A Visual Trip Around Brussels (Part 1)

Have you ever been to Brussels? I hope that after reading this essay, you will feel like you have. Or at least, I hope that you will want to go.

A few weeks ago, I published a photo essay called “Come Look at Paris With Me”, which was fairly popular. It contained many luscious images interspersed with a modicum of text. I think this formula offers a refreshing break from my often lengthy essays, so I am going to try a modified version of it here.

But this time, we’re going to Brussels.

I know that everybody loves Paris and will click on anything with that name in it. But I think that the Belgian capital deserves a lot more attention than it gets. In some ways, it is as cosmopolitan, as much fun, and at points, even as beautiful as Paris. So let’s take a look, shall we?

But first, let me tell you about a problem.

In preparing this essay, I found that I had easily twice as much material to share as could reasonably be stuffed into a post. Therefore, I am making this into a two-part series. The second part will come out next Friday.

To whet your appetite, here are the sections we are going to cover:

Part 1

• Famous Belgian Things

• Brussels Street Scenes

• The European Parliament

• Food in Brussels

Part 2

• Three Favorite Places in Brussels

• The Atomium and the Design Museum Brussels

• Funny Belgian Stuff

• Beautiful Brussels Images

All right, please put on some comfortable walking shoes and grab an umbrella, and maybe a hat. You never know what the weather is going to be in the Belgian capital.

📷 Photo copyright: All of the photos in this piece were taken by Gregory Garretson, and so that is where the copyright resides. Thanks! 📷

I have been to Brussels many times, most recently this May on a sort of work assignment together with the woman who has recently transformed my life, Elizabeth. She was showing a group of American students around the Belgian capital, and I was acting as support. This naturally led me to reflect quite a bit on those things that Belgium is most famous for, apart from occasionally lacking a functioning government.

Let’s start with the beer. Already in the airport, we are bombarded with messaging about how wonderful Belgian beer is.

But here’s the thing: It is wonderful. I am perfectly ready to come out and say that the Belgians make the best beer in the world. If you have never tried it, I urge you to do so. Most countries produce little other than light lagers like Budweiser, which is to Belgian ale as McDonald’s hamburgers are to Midwestern steak. (See, I put in a plug for the Midwest there! Go Hawkeyes!)

Here is my Midwestern girl, laughing at the relative sizes of my beer and her Champagne.

Another thing that Belgium is famous for is chocolate. A Belgian truffle is very different from an Italian truffle. There are many grades of chocolates on offer in Brussels; the best of them are an explosion of pleasure on the tongue.

Here you see the tour guide we hired, Clemens (I recommend him—he’s good), showing us how to distinguish the best Belgian chocolates.

Another quintessentially Belgian foodstuff is the waffle. We actually got a lecture on the history of the waffle—from a nice guy named Sajah who was surprisingly definite in his statements—and a demonstration of how waffles are made, as well as a chance to sample different kinds. Do you know the difference between Brussels waffles and Liège waffles?

Another area in which Belgium is very strong is design. I am particularly enchanted by the Art Nouveau details that can be found around the city, as in this doorknob, or this fireplace.

Finally, much of the character of Brussels as a city comes from it status as the hub around which so many things revolve: not just the region, but the nation—it unifies the highly disparate Flemish-speaking and French-speaking parts of the country. And not just the country, either, but in some sense, all of Europe, since the European Parliament is located there. More on that below.

As part of its status as a hub, Brussels does an excellent job (in my opinion at least) of providing connections. Seen through an American lens, it is remarkable how walkable Brussels is, how bikeable it is, and how many trams, buses, and trains there are to help you get from one place to another. For me, this dedication to public transportation is one of the things that set Europe apart from many other parts of the world, and Brussels is a good example.

But I promised not to be wordy here. Instead of telling, let me show you around the city. It makes sense to start with the crown jewel of ancient Brussels, the Grand-Place.

The Grand-Place, lined with gilded guild halls and home to the city hall, is quite rightly the heart of the city, in which festivals, concerts, and much else happens.

Note: As always, if you want to see the entire photo corresponding to each thumbnail in a gallery like those below, you must be online, not reading this in your email. Just click on the title of the piece above to open it in your browser. Then you can click on the images to see them.

The rest of the ancient core of Brussels is a patchwork of architectural styles spanning several centuries, but somehow they mostly seem to work together.

But as in nearly all European cities, as we spiral out from the ancient core of the city, there are more and more modern buildings, with still more always under construction.

Although Brussels is not a particularly hilly city (I live in Lisbon, remember), there are a few spots that afford nice views, if you aspire to see a spire.

Of course, throughout Europe, Brussels is associated with the European Parliament, one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union. This is where directly elected representatives from all 27 member states meet to propose and pass legislation.

Below you see the flags of all the EU member states, and the colors representing the various political groups to which the MEPs (members of parliament) belong. Just kidding! Those are actually recycling bins.

Visiting the EU parliament was a very exciting experience, and for the students we were with, one of the most memorable parts of the trip. It is truly amazing to consider the scope of the political project that the EU represents—nothing of this magnitude has been attempted before in the world.

Below we see parts of the exterior and interior of the parliament building, including the assembly hall, where the MEPs sit. These photos include one of a sculpture that consists of independently moving parts—just like the EU itself—and a nice piece of art that my Swedish-speaking readers will appreciate.

When parliament is in session, members can listen to simultaneous interpretation into twenty-four languages done on the spot—truly a remarkable achievement.

And finally, food. Brussels has an excellent supply of Belgian food, as one would expect, but, thanks to the diversity of the population, it also boasts a remarkable variety of international cuisines. It is possible to eat very, very well in Brussels. My favorite areas for eating are in the western part of the center, where there are some very cool restaurants and bars.

Some of the more traditional restaurants have gorgeous interiors that create a positive dining experience even before the food arrives.

In places like these, we find traditional Belgian offerings such as sausages and moules—steamed mussels—as well as things like vol-au-vent pastries and endives wrapped in bacon.

But again, part of the attraction of Brussels is the availability of high-quality international cuisine, even if it’s just humble Italian dishes.

More exciting, perhaps, are African and Asian cuisines, like this delicious Korean lunch, with Elizabeth demonstrating how to follow the instructions.

Between the beer and all the different foods, I always find that I leave Brussels feeling a bit heavier, but also a bit happier.

Oh yes, and then there’s the coffee. If you really want to gain weight, how about a Viennese coffee, slathered with cream?

I hope I am leaving you with a hankering to have something delicious, and maybe even to book a trip to Brussels. Next week we will continue our visit. I’ll see you then!

End of Part 1

If you enjoyed this visual romp around Brussels, you might also enjoy these posts on Living Elsewhere: