Overview
Belgium is a fairly small country, roughly the size of the state of Maryland. That said, Brussels, its capital, is compact, but very powerful. The headquarters of NATO is in Brussels, as is the headquarters of the European Union. The political, economic and social future of Europe is decided in Brussels. Nearly a quarter of Brussels' population is made up of people from other countries, mainly because the city is such an international powerhouse in terms of politics and business.
Additionally, Belgium is famous for a few more things - Belgian waffles, incredible chocolate and some of the best beer in the world.
Brussels will certainly charm you. The people are friendly, funny and open. That openness stems from the fact that Brussels is and always has been an international city with many cultures contributing to its mix. Belgians love to socialize. You'll enjoy their cafés, restaurants and nightclubs. Whether you have a waffle, a piece of chocolate, or a beer in your hand, Brussels is a city to relax and enjoy.
Sights/Landmarks/To Do
Manneken Pis: As the Eiffel Tower is integral to Paris and Big Ben to London, the Manneken Pis is to Brussels. Legend has it that a fire began in the town square, and a little boy doused it with his urine, saving town hall. A bronze statue of the little boy (in the somewhat compromising position of his heroic act) now sits atop a fountain outside town hall. It has been the city symbol for centuries. The statue is so loved that people around the world have sent the boy over 400 outfits, which are changed daily.
Where: At the meeting point of the rue de l'Etuve and rue de Chene
Gran Plaz: The Gran Plaz is easily one of Europe's most impressive squares. It is also the historic heart of Brussels and where most visitors begin their tour of the city. The square is home to town hall and 33 gloriously ornate guild houses, which were once the occupational homes of butchers, bakers and haberdashers. Most of the buildings are now occupied by shops, restaurants and cafés. Only the Belgian Brewers Guild continues to keep its original home.
Where: Intersection of rue des Chapeliers, rue Buls, rue de la Tête d'Or, rue au Beurre, rue Chair et Pain, rue des Harengs, and rue de la Colline
Place du Grand Sablon: At "Sand Square" you'll find elegant cafes, art galleries and a bustling antiques market. While you're at the outdoor market, you have to try the escargot. You probably think of escargot as something eaten at fancy restaurants, but in the Sablon, it's sold as a snack to be eaten standing up on the street. It's delicious!
Where: Intersection of rue de Rollebeek, rue Lebeau, rue de la Paille, rue Ste-Anne, rue Boedenbroeck, rue des Sablons, petite rue des Minimes, rue des Minimes, and rue Joseph Stevens
The Comic Strip Art Museum: The Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinee, or Comic Book Art Museum, is a unique museum to visit. You get the real sense there that Belgians are nearly as proud of their comic strips as they are of their beer and chocolate. Most comic strips are published in books, and people consider them to be serious reading. Illustrators are treated as artists and given commissions to design stamps and murals for public spaces. You may not know that one very familiar comic strip actually originated in Belgium - the Schtroumpfs, otherwise known as the Smurfs. The Comic Strip Art Museum has the first drawing of the Smurfs, dated 1958.
Web site: www.comicscenter.net
Address: Rue des Sables 20
Hotels
Welcome Hotel: In Brussels, you'll encounter lots of high-priced hotels catering to people with expense accounts. The Welcome, however, is a reasonably priced hotel with a lot of personality. It's located only 10 minutes from the historic center of town. The area was once a fish market and is now home to great seafood restaurants. The name Hotel Welcome sums up the experience there absolutely perfectly. When you walk in, you immediately relax. Each room is themed after an exotic location that the hotel owner actually visited and lugged back oodles of decorations for.
Web site: www.brusselswelcomehotel.be
Food/Restaurants/Bars
Wittamer: Wittamer is a family-run business that has been making delicious (and aesthetically pleasing) chocolate since 1910. They even supply the king and queen of Belgium! The chocolate is a bit expensive, but the quality makes the splurge well worth it.
Web site: www.wittamer.be
Le Pain Quotidien: Le Pain Quotidien is the perfect place to have Sunday brunch in Brussels. The chain of restaurants has locations across the city, and is a favorite dining establishment of locals and visitors alike. Le Pain Quotidien exemplifies the way Belgians like to cook, with simple, high-quality ingredients, and seating is communal, so it's easy to strike up a conversation with the person next to you.
Web site: www.lepainquotidien.com
Le Cirio: The former 19th-century Italian grocery is one of the oldest cafés in the city and a local favorite you can't miss. Today, the café has kept as much of its former grocery décor as possible - counters, cabinets, even the cash register. The classic drink to have is the "half and half," a glass of champagne and white wine together. The tradition started back in the 1930s, when a lady asked for a glass of champagne. The waiter ran out of it while pouring her drink, so he had to top it off with some white wine. It's been popular ever since.
Where: Rue de la Bourse, 18
Belga Queen: If you feel like leaving the touristy center of town, head to the Belga Queen, a restaurant favored by locals. Beer is to the Belgians what wine is to the French, so even at a nice, stylish restaurant like the Belga Queen, you drink beer, not wine, with your meal. Just be careful, because the alcohol content is much higher in beer in Belgium than it is in the States, and it goes down easy!
Web site: www.belgaqueen.be
Where: Rue Fossé aux Loups 32
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