Every year in Belgium, Carnival is celebrated for three days on the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday.

It’s an event that’s been celebrated for centuries.

It’s thought to have it’s origins in heathen times, as a ritual held to drive out the dark Winter spirits and encourage the beginning of Spring.

Carnival is a very colourful and lively occasion, with processions of floats and participants in colourful costumes – and plenty to eat and drink.

There are three well-known Carnival centres in Belgium which are especially worth visiting – in Binche, Aalst and Halle.  Each of these three towns attract large crowds of visitors during Carnival. This year Carnival will be taking place on the 19th, 20th and 21st February 2012.

The Carnival of Binche

The Wallonian town of Binche is the location of the most well known Carnival in Belgium.

The highlight of the Binche Carnival is it’s strange army of clown-like performers known as Gilles who appear on Shrove Tuesday. The Gilles wear a characteristic costume with wax masks. On the final day of Carnival they dance in the centre of Binche.

Traditionally this performance is held to ward off evil spirits and drive out winter. Later in the day they wear ostrich plume hats and distribute oranges to the visitors lining the streets. You’ll need to stay alert to make sure you don’t get hit in the face by an orange as the oranges are thrown at the crowds!

The Carnival of Aalst

The Aalst Carnival is not so well-known amongst visitors to Belgium, since Binche tends to get all the international publicity, but it’s still a big spectacular event.

Whilst in Binche oranges are thrown to the crowds, in Aalst it’s onions. However, nowadays they’ve long been replaced by sweet confectionery in the shape of an onion.

On the final day of the Aalst Carnival there’s also a big dressing up spectacle – traditionally also involving drag or cross-dressing.

The Halle Carnival

This is held in the Flemish town of Halle which is situated just a short distance south west of Brussels.

The Halle Carnival is now also one of the biggest carnivals in Belgium and it’s well worth visiting if you’re in the capital at the time.

All the Carnivals are free to visitors.

See the official city websites for more information about the Carnival events that will be taking place.

Aalst: www.aalst.be

Binche: www.binche.be

Halle: www.halle.be

Image courtesy of Martin Terber

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I’ve put together a quick list of the top ten things I like most about Belgium.

So here they are (in no particular order)…

1. Good Food

Much better than in Germany, which was where I lived before. The Germans (and the Dutch) just don’t have any feeling for good food. At least, it’s low down on their list of priorities in life.

Here in Belgium you get really good food served practically everywhere. Even if it costs quite a bit more than in Germany. Not to mention great frites. And chocolate. And waffles.

2. Great Beer

Again – this might surprise some people, but Belgian beer beats German beer hands down. Belgium has what must be the world’s widest selection of really good beers. Even in the average bar or cafe you can be sure to find a good selection of quality beers.

Whereas in Germany it was usually just a choice between some bland lager beer or else a “Weizen” (of which you have the choice “dark or light”). Or else a Becks (yawn). It got very boring.

Here in Belgium you’ll never get bored with the beer selection. There are so many excellent beers to choose from, it would take you a lifetime to sample them all.

3. Easy-going People

Again I have to compare with Germany here. People are much less busy-body in public. Much more live and let live and not so uptight and self-righteous. Have to say I find that a pleasant change. They also have more of a sense of humour.

4. Very International

For such a small country – or maybe it’s because Belgium is such a small country, Belgium is much more international than Germany.

Belgians speak other languages especially English, often very well. They know what’s going on outside Belgium.  They have neighbouring countries TV as standard on cable. And unlike the Germans (and French) they don’t dub their TV programmes – at least not in Flanders (in Wallonia there’s much more dubbing).

5. Low Cost of Housing

Rents and also real estate prices are much lower than in Germany and the Netherlands. Not to mention the UK. That makes a big difference to how much money you have in your pocket.

6. Excellent Health Service

You get health service provision on demand here. No waiting to see a specialist or even need to be referred via a house doctor first, unlike in UK or Netherlands. No waiting lists either.

Health care is paid for at the point of use here, unlike eg Germany or UK. But you get the greater part of the cost refunded by your health fund.

Also, the cost of health insurance, at least for basic coverage, is much lower than in Germany, where health insurance premium charges are absolutely looney.

7. Excellent and Cheap Public Transport

You can reach practically anywhere by public transport. The national rail network covers most of the country and fares are relatively low compared to Germany and the UK.

8. Lower Cost of Living

I have to partially qualify this. Some things are cheaper than elsewhere as mentioned above, such as public transport, health care, rents and real estate prices. Beer is cheaper than in UK or Germany. And there’s no TV license unlike UK or Germany (at least not in Flanders).

But other things are more expensive. For example eating out. Many items in shops also cost more than in Germany. Sales are more restricted than in Germany or UK as well. And some utility charges such as electricity are also much more expensive.

9. Beautiful Old Town Centres

Most Belgian towns it seems have lovely old medieval town centres or old town areas, especially in Flanders.

10. Belgium is Great for Cyclists

Belgium being mostly flat means that cycling here is easy. The country has an excellent infrastructure for cyclists. There are bike paths and facilities for bikes practically everywhere.

The only thing which isn’t so good are the restrictions on taking bikes on trains – with the exception of those folding commuter bikes.

So that’s my list of top ten likes about Belgium.

In my next post I’ll list the ten things I like least about Belgium!

Image: Ypres, Belgium. Courtesy of net efekt

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Planning a visit to Belgium in 2012?

If so, then here’s some basic practical information for your visit…

Entering Belgium

To enter Belgium you need a valid passport with at least 6 months validity.

For EU nationals from countries which form the Schengen Area an ID card is sufficient.

Nationals from EU countries which are not part of the Schengen Area must travel with a valid passport.

Once you have entered the Schengen area, there are usually no further border controls when you travel from one Schengen Area member country to another.

This means that travellers from for example, France, the Netherlands or Germany will not encounter any passport or other checks. Only when you leave or enter the Schengen Area are you subject to passport and customs controls, for example when travelling from the UK to Belgium or vice-versa.

If you are from an EU country, your passport will most likely not be stamped on arrival and departure. You can stay for up to 90 days as a visitor.

Language

French and Dutch are spoken in Brussels, Dutch in Flanders (to the north of Brussels) and French in Wallonia (to the south of Brussels).

Along the border with Germany the language is either French or German.

English is widely spoken, especially in Brussels, so you should have little or no difficulties in communication.

Weather

Belgium has a mild maritime type climate, similar that of the UK.

In practice this means the weather tends to be highly changeable. A day may start off sunny and end up pouring with rain – or vice-versa.

It can be hot and sunny in summer, but a long uninterrupted summer is not a certainly. You should be prepared for rain at any time of the year.

Winters are relatively mild, but there can be cold spells with snow and ice, particularly in the south-east.

The best times to visit weather-wise are May through to September, though these of course are also the most popular times for visitors.

Mobile phones

If your mobile is a tri- or quad-band mobile, then it will work in Belgium. Otherwise it will not. But bear in mind also that you will be charged international call rates even for a local call within Belgium using your mobile.

A better idea is to obtain a Belgian SIM card for the duration of visit. You can buy these from the mobile phone outlets such as Mobistar.

See the article Can I Use My Mobile In Belgium?

Beware when charging your mobile. Belgium has a voltage of twice that of the US: 230 volts versus the US 110 volts.  Don’t plug your charging adapter directly into the mains in Belgium even with a European adapter plug (unless it is multi-voltage).  You will first need a transformer from 110 to 230 volts.

Power supply

Electricity is 230 Volts, 50 Hertz. If you are from North America, then don’t plug in an appliance from home as it will burn out. You will need a voltage transformer for this, as well as a plug adapter, since the plugs in Europe are different to those in the USA and elsewhere.

The sockets and plugs in Belgium sockets are similar to those in other EU countries. However, some sockets in Belgium have a  ”male” earth pin located on the socket side, rather than on the plug itself, like in some other EU countries.

In hotels and hostels, you may be able to plug your shaver into the shaver socket, if there is a voltage switch – but make sure you check the voltage first.

Money

Belgium uses the Euro. The easiest way to obtain Euros is to use your bank or credit card at ATMs and withdraw cash.

Notes are the same in all Euro zone countries, but the inscriptions on the reverse side of the coins varies according to the country of issue. They are all however legal tender in all Euro zone countries.

Belgians rely heavily on electronic cash payment systems – direct debit cards, as well as Bancontact or Proton cards.  These are bank cards which are loaded with a small sum for small payments.

