Brussels, Belgium (*cruise tour) Nearby:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel) is the capital of Belgium and one of the three administrative regions within the country, together with Flanders and Wallonia. Apart from its role within its country, it is also an internationally important city, hosting numerous international institutions, and in particular the core institutions of the European Union. Due to that, it is sometimes referred to informally as the capital of the EU.
Brussels blends the heritage of a medieval Flemish town with the grandiose projects initiated after it became the capital of what was then a French-speaking country, as well as some impressive modern architecture erected in large part to house the aforementioned institutions. Brussels is now bi-lingual, hosting and officially recognizing both the Dutch- and French-speaking communities of Belgium, and has become increasingly international with... Read more
Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel) is the capital of Belgium and one of the three administrative regions within the country, together with Flanders and Wallonia. Apart from its role within its country, it is also an internationally important city, hosting numerous international institutions, and in particular the core institutions of the European Union. Due to that, it is sometimes referred to informally as the capital of the EU.
Brussels blends the heritage of a medieval Flemish town with the grandiose projects initiated after it became the capital of what was then a French-speaking country, as well as some impressive modern architecture erected in large part to house the aforementioned institutions. Brussels is now bi-lingual, hosting and officially recognizing both the Dutch- and French-speaking communities of Belgium, and has become increasingly international with the influx of people of various origin who came there to work, many of them for the European Union. This all makes Brussels a unique blend, sprinkled with some Belgian peculiarities, and for the inquisitive tourist a large treasure chest to discover.
Brussels deservedly has a poor reputation for its weather. Weather in Brussels is very damp with a high and fairly evenly distributed annual average rainfall of 820 mm (32 in) and on average approximately 200 days of rainfall per year, both which are more than that of London and Paris. The dampness makes the weather feel much colder than it is. The daily and monthly temperature variations are quite small. Daily differences between average highs and average lows don't exceed 9°C (16°F).
In the summer, average daily maximum temperatures rarely exceed 22°C (72°F). The summer visitor should always be prepared for rain in Brussels. Warm and sunny weather is not constant during that season or even to be expected.
After October, temperatures drop off quite rapidly and winter months are damp and chilly. Snowfall is rare and starts to melts fairly quickly, becoming slush on the ground. The winter visitor should be prepared for wet ground.
Brussels is split into nineteen communes or gemeenten (municipalities/boroughs):
Most sights in Brussels are fairly close together, within a reasonable walking distance of each other. The oldest part of town can have uneven cobblestone roads, but the rest of the city is fairly easy to walk. Since June 2015, a zone of 50 hectares in the city center is reserved for pedestrians, the second largest in Europe after Venice. Brussels has many wet days, and in winter small amounts of snow can make the ground slushy, so water-resistant footwear is a must if you will be out walking all day.
The metro in Brussels is quite clean and safe compared to most metro systems. Metro entrances are marked by big "M" signs in blue and white, with the station name underneath. All announcements are made in Dutch, French, and English. There are 6 metro lines. Tickets are sold through reusable plastic cards: they are available at major metro and underground tram stations, including those at the three major railway stations (Brussels South, Central, and North). Tickets can be put onto a MOBIB card at the GO vending machines in all metro stations and many tram and bus stops.
To validate a ticket on a MOBIB card, you hold the card in front of the white circle on the red card reader until it beeps. On buses and trams, the card readers are on the vehicle. At metro and underground tram stations, the card readers are at the entrance. Most stations have the card readers on automatic gates. A green status light indicates a ticket was validated. If it's red, there's no valid ticket on your card. A single journey ticket remains valid for one hour, but you must still validate the MOBIB card again when changing to another metro, tram or bus.
To validate a paper ticket, you use the orange validators. You insert the ticket with the arrow pointing down. A time stamp is printed on the back of the ticket and is also written on the magnetic strip. A single journey ticket remains valid for one hour, but you must still validate the ticket again when changing to another metro, tram or bus. The orange validators are being removed, so even long buses and trams may have only one orange validator; at metro stations, there's always one gate which still has an orange validator.
A group of people can share a single MOBIB card if it has multiple single journey tickets or a 5 or 10 journey ticket. For example, if you are 3 people with a single MOBIB Basic card with a 10 journey ticket: you hold the card in front of the red card reader until it beeps to validate it for the first person, then you simply do this again 2 more times for the other 2 people. The card can still be used for 7 journeys after that. The first 3 validations remain valid for one hour. When changing to another metro, tram or bus, you have to validate the card again, and you have to validate it again 3 times.
A Brussels Card is available for discounts at many attractions. Available in 24 hr, 48 hr, and 72 hr versions, it offers a free guidebook, free entry to many museums, free use of public transit, and discounts at various shops, restaurants, and attractions. May not be worth it to those who already receive discounts (children, students, etc.). The card can be purchased online in advance for a discount, or at the tourist offices at Grand-Place, Midi/Zui station, BIP. Some museums also sell the card.
