A Journey to the city of Brussels, Belgium
Royal Palace of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 s)
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During my time living in Europe, I felt that most countries had very strong cultural identities. You could easily be able to tell someone who is French, from someone who is German, from someone who is Spanish…etc. I had trouble when it came to people from Belgium. Thus I realized, that I really don’t know much about the Belgian culture, let alone the country itself.
To start, the capital of Belgium is Brussels, with a population of 1.2 million inhabitants. It is also considered the de facto capital of the European Union, while also playing host to the NATO headquarters. Brussels is considered an Alpha Global City (much in the same way alpha is used to describe types of people); it is a transportation hub, and the geographic, economic, and cultural crossroads of Europe.
To be fair, I did know that I should eat Waffles, Chocolate, and Fries with Mayo while in Brussels, so all is not completely lost.
I took a long weekend trip to Brussels by first flying into Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), since it was the cheaper option. This involved taking an hour long bus ride to Brussels city center upon landing with Flibco buses. I purchased my tickets online but you could easily purchase tickets upon arrival. They cost approximately 15 Euros one way. From there, I walked to my accommodation to start my Belgian tour.
I also managed to carve out day trips to nearby Lille in France, and also Bruges, in the Northwestern part of Belgium. I have written about those experiences in previous blog posts. Nonetheless, here is a summary of some of my favorite places in Brussels and therefore, what I recommend seeing. There is also a Google Map at the end of this post which shows all these sites I will discuss.
Royal Palace of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium (ISO 200, 47 mm, f/7.1, 1/640 s)
The Royal Palace of Brussels is the official palace of the Belgian Royal Family, even though the king and queen actually live at the Royal Palace of Laeken. The building essentially serves as a location for large receptions and State Rooms for official visits from Heads of State. I am unsure of any tours offered to guests however if not, the outside is just as elegant as you would imagine.
Brussels Park, Brussels, Belgium (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 s)
The Federal Parliament Building is also located nearby; it sits on the exact opposite side of Brussels Park, that separated the two buildings. This park was pretty idyllic and even on a warm sunny day, it wasn’t super busy with people. I was able to enjoy some solitude there before heading further into the city.
Brussels Park, Brussels, Belgium (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/7.1, 1/200 s)
The Grand Place (Grand Square) is perhaps the most popular of destinations to see in Brussels. It is centrally located in the in city and features the Town Hall and Baroque guild halls of stunning architecture. Considered one of the World’s most beautiful squares, it itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site (since 1998). The square is also the venue for many concerts, ceremonies, and celebrations. I suggest going in off peak hours as it can be difficult to move around in the middle of the day from all the people.
Grand Palace, Brussels, Belgium (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 s)
The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula (French: Cathédrale des Saints Michel et Gudule, Dutch: Kathedraal van Sint-Michiel en Sint-Goedele), also known as the Cathedral of St. Gudula or just St. Gudula, is a Roman Catholic church with origins to the Medieval Times. Saint Michael and Saint Gudula are the patron saints of the City of Brussels. The church reminds me of Notre Dame, however on a bit of a smaller scale. The inside was gorgeous and the Gothic architecture is something I really appreciated.
Grand Palace, Brussels, Belgium (ISO 400, 93 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 s)
Just nearby was the Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert. I thought the name made it sound like something much more grand and opulent, but this spot is really just a very fancy shopping mall. It is best known for its transparent ceiling, but even for what it is, it really is quite a gorgeous part of town. The three shopping arcades that make up the gallery are the King’s Gallery, the Queen’s Gallery, and the Princes’ Gallery. Located near Brussels Central Station, the gallery was given historical monument status in 1986.
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, Brussels, Belgium (ISO 400, 47 mm, f/4.0, 1/4000 s)
The Mont des Arts is located in the historic center of Brussels, which serves as a meeting center, public garden, and site of the Royal Library of Belgium and National Archives.
One spot I really liked that was a nice departure from the typical Gothic/Baroque architecture in the city, is the decor at the Brussels Metro Station of Pannenhuis. Although just a place to catch the metro, I really enjoyed the attention to detail and vivid colors where art meets transportation. It reminded me of the Stockholm Tunnelbana (Metro) where every station was designed by a Swedish artist(s), making it the ‘longest art gallery in the world’. You can see my blog post on it here: The World’s Longest Art Gallery: Riding on the Stockholm Tunnelbana.
Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert, Brussels, Belgium (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/4.0, 1/800 s)
Another noteworthy church I remember seeing during my time in Brussels was the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon. Located just a short walk away from the Royal Palace and the Palace of Justice, this is a Roman Catholic Church situated in the historic center of Brussels. Once again, the Gothic architecture is mesmerizing and was built in the 15th century. It is officially characterized as a Brabantine Gothic style.
[Sidenote: For a great coffee/tea break, I would recommend going to Cafe Boudin. Located near the Royal Palace and Brussels Park, this cafe was particularly cozy with a good atmosphere and great food. There are plenty of cafes to choose from in Brussels but my experience here was particularly enjoyable.]
In the eastern part of the city, sits the Parc du Cinquantenaire, otherwise known as the Park of the Fiftieth Anniversary. This large urban park covers 74 acres and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Belgian revolution. The park is replete with gardens, ponds, and waterfalls and is often host to fairs, exhibitions, and festivals throughout the year. It is definitely worth checking out on a warm spring/summer day.
Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon, Brussels, Belgium (ISO 200, 40 mm, f/5.0, 1/1000 s)
There are a number of attractions on the outskirts of the city that are also worth seeing.
For science enthusiasts, the Atomium landmark is of particular interest. Located just northwest of the city center, it is a ‘sculpture’ of an atomic structure built originally for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. Present day, it serves as a museum and art center. The structure is composed of 9 18-meter diameter stainless steel spheres connected in a unit cell by metal bonds, which represents the connectivity that one can see looking at a crystal of iron at 165 billion times magnification. Since I’m a chemist, I absolutely love stuff like this!
I’m a sucker for castles and you can easily find one just outside the Brussels city limits called the Castle of Laeken. It can also be referred to as the Palace of Laeken and is where the Belgian Royal Family live. Built between 1782 and 1784, it was originally called the Palace of Schonenberg. It was rebuilt in 1890 after partially being destroyed by fire and still stands, majestic today. Unfortunately, the park surrounding the castle is private and call the Royal Domain of Laeken.
Last but not least, the Museums of the Far East is a complex, also located in Laeken, dedicated to the art and culture of China and Japan. They are unmistakable as they are buildings that represent the architecture of traditional pagodas from those respective countries. They are a marvel to look at, especially if you have never been to Asia before.
One the same ticket, you can check out:
The Chinese Pavilion
The Japanese Tower
The Museum of Japanese Art