Banks are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am or 9am and usually close somewhere between 3.30pm and 5pm. Surprisingly, many branches actually close their doors to the public for lunch, even in Brussels and other large cities.

Fortunately, there is an extensive infrastructure of automated banking machines and cash dispensers to which customers have access around the clock.

Transport

The largest cities and the Belgian coastal towns all have tram (street car) systems. You should purchase your ticket either single, a multiple number of journeys or a day ticket, before you board the tram either from a kiosk or a machine. If you purchase the ticket on board from the driver, you will pay a much higher fare.

The De Lijn tickets are valid for travel throughout Flanders, and the TEC tickets are valid for anywhere within Wallonia. Brussels forms it’s own transit tariff area (known as STIB/MIVB) See the article about Getting Around in Belgium

Train fares are relatively low due to a high level of subsidy. At weekends, train fares throughout Belgium are half price.

Post  

Post offices are mostly open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and only noon on Saturdays. Some of the smaller branches may close for lunch. You often have to take a ticket on entry and await your turn which will be indicated by your ticket number appearing on an electronic display.

Post offices vary from antiquated with staff who still sit behind glass screens to more modern customer friendly outlets.

The postage to send a letter within Belgium or to anywhere else in the EU is 1 Euro.

Shops

Normal shop opening hours are from around 9am until around 5 or 6pm. Smaller shops and shops in outer lying districts and smaller towns often close for lunch, which can mean a break of up to two hours. And for the afternoon open only until 5.30 or 6pm.

Some smaller shops are closed either Monday mornings or all day Mondays.

By law, shops may only hold sales on a couple of specifically designated times of the year.

Sunday trading is largely forbidden and you’ll find very few shops open on a Sunday.

A Belgian peculiarity is the “night shop” (nachtwinkel/magasin de nuit°. This is a small, usually independently run store which sells groceries and small convenience items which is open all night. However, for this concession they have to pay the penance of remaining closed during the day.

Restaurants, Cafes and Bars

Restaurants are generally open around noon until 2pm or sometimes later, although some may not even open until the evening.

Dinner is from around 6pm until approximately 10pm. Cafes and brasseries tend to be serve light dishes throughout the day, from around 10 or 11 am and on until 11pm, midnight or in some cases even later.

There are fewer takeaway outlets to be found than in other countries. It’s also noticeable too how much more expensive eating out is in Belgium compared to say the Netherlands or Germany. However, the quality of the cuisine is higher.

There are no regulations concerning opening hours for bars. There are some which remain open until well into the early hours.

Service charges if any must be included by law. Waiters don’t generally expect tips in Belgium, unlike for instance in Germany.

Smoking

Although Belgium still has a high number of smokers, in public buildings and offices smoking is now prohibited.

Smoking is now no longer permitted in restaurants and bars. It is however still allowed in bars and cafes which provide a separate “smokers room”.

Driving

In Belgium, as in all other Continental European countries, you drive on the right.

If you’re just visiting Belgium, then you can drive with your own car or a rented car, using your driving licence from your home country.

By law seatbelts must be worn by the driver and all passengers, including those in rear seats.

Motorcyclists and any passengers must always wear helmets.

There is a good network of cycle lanes. Mopeds (but not motorbikes) may also ride on cycle lanes.

Belgium has a large number of speed cameras. If you are photographed speeding, then expect a demand for a fine by post within a couple of weeks. If you are driving a rented car, then the fine demand will be sent to the rental company who will charge it to your account.

The police sometimes carry out spot checks on drivers at random stretches of roads, checking driving licences and other documents, and sometimes carrying out spot breathalyser checks.

Traffic lights in Belgium use the red-green/green-yellow-red sequence. Note that they change from red to green without any yellow in between.

Occasionally you encounter traffic light sets at some times of the day which are set to flashing yellow. This means stop and then proceed only with caution. Unless indicated, you cannot turn right on red.

In towns and cities you’ll often encounter bus lanes. Unless indicated for specific times of day, cars are not permitted to drive in these lanes.

Note that you are not permitted to pass a tram while it has stopped at a halt to allow passengers to get on and off.

A feature of Belgian motorways is that they are lit during the night.

Belgian driving can take some getting used to. Always be extra alert and aware, particularly in Brussels. “Hit and run” in Brussels is not unknown!

