Aside from being Belgium’s capital and its largest city, it’s also a major centre for international politics as the unofficial capital of the EU and home to the headquarters for NATO.
A lot of Brussels’s charm lies in its superb architecture, the spectacular Grand Place being no exception. Also known as Grote Markt, it’s one of the most beautiful squares in the world.
Surrounded by the Town Hall, the King’s House and the Guildhalls – the building display a magnificent blend of Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic styles.
A few short alleyways away from the Grand Place you’ll find Brussels’s famous statue, Manneken Pis or the Peeing Boy.
An emblem of the city, he is a much celebrated part of Belgium and has over 725 costumes in his tiny wardrobe with many of them kept in the King’s House. There is also a lesser-known female version, Jeanneke Pis and a dog version, Zinneke Pis located in different parts of the city.
Brussels features a variety of fabulous and eclectic museums. Visit the main Museum of Brussels City which explores the history and development of the city – a highlight, the display of some 100 or so of Manneken Pis’ costumes; the Museum of Musical Instruments which houses over 7,000 instruments and pieces of musical history; the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate and Museum of Belgian Brewers speak for themselves or the quirky Belgian Comic Strip Center which is a whole museum dedicated to the Smurfs and Belgium’s best known son – Tin Tin.