Brussels is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its European Quarter. The EU has no official capital, and no plans to declare one, but Brussels hosts the official seats of the European Commission, Council of the European Union, European Council, as well as a second seat of the European Parliament.
Woluwé-Saint-Pierre is a commune in Brussels. It is mostly a well-to-do residential area, which includes the wide, park-lined, Tervuren Avenue (French: Avenue de Tervueren, Dutch: Tervurenlaan) and the numerous embassies located near the Montgomery Square (Square Montgomery, Montgomeryplein).
Forest (pronounced with a silent "st") is the French name of one of the municipalities surrounding Brussels (the Flemish name is Vorst), known for its historically important abbey, a collection of art deco buildings and a major concert hall. Green and tranquil as the name might suggest, Forest is nevertheless also home to a large portion of Brussels' industrial facilities, including a car factory and the depot used by Eurostar trains.
You can see what's going on in Brussels by picking up a copy of the local free city newspaper Zone 02. Another good free listings paper is Agenda, which is distributed together with the Dutch-language weekly Brussel Deze Week and has the notable advantage of being published in three languages (English, Dutch, French). Both of these are distributed in cafés and bars around the city. If you're looking for a good party, online listing Net Events (French and Dutch) and Ready2Move, are a good place to start.
Brussels Agenda is the official cultural and entertainment agenda of the City of Brussels, and the francophone Médiatheque has a website featuring the upcoming concerts in Brussels and the rest of Belgium. However, their listings page only features concerts Médiatheque staff are interested in.
The most widely read English magazine is The Bulletin which, apart from covering Belgian and EU news, also offers arts and lifestyle stories, as well as in-depth events listings and a TV guide.
Brussels has a good selection of year-round events, many suitable for English speaking visitors. The following sites are useful to check out what's on.
The Paleis voor Schone Kunsten (Dutch) or Palais des Beaux-Arts (French) 1, Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, tel: +32 2 507-82-0, is often referred to as "Bozar" or "PSK." Construction was completed in 1928 and includes exhibition and conference rooms, 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. Since 2002, the Belgian federal institution has chosen the brand name BOZAR. It has seven artistic departments: Bozar Expo, Bozar Music, Bozar Cinema, Bozar Dance, Bozar Theatre, Bozar Literature, Bozar Studios and Bozar Architecture.
There is plenty of good eating to be had in Brussels. Most people concentrate on the three classics: mussels (moules in French and mosselen in Dutch), fries (frites in French and frieten in Dutch) and chocolate. A few more adventurous Bruxellois/Brusselse dishes include anguilles 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 (wafel in Dutch and gauffre in French), 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.
One shall however always bear in mind that it is important to check the prices of food items before ordering, just like what people should do when visiting pubs in France and Soho, London. Beware especially when servers make choices for you.
Visitors should also beware of the 'Italian Restaurant Streets' in the tourist and shopping districts. They are all run by just a few shop owners and serve unappetizing store purchased food. They will not 'include service' as most all restaurants in Brussels do, and many tourists have reported getting scammed here, especially when not paying with exact change. A common practice is to present you a menu where prices aren't anything near the ones advertised in the windows. Be sure you ask why there is such a price difference BEFORE ordering and do not hesitate to leave if you do not agree with the price. If you were offered a drink and already sipped from your glass before receiving the menu (as is often the case) then just pay for the drink and leave.
The matter over which establishment serves up the best frites (locally known as fritkots in Flemish and "friterie" in French) remains a matter of heated debate. Some argue that the best frites in Brussels are served at the fritkot near the Barriere de Saint-Gilles, while others defend St-Josse's Martin (Place Saint-Josse/Sint-Joostplein) as the prime purveyor of the authentic Brussels frite just as others claim Antoine (Place Jourdan/Jourdanplein) remains the king of the local french fry. No matter which fritkot you're at, try to be adventurous and have something other than ketchup or mayonnaise on your fries. Of the selection of bizarre sauces you've never seen before, "andalouse" is probably the most popular with the locals.
FRITKOTS
Belgium is to beer what France is to wine, it is home to one of the greatest beer traditions in the world, and Brussels is a great place to sample some of the vast variety on offer. Typical beers of Brussels are gueuze (rather sour) and kriek (rather sweet, cherry based).
Smoking is prohibited in all bars.
A special drink only found in Brussels is the "half-en-half" ("half and half"). It's a mixture of white wine and champagne.
Very few shops in Brussels open before 10 AM, and most open about 10:30-11 AM. Many shops are closed on Sunday and Monday.
Although Brussels is the political capital of the EU, petty crime is quite common and these crimes don't make the statistics as either the victims don't report it, or the police don't take them seriously (A rather common occurrence). There is little violent crime, particularly as far as tourists are concerned. It is important to be aware of your belongings and be aware of your surroundings. Many suburban neighborhoods have a very poor reputation, but most travelers are unlikely to visit them. The neighborhoods of Schaarbeek, Brussels North, St-Josse, Marollen, Anneessens, Molenbeek and Anderlecht are neighborhoods that should be avoided at night if possible, most often by inhabitants that do not live there.
