Brussels is highlighted as a vibrant city with rich history and cultural attractions, including the Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and notable landmarks like the Hôtel de Ville and Manneken-Pis. The document lists top attractions such as the Belgian Comic Strip Center and the Atomium, along with shopping options, particularly for antiques and Belgian chocolates. It emphasizes the city's blend of historical significance, artistic heritage, and lively café culture.

1. By Sharron Livingston
There’s lots to see in Brussels
from the bizarre comic strip
to enjoying its café culture in
the Grand-Place. Here are our
suggested must visits/dos.
Brussels wears three impressive hats,
as the capital of Flanders, Belgium
and Europe. It started life as a fortress,
then developed into a market square
and eventually blossomed into the
economic, political and social centre
of the Flemish capital. There’s lots to
see in the city from the bizarre comic
strip to enjoying its café culture in
the Grand-Place. Here is a list of our
suggestions:
The Travel Magazine March 2015
Top 10 things to
see and do in
Brussels
1. Grote Markt (Dutch) / Grand-Place
(French)
Grand-Place, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, is the main tourist
attraction of the City of Brussels
but its beginnings were less than
glamourous. The area was just a
swampy sand-bank between two
brooks, known as ‘broek sella’ which
gave Brussels its name. The sand
bank was reclaimed and turned into
‘Niedermerckt’ (lower market) and
sold French and English textiles,
French wines and German beer.
In the Middle Ages wooden houses
were built around the market and
by the 14th century wealthy families
took to building stone mansions
which led to the
market developing into
the main commercial
administrative centre.
The town hall came in
1402 and by now it was
also a political centre.
This is where dukes,
royalty and emperors
were received but the
square was also the site
of executions.
Today the Grand-Place
is a beautiful, wide open cobbled
medieval and is Brussels’ main
market square. It is a great place to
hang out and admire the elegant
guildhouses which replaced all the
wooden homes. Many have admired
its beauty including Victor Hugo and
Baudelaire who rhapsodised about its
charm and appealing looks.
There is a daily flower market
between March and October and
often accompanied with concerts and
a light show in the evening.
Every two years (next one will be
in 2016), during the third week of
August, Belgian begonia cultivators
decorate the Market Place with a
beautiful flower carpet using around
750,000 begonias. Visitors are greeted
with 3,200 square feet of amazing
plant tapestry depicting a theme.
The square is where daily business is
done and where a flurry of local bars
and cafés are a superb example of top
quality café culture.
2. Hôtel de Ville - Town Hall
While at the Grand-Place don’t forget
to visit the Gothic Hôtel de Ville. It
dates back to 1402 and is the seat of
Town Hall
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2. The Travel Magazine March 2015
civic government. It is an attractive
building with arched windows,
towers and adorned with sculptures
including St Michael slaying a she-
devil. If you are feeling energetic,
climb the 96 metre high Brabantine
Gothic tower and enjoy the amazing
views over the city.
3. Manneken-Pis - ‘Pissing Boy’ aka Petit
Julien
The cheeky, chubby-cheeked
Manneken-Pis is a major character in
the folklore of Brussels. He is probably
Brussels’ most photographed statue,
yet it is only 60cm high. He was
designed by Jerome Duquesnoy and
is a small fountain piece where the
wateremergesfromatinymetalpenis
that the boys points at the viewer. He
is usually stark-naked but sometimes
he gets dressed. He has an impressive
wardrobe of 600 outfits displayed in
the Maison du Roi.
4. City Museum - Maison du Roi (French) -
Broodhuis (Flemish)
The French name of Maison du Roi
is translated as ‘the Kings House’
but although the building is a richly
ornamented masterpiece, no royalty
ever lived here. The Flemish called it
‘The Bread House’ because the house
replaced the town’s Bread Market
which had been there for hundreds of
years.
This museum is dedicated to the
history of Brussels, and if you have
already seen the Manneken-Pis,
in here you can take a look at his
costumes. The history of Brussels is
told over three floors from the Middle
Ages to date.
5. Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée -
Belgian Comic Strip Center
Did you know that Belgium has more
comicstripartistspersquarekilometre
than any other country? If you love
cartoons, you may appreciate this
museum dedicated to the comic
strip. It is housed in the Waucquez
Warehouse, a masterpiece in itself,
designed by Art Nouveau architect,
Victor Horta. You will be taken on
the journey a comic strip artist has to
make from concept to shop. There’s
over 5000 original drawings and an
entire section to Belgium’s famous
cartoon character hero - Tin Tin.
