Belgium’s cosmopolitan capital is the perfect holiday destination for travellers craving a dose of upscale European culture as it boasts a profusion of superb architecture, over 70 museums and countless restaurants and entertainment venues. Home to the European Parliament and located within close proximity of the Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxembourg, Brussels is often referred to as the ‘Capital of Europe’, with a multi-cultural population that includes over 20,000 ‘Eurocrats’.
Populated by almost 1,000,000 people and divided into 19 separate districts, Brussels’ residents are a mix of Flemish locals and Walloons or Freanch Latin Belgians with the balance made up by foreign expatriates. Though the city is located in Belgium’s Flemish northern reaches, Brussels is an exception to the surrounding towns and cities, with stronger ties to french culture and language.
Brussels is divided into the lower and upper towns, with both sections easily navigable on foot. The beating heart of the city is the Grand-Place, located in the Lower Town and once home to all of Brussels’ food markets. The Grand-Place has functioned as Brussels’ social and commercial centre for hundreds of years and it still buzzes with activity and atmosphere. Perched on the hill above is the aesthetically pleasing Upper Town, featuring much of the city’s grander architecture, mingled with attractive spaces of green parkland.
Belgium’s capital is positively brimming with magnificent museums and art galleries, offering endless hours of entertainment for culture vultures. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts, located in the Upper Town and made up of the Musée d’Art Ancien and the Musée d’Art Moderne, is arguably the city’s most distinguished cultural venue, closely rivalled by both the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Art Nouveau Horta Museum. Brussels also boasts a wide selection of impressive architecture from ornate Gothic churches and classical palaces to stylish Art Nouveau structures.