Between midnight and 6 AM, you should also be more attentive in the city center, particularly when walking alone.
Pickpockets - by far the biggest issue - can be found in many areas of the city, especially in train and metro stations, and warmer days when tourists and locals love to sit outside to eat or have a coffee. You just need to take normal precautions against bag snatches.
When traveling to Brussels by car, ensure to not leave any valuables while visiting various sites - particularly the Atomium, mini Europe, and the Oceade area. Cars are common targets, and foreign license plates or goods on the (back)seat increase the risk of attracting undesired interest.
In the evening and at night, dark areas such as parks attract drug dealers and addicts, pickpockets, and various other shady types. Travelers should avoid these areas after sunset, and be particularly alert for distractions aimed at diverting attention from their hand or shopping bag. Particularly popular at the moment seems to be the "soccer move distraction" when they suddenly stick their foot between your legs as if they are playing an imaginary soccer game.
Be careful with laptops and electronics like smartphones, mp3 players and tablets on public transport. These items can be snatched out of traveler's hands during the short interval the doors are open at a stop, eliminating the chance for a pursuit. Or they will be taken from your pocket without you realizing it.
The Main stations such as the North Station (Gare du Nord), Central Station, and the South Station (Gare du Midi), which probably has the worst reputation among the local residents, are hot zones for pickpockets.
In the Parc de Bruxelles/Warandepark, between the Royal Palace and the Belgian Parliament, criminals have been noted threatening their victims with violence. Do not leave your bags unattended but keep them close to your body. If you are robbed, there is a police office right next to the gate in front of the Belgian Parliament (on the right side when leaving the park, hidden in the bushes) where experienced policemen will help you. Most of them speak French, Dutch and English well. However, police can do little to recover your goods, and will most likely provide you with a report for your insurance company. Due to a large number of daily cases, the Belgian police is not known for being the most helpful when it comes to recovering stolen goods, especially if these events occurred in areas known to be dangerous.
In addition to the above advice be aware of Brussels Midi-Zuid train station, one of the poorest areas in the city. In other train stations, especially the North station, scam artists show up in groups trying to distract you with some questions and steal your belongings. They are professionals, and business travelers are often targeted, although anybody is a potential victim, especially if they have electronic valuables (smartphones), that can be easily snatched. Outside the central station, there are men with red vests asking for donations, or signatures, or trying to sell you some community paper. Ignore them if they approach you, or walk away from them. These individuals are very persistent and they will try to show you a badge to show that they are "legit", but if you stop to sign papers or give them a donation, another one will empty out your pockets. This type of scam is very common in many European cities.
Like any city Brussels is home to a number of infamous street gangs, with the notorious Black Wolves being one of them. These groups operate outside the law, and employ violence against individuals as well as police officers.
Another overlooked issue regards driving. Because of the often confusing urban planning of Brussels, most Brussels streets are small for a major city. What would be labeled a one-way street in Paris and London is usually a two-way street in Brussels. This leads to some of the worst traffic jams in Europe and aggressive drivers. It is not uncommon for people to not indicate when they are changing lanes or turning. Pedestrians always have the right of way.
LOCAL TIME
5:01 pm
July 4, 2022
|
|
LOCAL CURRENCY
EUR
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
![]() |
Brussels is one of my favorite European cities. I liked visiting here a lot. This is a beer shop with a huge variety of beer. This is the central square, The Grand Place . It is known as the most beautiful square in the world. It has a long square with buildings of the Flemish... |
This is a continuation of the previous review. I had another short walk around
Brussels
.
This is the
Town Hall and its
watch tower.
This is the
Royal Palace
. It was amazing inside!
This is somewhere in the city center.
This was an authentic... |
St. Michael is considered the patron saint of
Brussels and
St. Gudula is the daughter of the Carolingian aristocrat of the 7th century, her relics have been housed in the church for over 1000 years. This is the
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula... |
Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
is one of the five largest churches in the world. Its construction has been dated to the 75th anniversary celebration of the country's independence, and the first stone was placed by the King of Belgium. However, the construction of
Basilique ... |
In the morning, we looked out of the window from the 14th floor and saw the whole
Brussels.
This is the Palace of Justice as we found out later.
We went on a sightseeing guided tour. These are the photos from the bus window.
I like these double-decker buses. I have never been on... |
The next stop of our tour in
Brussels
is the
Atomium
. This monument was originally constructed for World Expo 58, and it symbolizes the atomic age.
There are 9 spheres, and people can access 6 of them where exhibition halls are.
Spheres are connected with tubes, with... |
The next stop of our bus tour of
Brussels
is an observation deck.
There is a monument to people killed in various wars.
Here's a closer view:
A view from the other side:
Brussels
can be clearly seen from this high point. Even the Atomium can be seen!
Here's a closer view:
The green... |