Also beware of the “priority to the right” rule.  This doesn’t always apply though – it varies according to the junction. If you’re not sure, do what (most) Belgians do and be on the safe side by giving way first!

Enjoy your visit to Belgium!

Image: Grande Place, Brussels, courtesy of barry fricke

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The other day I went to a web entrepreneur’s event held in the centre of Brussels called BetaGroup Belgium.

BetaGroup Belgium was founded in 2008 by Jean Derély & Candide Kemmler as a small group of friends who met initially on a casual basis. It’s now since grown in just three years to a current membership of over 3000.

The aim of BetaGroup Belgium is to connect Entrepreneurs, Software Developers, Digital Marketers, Web Designers, Web Agencies, Advertisers, Publishers, Venture Capitalists and Business Angels with each over by providing a platform and chance to meet each other, present their projects and foster new collaborations within the sector.

Each meetup includes a series of short “elevator pitches” where a company or individual entrepreneur is given 5 minutes to present their project to those present.

On the evening I was there, 7 different entrepreneurs each had 5 minutes to present their ideas. These were all web-based apps or services. Some interesting and imaginative concepts. Perhaps not all of them will be successful, but I loved the spirit of upbeat enthusiasm and dynamism that was present.

There were over 750 people present on this occasion, the event was fully booked out. The event was held on two floors of a media centre next to the canal, the presentations taking place on the ground floor with large display screens on the wall. Everyone then moved upstairs to a large hall area with two bars. The noise was deafening, imagine 750 web entrepreneurs all talking at the same time about their startups, you had to shout to be heard.

If you’re interested in web entrepreneurship and the online business sector in Belgium then you should join BetaGroup Belgium.

Regular free meetings are held on a monthly basis at the ULB Free Brussels University and are open to everyone in the Web, Software and Mobile communities. There are also various additional meetings and events, some of them on a paid-for basis.

For more info check out the website of BetaGroup Belgium at www.betagroup.be

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BrusselSprout.NET has just adopted charity:water.

Like many people, I’ve tended to regard charity as something I just do “now and then” or only when cajoled into it by others.

But from now on I want to use my online presence to also help less fortunate people.

I think online media should have a social dimension and should help contribute towards making the world a better place by taking practical action.

So I’ve decided to actively promote a charity here on BrusselSprout.NET

The charity I’ve selected is charity:water. This is a US-registered charity set up by one Scott Harrison in 2006 to help provide fresh drinking water and sanitation in less developed countries across the world. Since its inception, charity:water has raised more than $42 million and has helped some 2 million people get access to life’s most basic need – fresh drinking water.

Here in the developed Western world we tend to just take clean fresh water for granted. We turn on the tap any time we like and there it is. But for over a billion people in poorer parts of the world, fresh water on tap is something they just don’t have. With all the consequences for poor sanitation, poor health, disease and premature death.

It’s hard to imagine what a billion people looks like, but it’s one in eight of the world population. That’s one in eight people in the world who don’t have access to the most basic of human needs that we in the developed countries can’t imagine even going just 12 hours without.

The lack of fresh drinking water supplies also has consequences for the economy. In Africa alone, it’s estimated that the overall economic loss due to lack of safe drinking water and sanitation is some $28 billion. That’s about about 5% of GDP.

charity:water focuses on life’s most basic need — water. Clean water transforms lives, communities and generations — and at a surprisingly low cost. Just $20 can provide clean water for one person. Every single $1 invested in improved water access and sanitation yields an average of $12 in economic returns, depending on the project. 100% of your donation will directly fund freshwater projects in developing nations.

charity:water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

I think that every website should be involved in supporting at least one charitable cause.

Charity should be practical. Providing fresh drinking water and safe sanitation is one of the best practical ways of directly helping to improve conditions in our world.

So I’m kicking things off by donating $20 this Xmas to charity:water.

You can also donate to charity:water by going to their website at www.charitywater.org/donate and filling in the online form. You can donate by credit card via Paypal (you don’t need a Paypal account). The donations are 100% tax-deductible.

By the way, neither I nor BrusselSprout.NET receive any commissions of any kind by fundraising for or promoting charity:water. It is purely a 100% charitable commitment.

charity:water also commits 100% of public donations entirely to fund water projects. The funding for the charity’s overheads: staff, rent, travel, etc are raised and financed separately. This means that every dollar donated by the public for water projects goes directly to help those in need.

