Brussels is the capital of Art Noveau, in fact being able to claim the title as the birthplace of Art Noveau, as the first Art Noveau buildings in the world, the Hotel Tassel and the Maison Hankar, designed by Victor Horta and Paul Hankar, were the first of their kind anywhere. Brussels has many buildings with this style of art, including the Horta Museum, the Maison Cauchie, and MIM. There’s also the Art Deco heritage of the city, including the Van Buuren Museum, the Flagey building, and the Villa Empain building.
As well, Belgium is the capital of the European Union and has tens of thousands of people who come to work for the European Union and in the Parliament. You walk down the street and feel like you’re in Washington D.C.! Many languages everywhere! Belgium already has 2 official languages, Flemish and French. Flemish, a language similar to Dutch, which is spoken mostly in the south of Belgium, and French, which is most spoken closer to the French side, are both spoken in Brussels. But in addition to Flemish and French, you can easily hear German, English, Spanish, Polish, all the languages of the European Union everywhere in the city!
Not far from the Grand Place is another quirky tourist attraction, called the Manneken-Pis, known by many names such as the Pissing Boy, or Le Petit Julien. Literally just a statue of a little boy peeing, the statue comes from a major traditional Belgian folk-story. Getting a selfie with him is a MUST do for any visitor to Brussels!
Another thing you’ll fall in love with is Belgian waffles! You will LOVE Belgian waffles! You can find them on the streets, or in the restaurants. And imagine that on top of the Belgian waffles they put the other favorite thing you’ll love, Belgian chocolates! You just walk down the street and its chocolate shop after chocolate shop. You’ll think you’re in heaven! Browse the creations of famous chocolatiers (Laurent Gerbaud, Pierre Marcolini, and Frederic Blondeel). Your biggest reason for going back to Brussels over and over? The waffles and the chocolates! Of course, seeing as not everyone is a Belgian-Waffle hungry foodie, there are plenty of other reasons why you’d love to come to Brussels, like Belgian beer!
While the rest of the world is only wakening up to craft beers, Belgium has over 400 independent breweries. Their beers are incredible, cheap and have every flavor under the sun from cherry to chocolate to strawberry. There are many suggestions we can make for beer in Brussels, including Moeder Lambic on Place Fontainas, A la Morte Subite, the Brussels Beer Project, Brasserie Cantillon, or En Stomelings. All are guaranteed to leave you wanting more!