| Beer, waffles and festivals - if this is what you’re
looking for you will find them in abundance when you visit the country’s
capital city (pop: 1 000 000). Brussels is the major gateway for the
country: it is on the main routes heading inland from the Channel ports via
the Flemish art towns and it is as well a convenient stopover on the train
between France and the Netherlands.
Brussels took its name from “Broekzele”, or “city of the marsh”, which
grew up in the sixth century on the trade route between Cologne and Bruges /
Gent. Under the Habsburghs the town flourished, eventually becoming capital
of the Spanish Netherlands. In the 19th century it became the capital of the
newly-independent Belgium. Although nowadays, the city is often primarily
regarded as a destination for businesspeople or diplomats — it is the
headquarters for the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) — there is plenty to see and do for other travellers.
‘Manneken Pis’, plenty of impressive museums, delicious chocolate and a city
centre divided into the upper and the lower town with a beautiful cathedral
and the Grote Markt where you can enjoy your Belgian beers. Brussels
requires a minimum of two nights to get a feeling for the city but an even
longer stay should be planned if there is a festival in town. While Brussels
is a safe city some areas are prone to crime, especially at night. Be
careful when walking near the westward arc between North and Midi railway
stations and Rogier and De Brouckere Metro stations.
Note: Brussels is an international city; for the two great parts of
Belgians (French and Flemish-speaking) there is parity in Brussels. This
means that every instance of the written word, from road signs to the yellow
pages, has to appear in both languages.
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