in a process known as Brusselization. Located in central Belgium, Brussels experiences a temperate maritime climate with mildly warm summers and moderate winters. For those of you planning to visit Brussels, here are some great things you can do in Brussels on your next vacation.
1. Visit Grand Palace
Photo by Dennis Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Grand Palace is located in the central square of Brussels and is surrounded by the town hall and City Museum of Brussels. The presence of the three buildings has made the central square one of the most important tourist locations in Brussels and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the rebuilding of the central square post, (after French bombardment and later by revolutionaries), it remained a primary market area of Brussels. The architectural style is a mix of various influences like Gothic, Renaissance and Art Deco.
2. Visit Manneken Pis
Photo by Francisco Antunes, CC BY 2.0
This is one place you cannot miss on your trip to Brussels. Manneken Pis, as the name suggests, is a bronze statue of a small boy urinating in the fountain and serves as the city’s landmark. The statue was installed in the early 17th century and was designed by Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder. It is located by the corner of Rue de l’Etuve and Rue des Grands Carmes and is 61 cm tall. The original statue installed in 1619 was stolen several times and now lies in a restored state in Maison du Roi at the Grand Palace. The current statue was placed here in 1965. The statue is dressed in various costumes on a weekly basis as a part of tradition and is one of the most visited monuments in Brussels.
3. Visit Hotel de Ville
Photo by Marco Chiesa, CC BY 2.0
Known more famously as the Brussels Town Hall, Hotel de Ville is located in the Grand Palace and is one of the most iconic medieval age monuments in Brussels. The building was built in an intimidating Gothic style with a 96 meter high central bell tower. The town hall and its collection were completely destroyed during the bombardment of the city and were rebuilt during the 17th century with a restoration of its Gothic style architecture.
4. Visit Belgian Comic Strip Center
Photo by Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0
If you were or are a fan of Tintin and his adventures, then you’d certainly love to visit the place where the legend started. The Belgian Comic Strip Center is home to a huge number of comic strips in various languages like English, French and Dutch including comics from several genres. The museum opened in 1989 with its famous collection of the ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ and its renowned creator Hergé. The museum also features life sized models of sets and characters from Tintin along with a souvenir shop, research library and a restaurant.
5. Eat a Scrumptious Belgian Waffle
Photo by Ralph Daily, CC BY 2.0
Compared to the American waffle, the Belgian Waffle is identified by its larger size and larger grid pattern. You must try some of the best waffles on the planet on your trip to Brussels! The city is famous for its own variant of the waffle known as a Brussels waffle. It is prepared with eggs, flour and ale yeast which makes the batter lighter. The waffles are usually served with whipped cream, fruits and chocolate spread and dusted with sugar.
6. Visit the Basilica of Sacred Heart
Photo by Niels Mickers, CC BY 3.0 NL
A Roman Catholic Basilica and the parish church of Brussels, the church is dedicated to the Sacred Heart and is inspired by the Roman Catholic Basilica located in Paris, France. The Basilica is located atop the Koekelberg Hill in the Parc Elisabeth. The building was originally planned to be in the Neo-Gothic style but was made in an Art Deco style due to the lack of finances. The Basilica is one of the Largest Art Deco buildings in the world standing 89 meters high and 164 meters long.
7. Antique Shopping in Brussels
Photo by Piano Piano!, CC BY 2.0
If you like antique furniture, jewellery or other articles, Brussels is famous for its elaborate antique galleries and flea markets. Chairs, lamps, antique building materials, guns, tools, armors, furniture, mirrors and cast iron, you can find it in the amazing antique markets in Brussels. Mixed in with the antique galleries and flea markets, the cobbled streets are also home to many cafes with warm and friendly staff.
8. Refresh Your Senses at Cantillon Brewery
Photo by Todd Nienkerk, CC BY-SA 2.0
If you want a great place to relax and cool your heels off while sipping on a traditional lambic style beer, then Cantillion Brewery is your pick. The brewery was established in the 1900 by Paul Cantillion who came from a family of brewers. Since its switch to organic in 1999, Cantillion brewery has become one of the finest breweries across Europe. The beers are made with malted and un-malted barley and are aged in Chestnut and Oak barrels. There is also a wide variety of fruit flavored beers that are brewed here. Do not forget to visit the famous Gueuze Museum located in the brewery.
9. View All of Europe at Mini Europe
Photo by Eugene Regis, CC BY 2.0
Located in Bruparck, Mini Europe features miniature reproductions of all the major monuments of the European Union miniaturized at the scale of 1:25. The park features 80 cities of Europe with some 350 iconic monuments with live action models such as trains, volcanoes, airbuses, cable cars, etc. Built in an area of 24,000 sq meters, the park was inaugurated in 1989 by Prince Philip of Belgium.
10. Visit Café Belga
Photo by Simon Blackley, CC BY-ND 2.0
With Brussels providing a rich insight in the history of Belgium, you might also get back to the present and enjoy the nightlife of Brussels. The best place to experience the urban culture of Belgium is Café Belga. It is one of the most visited bars in Brussels and also has one of the biggest terraces in Brussels located beside the majestic Ixelles Lake. The bar is famous for its bustling nightlife with DJ parties and in house concerts. The bar also has a dedicated Jazz concert every Sunday. The café is located in an art deco styled building which was built during the 1930s. Once the headquarters of a radio station, it’s peculiar shape also led it to be nicknamed as “the boat”.
With over a thousand years of history and culture, Brussels is one of the most visited tourist location in Europe. Being the capital or ‘Cockpit of Europe’, Brussels is a highly urbanized city with a rich culture and the above places are just a handful of the total attractions housed in Brussels.
Author Bio:
Rohit Agarwal is an architect by profession and likes to travel places famous for their historical architecture. He is also the content contributor for Transindiatravels.com which is the best place for knowing about the various tourist places in India.
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