Why not check them out and also consider leaving a donation, however small, for charity:water?

Visit charity:water at www.charitywater.org

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Once again the city of Bruges (known in Dutch as Brugge) is holding it’s annual Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival.

The Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival is open every day from 25th November 2011 until 15th January 2012.

It’s on every day from 10 AM to 7 PM – including Christmas and New Years’ day.

The Festival is situated in front of the Central Railway station in Brugge and is open daily from 10am until 7pm.

A short distance away on foot is the Brugge Christmas Market (not made of ice!) and a skating rink.

Entrance fee to the Festival is € 13,00 for adults and  € 9,00 for children up to 12 years of age (Children under 4 are free).

There’s a € 2,00 discount for students, wheelchair users and those over 60.

For more information, check out the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival website at www.icesculpture.be (the website is in French, Dutch, English and German).

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Brussels Airport (Airport Code BRU)   is Belgium’s main international airport.

It’s situated in Zaventem, 11 km north-east of Brussels.

The airport is relatively small and as a result, it’s fairly relaxed and easy to reach from Brussels.

Brussels South (Airport Code CRL), sometimes called Charleroi Airport, is situated much further away in Charleroi some 46 km to the south of Brussels.

Brussels South is a much smaller airport and is used principally by budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air.

Make sure you are clear exactly which airport your flight is leaving from!

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You can check out the official real time departure and arrival information here:

Brussels Airport Departures

Brussels Airport Arrivals

How to get to and from Brussels Airport

Access to Brussels Airport is good compared to airports in London or Paris and train connections in particular are fast and cheap.

Car

Via the A201, which leads off the R0 motorway (only in Belgium could a motorway route be designated with a zero!).  The connections by road can take longer due to heavy traffic on the montorways around the Brussels metropolitan area.

Train

The train station is located under the airport building at level -1. There are direct services to Brussels, De Panne, Ghent, Hasselt, Landen, Leuven, Liège, Nivelles and Quévy.

Although the train station is not very clearly signposted from within the airport, trains to and from Brussels run approximately every 20 minutes and fares are cheap.

However, the ticket vending machines only accept Euro coins or Belgian bank cards – and no credit cards.

If there are long lines of people waiting you can purchase your ticket on the train. BUT: note that there is an additional charge for purchasing tickets on board. AND: you must seek out the conductor immediately you board – or beforehand if you can, and inform him that you need a ticket.

If you don’t inform the conductor that you need a ticket immediately on boarding, then the conductor is officially obliged to impose an even higher surcharge, so beware!

A new faster rail link with Antwerp and Mechelen (the so-called Diabolo line) is scheduled to open in 2012.

Bus

De Lijn provides bus connections with towns and cities in Flanders. The Brussels MIVB provides the transportation into Brussels city centre (bus route 12 (weekdays before 8 PM) or route 21 (weekends and evenings after 8 PM).

TIP:   Bus route 359 also runs to/from Brussels (Roodebeek Metro station) every hour.

TIP:  If you’re travelling to the airport from Antwerp, you can take the Brussels Airlines Airport Shuttle Bus.

This leaves from outside Antwerp Centraal Station on the Keyserlei boulevard every hour on the hour from 4 AM until 11 PM. The fare is 10 Euros (5 Euros for children) and the journey takes 45 minutes.  For more information visit the Airport Express website at www.airportexpress.be

Taxi

Metered taxis are available in front of the arrivals hall.  Standard taxi fare to/from Brussels city centre is around € 35. Licensed taxis have a blue and yellow livery.

Watch out for their scams. Some try to charge double rate immediately from the airport. They should drive the intial few kilometres at the standard rate before switching.

The Airport layout

Brussels Airport actually only has a single terminal, but it’s divided into two departure areas, which people sometimes refer to as terminals:  “A” for Schengen zone countries (i.e. those EU states that no longer have passport controls) and “B” for the non-Schengen states such as the UK and Ireland.

Passengers travelling from Terminal “B” have a much shorter walk to the planes. Sometimes flights arrive at area “A” from non-Schengen countries – which then means passport controls are imposed.

Terminal A for Schengen flights is modern, with natural light and plenty of seating areas but it involves long walks from the arrival gates to passport control with escalators up and down and miles of moving walkways.

TIP:  the best way to get to Terminal A is to take the lift, that way you cut down some of the odyssey along the endless escalators and walkways.

Internet access

There is now wi-fi Internet access throughout the airport . However, you have to pay for this via access cards, which you can purchase in the news kiosk shops in the checkin/arrival areas. Note that you cannot purchase these once you have passed through check in security!

If you’re flying with Brussels Airlines, then the Brussels Airlines Lounge has half a dozen free Internet terminals.

Airlines flying to/from Brussels

Many of the world’s airlines fly to and from Brussels Airport. You can find the full current list here, together with website addresses and telephone numbers for confirming flights or other information:

www.brusselsairport.be/en/contact/airlines

The Brussels Airport website is at www.brusselsairport.be

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The Belgian National Anthem is known as the “Brabançonne”, literally “Brabantian” in English.

The lyrics are said to have been written in 1830 by a French actor and supporter of the Belgian Revolution at that time called Alexandre Dechet, who was known also as “Jenneval”.

One François Van Campenhout then composed the musical score that same year.

However it wasn’t until 1860 that it was adopted formally by Belgium as the country’s national anthem.

The precise translation of the words of the anthem varies according to whether you take the French or the Dutch language version (or the German version) as your starting point.

Below are the translations for the French and Dutch versions:

French version into English:

O Belgium – O mother dear -
To you we stretch our hearts and arms,
With blood to spill for you, O fatherland!
We swear with one cry – You shall live!
You shall live, so great and beautiful,
And your invincible unity
Shall have for device immortal -
The King, and Law, and Liberty!
Shall have for device immortal -
The King, and Law, and Liberty!
The King, and Law, and Liberty!
The King, and Law, and Liberty!

Dutch version into English:

O dear Belgium, O holy land of our fathers -
Our soul and our hearts are devoted to you!
Accept our strength and the blood in our veins,
Be our goal, in work and struggle.
Prosper, O land, in unbreakable unity;
Always be yourself and serve no other,
Faithful to the word that you may speak boldly,
For King, for Freedom and for Law!
Faithful to the word that you may speak boldly,
For King, for Freedom and for Law!
For King, for Freedom and for Law!
For King, for Freedom and for Law!

And here’s the instrumental version of the Brabançonne:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkS85LPQpfM

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Eurostar trains only carry passengers, not vehicles.

If you wish to take your car through the Channel Tunnel, then you need to book with Eurotunnel, which is a separate company.

Eurostar has three main tariffs and there are considerable differences between fares.  The tariff structure is similar to that used for airline tickets.

Basically this means that the earlier you book, the cheaper your fare will be.

The essential thing to bear in mind is to always try and book your Eurostar ticket well in advance and never on the same day that you are travelling. You can book Eurostar tickets up to 4 months prior to departure.

Some Important Points about Eurostar Tickets

Eurostar Has Three Main Fare Categories

Within these three categories there is a wide variation between fares. Check the Eurostar website for the exact tariffs and conditions.

Child Fares

Luggage, Bikes and Dogs

Checking In

How to Buy a Eurostar Ticket

Obtaining Your Tickets

Eurostar gives you the following options:

To book a ticket online with Eurostar visit www.eurostar.com



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If you’ve just arrived in Brussels on a visit – or you’ve just moved here for work or study…

Then Welcome!

– to Belgium’s capital – and the capital of the European Union!

There’s plenty to see in Brussels. So here’s a quick tour of the main sights of Brussels to help get you started…
Basic Brussels geography

First, the geographics. Central Brussels is defined by a haxagon of boulevards and what is known as the Lower Town and the Upper Town.

The Lower Town is where the old medaeval heart of Brussels is located and it’s where you’ll find the Grand Place square.

The Upper Town is situated, as the name suggests, on higher ground up a steep hill and it’s generally the more middle class part of the city. It’s also where the massive Palais de Justice building is located.

Brussels  is served by a network of buses, tramlines, and a small metro and pre-metro system (tram lines which run underground in parts).

The main railway terminii are situated at the north, centre and southern ends of the boulevard hexagon: Brussels Nord/Noord, Brussels Centrale/Centraal and Brussels Midi/Zuid respectively. They’re not  “end of the line” terminii as such, being linked with each other by a connecting line which runs underground.  Although some trains terminate at the North or South terminals, others run straight through, stopping at all three stations.

IMPORTANT! Note that Eurostar trains to Lille, Paris and London always arrive and leave only from Brussels Midi/Zuid!

The approximate centre of the city is at Metro station Bourse, or else Metro de Brouckere a kilometre or so further up Boulevard Anspach. The Grand Place is situated just a few streets beyond Bourse.

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Grand Place/Grote Markt

The one absolute must-see has to be the Grand Place/Grote Markt.  This is the large old central square that features on so many postcards of Brussels  It’s probably about the finest old city square in Europe, if not the world. It’s lined with handsome late-medaeval style guildhall buildings, as well as the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), together with museums, café terraces and restaurants.

Many of the buildings you see are actually reconstructions, erected after the devastation of the 1695 war with France, but it’s still beautiful nonetheless.

The square is always crowded with tourists, but it’s a definite must for every visitor to Brussels.

Manneken Pis – or the statue of the peeing boy

Don’t expect anything like the size, elegance or grandeur of London’s Eros statue at Picadilly Circus. The Mannekin Pis is in reality a tiny statue up on the wall of a house. You’ll have to crane your neck to spot it. And yes, it does pee (water).

If you didn’t know it was the city’s mascot, most people wouldn’t even bother to look twice at it.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t stop an endless flow of tourists making the compulsory pilgrimage along to pay it a visit.

Bizarrely the Mannekin Pis actually has a wardrobe of several hundred tiny colourful outfits for various occasions. This at least can make it interesting to pay a visit to the Mannekin Pis, just to see what uniform it’s currently wearing!

It’s located just a few streets away from the Grand Place.

Galeries St Hubert

Brussels has many generally mediocre modern indoor shopping malls, but this is one shopping mall you should definitely not miss.  It’s a beautifully restored ornate and stylish covered arcade which was reputedly Continental Europe’s first indoor shopping mall when it opened in l847. Kind of remeniscent of London’s Burlington Arcade.

Galeries St.Hubert is located just a minute or so northeast of the Grand Place.

Ilôt Sacré (Sacred Isle)

Nearby the Grand Place is the famous Rue des Bouchers. This is situated in a very small but lively quarter known as Ilôt Sacré (Sacred Isle). The Rue des Bouchers (Butchers Street) is in fact a pedestrianised narrow lane lined with open terraced restaurants on either side. It’s renown for it’s enticingly well-presented iced displays of seafood.

However, beware that hard sell is the rule here and the proprietors and their staff tend to be from countries outside Belgium. Belgians themselves tend to be wary of visiting the restaurants in this street, with one or two exceptions, notably Chez Léon and Aux Armes de Bruxelles at the far end.

St.Catherine

The small district of St. Catherine, named after an impressive church of the same name, is located a few streets west across the Boulevard Anspach at Bourse.

This is the district that many Belgians prefer to eat in and the one that they will often recommend to you.  The street used to be a a fishing port inlet before being filled in, hence the wideness of the street. It also helps explain the presence of a large number of excellent fish restaurants here.

Halles St Géry

Place St Géry is a charming old square lined with by trendy cafés and bars. It’s dominated by the Halles St Géry to one side.  This is an old and renovated meat market building that is now used to host exhibitions. You can go inside to look around and also have a coffee. It’s located over the boulevard from Bourse on the same side as St.Catherine.

The Bourse

The Belgian Stock Exchange with it’s” BEL 20″ share index may be tiny by international standards, but the institution still manages to occupy a grand neo-classical style building with an impressive stairway and columned entrance.

Located at Metro Bourse half a kilometre or so from the Grand Place.

Opposite the Bourse across the Boulevard is the city’s small Chinatown. Further beyond that is the St.Catherine district.

Cartoon Murals

Belgians take comics seriously – they aren’t just for children. And large cartoon murals can be found dotted around many of Brussels streets. There are too many to list here. Best advice is to keep your eyes open and you’ll be surprised – and amused, by what you’ll come across.

A well-known one in the city centre, and a stone’s throw from the Grand Place in the small gay quarter is the so-called “Broussaille”. This was painted in 1991 and was Brussel’s first large-scale wall mural. It shows a young couple arm-in-arm walking down the street in which the mural is situated.

There’s even a comics museum situated just down the street from the Central Station (over on the other side from the Grand Place).

The Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée or Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art  is located in an old early 20th century Art Nouveau department store building.

Museums and Art Galleries

Brussels has a large number of other museums and art galleries and a whole article could be written on this topic alone. Here’s just a very short selection:

Royal Museums of Fine Arts

The extensive Royal Museums of Fine Arts include the Musée d’Art Ancien, the adjoining Musée d’Art Moderne and the  René Magritte Museum.  It’s here that you’ll find works by Breugel, Rubens, and of course the surrealist René Magritte.

Koninklijk Museum Voor Midden-Afrika (Royal Museum of Central Africa)

This contains a vast collection of artifacts gathered mainly from the Belgian Congo during Belgium’s short Imperial age in the 19th century.

Palais de Justice

The massive and sinister Palais of Justice is said to be the world’s biggest law court building. It was built by King Léopold II in the 19th century. Belgium may be a tiny country, buit that doesn’t stop it from building Gotham City sized monstrosities.  The Palais of Justice is more like the kind of structure you’d expect to find in Stalin’s Russia.

Along from the Palais de Justice is the area known as the Marolles.  This is a much more human scale, old working class part of inner Brussels that is also popular with artists and antique dealers. It’s now fast becoming gentrified. There are plenty of interesting boutiques and cafes to explore here.

A glass elevator runs between the Marolles Place Breugel and Place Poelaert in the Upper Town. near the Palais de Justice.

Basilique Nationale Du Sacré-Cœur

Situated at the end of the Boulevard Léopold II in Koekelberg in the north of Brussels.  Along with the Brussels Palace of Justice, it’s another hideous Gotham City scale edifice. Also the world’s fifth-largest church and a disconcordant mix of architectural styles that’s hard on the eyes.

Parc de Bruxelles

This is the largest park in the centre of Bruxelles. It’s flanked by ceremonial and symbolic government buildings, such as the Palais Royal and the Palais de la Nation.

Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Arcade du Cinquantenaire

The Parc du Cinquantenaire was laid out during King Léopold II’s reign. It contains a number of  museums – art, automobiles, history and military.

At it’s eastern end stands the massive Arcade du Cinquantenaire. This is not another shopping mall, but rather a triumphal arch built in 1880. It was erected to commemorate Belgium’s first 50 years of independence from when it broke away from the Netherlands.

Rue Neuve

This is Central Brussels main shopping street. It’s pedestrianized, but that doesn’t prevent it being overcrowded, narrow, shabby and generally unpleasant.

Watch out for the uneven paving stones complete with potholes and dogs mess. To round off the tableau there are beggars kneeling at regular intervals who seem to be a more less a permanent feature. Pickpockets also abound.  Rue Neuve could well do with smartening up and made more attractive for shoppers.

There’s a modest-sized shopping mall situated at the northern end of Rue Neuve called City 2, and which has a small food court in the basement.

Metro station Rogier is situated at the northern end next to the City 2 mall.

Avenue Louise

This is the chic part of town. Avenue Louise is much more swish and upmarket shopping street than Rue Neuve. Narrow at the northern end, it quickly widens out into a long, swanky, tree lined boulevard with a tram line down the middle. This is perhaps the classiest street in Brussels and much more pleasant than Rue Neuve. Worth a visit.

Berlaymont

The star-shaped Berlaymont building houses the European Commission. Nicknamed by some the “Berlaymonster”, it isn’t open to the public, but there are a number of  information panels outside about the history of the EU and the Brussels European Quarter in which it’s located.

The actual European Parliament itself is situated in nearby Parc Léopold. In fact, the Parliament meets partly here and partly in Strassbourg in France on a regular rotating basis, with all the staff and mountains of files and documents moved by a convoy of trucks back and forth each time (a charade paid for by the willing tax-payers of Europe).

Metro station is nearby Schuman.

and last but not least,

The Atomium

Like the London Eye wheel, or Paris’s Eiffel Tower, the Atomium is kind of like one of those structures that have no logical connection as such with the city in which they are located, but which manage to establish themselves in people’s consciousness as an icon for the city.

The Atomium is 102 metre high steel structure of nine metal spheres linked together to represent a model of an iron molecule. You can go inside and walk around the spheres. Built in the 1950s but it’s recently been  given a full renovation.

Located in the Parc de Laeken way out on the northern edge of Brussels.

Image courtesy of Mishkabear

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