Incidentally,youcanseesixdramatic,
surprising and amusing cartoon
murals painted on gable ends around
the city. These were commission by
the city itself. Pop into the tourist
office, located in the Town Hall, to get
a map.
6. Heysel Park and the Atomium
Heysel park, located in the west of
Brussels, is dedicated to recreation
and leisure. In 1985, the European
Champions Cup tragedy took place
in the Heysel stadium killing several
spectators. It has been redesigned
since then and renamed Stade Roi
Baudoin (King Baudoin Stadium).
One of the highlights of the park is
the Atomium. This is a glistening
102 metre (335 ft) high model of an
atom made out of chrome and steel
designed by André Waterkeyn. To
really appreciate this structure, take
time to gaze up and enjoy the sheer
enormity.
It was erected for the 1958 World
Fair to symbolise a new ‘atomic age’.
It is an accurate depiction of an iron
molecule that has been magnified
165 billion times. It comprises nine
18 metre diameter steel spheres
connected by tupes, all of which
contain exhibits.
It is probably more impressive on the
outside than inside but a high-speed,
glass-roofed lift takes visitors to the
top in just 23 seconds where you can
stop for a beer and a snack, take in
the views and then get the escalators
down stopping off at the various
spheres.
7. Mini-Europe
NextdoortotheAtomiumisBruparck,
a 25 hectare leisure park of several
amusements and attractions. This
includes a 27 cinema complex called
Kinepolis, an all-round Imax screen, a
planetarium and a water park called
L’Oceade plus a clutch of eateries in
‘The Village’.
Pride of place though goes to the a
display of some of the most famous
and symbolic buildings of the
countries of the European Union at
1/25th of the original size. You will
Mini Europe © Ifoundanickel (talk)/wikimedia
Pissing Boy
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3. The Travel Magazine March 2015
see gondolas, a TGV train on its way to
Paris and even hear the unmistakable
chimes of Big Ben.
8. Basilica of the Sacred Heart
(Koekelberg Basilica)
ThisArtDecochurchisthefifthlargest
church in the world, located in the
Koekelberg municipality of Brussels.
Its impressive dimensions (89 metres
high and 167 metres long) look out
over the Parc Elisabeth. Though it is
modelled on the Sacré-Coeur in Paris
it is made of concrete, sandstone and
red-brick and, unlike the original, is
not gleeming white. King Leopold
decided to build it in 1902 and he
laid the first stone in 1905. It was
finally completed in 1971 in time to
commemorate the 75th anniversary
of Belgian independence.
The cupola platform, which has
a diameter of 33 metres, gives an
excellent view over Brussels and the
surrounding area.
9. Royal Museums of Fine
Art - Musées Royaux des
Beaux Arts
This is, in fact, two mu-
seums. The Museum
of Ancient Art found-
ed by Napoleon and is
particularly noted for
its display of the geat
works of Flanders. The
other is the Museum
of Modern Art. This
was added in 1984 and
comprises eight floors,
many of which are un-
derground. Be-
tween them,
they offer over
600 years of fine
art comprising
paintings, sculp-
tures and draw-
ings.
Entry (com-
bined ticket for
both museums):
Adults 13 euros;
Children 3 euros
(free for under 6)
10. Shopping
No city break
would be com-
plete without a
spot of shopping.
Antique lovers should descend upon
the antiques market in Place du
Grand Sablon where on the square
and the streets panning out from the
square, the discerning antique lover
may find that special piece. Rue de la
Paille, Rue des Minimes and Rue de
Rollebeek are particularly interesting.
Brussels has its own flea market - the
Jeu de Balle Flea Market. Rummage
around here for gems, secondhand
good and period furniture bargains.
Belgium chocolates ar a must buy. For
pralines go to Chocolatier Mary, for a
tearoom experience visit Wittamer
and for a shop of exceptional displays
try Pierre Marcolini. Some chocolates
are encrusted with real, yet edible,
gold.
If it has to be designer fashion then
head for the Galleries. There are three
Galeries Saint Hubert, Galeries du Roi
and Galeries de la Reine. They are
worth popping into just to take a look
at the amazing glass roof.
Antique Market, Place du Sablon
Chocolatier Mary, 73 Rue Royale
Wittamer, 12-13 Place du Grand
Sablon
Pierre Marcoloni, 39 Place du Grand
Sablon
Flea Market, Place Jeu de Balle,
Marolles district.
Galeries are located between Rue
du Marche aux Herbes and Rue de
l’Ecuyer
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top-10.html
Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Koekelberg Basilica) © Uppploader/wikimedia
Galeries Saint Hubert © Audriusa/wikimedia
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