My memories of this beautiful city will stay with me forever, going back to my university years in this capital city of Europe. It has a diverse cultural blend of history, past and present, and welcomes all with open arms.
Brussels is foodie heaven, it is a well-known city for its waffles, french fries and chocolate! This cosmopolitan city is not only the gourmet capital it’s also the capital of Europe, and EU institutions like the European Commission, the European Council, Council of the European Union and European Parliament call Brussels "home".
Here some more fun facts about Brussels!
Brussels’ International Airport is the world’s largest chocolate selling point
Belgians love their chocolate, but the visitors too! It’s no wonder that Brussels’ International Airport is the largest chocolate selling point in the world. My favorite Brussels chocolates spots are: Maison Pierre Marcolini, Belvas (they offer gluten and sugar free options) & Patrick Roger.
Brussels has 128 restaurants per square mile
In this foodie heaven, you will not stay hungry that’s for sure. Brussels seems to have it all, from the cheaper options to the most special fine dining experiences, healthy, local, street food, seafood, you name it. What I definitely recommend you is to try the Moules Frites (mussels and fries), dish originating from Belgium! Here our top 3 restaurants where you can give it a try: Le Pré Salé, Le Zinneke & In’t Spinnekopke.
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert – the oldest shopping arcades in Europe
Europe’s oldest shopping arcades, the “Galeries St Hubert”, was opened in 1847 in Brussels. Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is still one of the most visited spots in the city. The gallery includes luxurious shops, elegant cafés and restaurants.
Dive into the world’s second deepest swimming pool
The world’s second deepest swimming pool reaches 35 meters in depth, has several simulated underwater caves and it’s located in Brussels. Nemo 33 held the record for the deepest indoor swimming pool in the world until 2014 when the Y-40 pool opened in Padua, Italy. It is a practice ground for scuba divers.
Indulge on the two types of Belgian waffles
Did you know there are actually two types of Belgian waffles? There is a Brussels Waffle and the Liege Waffle. Brussels Waffle is right-angled corners, bigger than the other waffles, it’s crunchy on the outside, airier and lighter on the inside. Liege Waffle has no right-angled corners, it’s not crunchy from the outside, it’s doughier and sweeter. Yes, that's important stuff!
Brussels sprouts have been grown in Belgium for over 700 years
Brussels Sprouts has a reputation as a very strong flavoured vegetable, you love them or you hate them! Brussels sprouts are indeed named after the fact that they were cultivated in Belgium in the 16th century. I personally love them and they are full of nutrients too.
Belgium is home to the many famous comic artists
Did you know that beloved comic heroes, like Tin Tin, Lucky Luke, Gaston, Gil Jourdan and Marsupilami are “Belgians”? The city of Brussels is paying tribute to them, so pay attention to the facades when you walk through the city and you will notice many comic book references on them. More than 50 colourful mural paintings can be found around town.
There are three official languages in Belgium
Belgians do not share one common language, there are 3 official languages in Belgium. In Brussels, people mostly speak French and Flemish Dutch, in other parts of the country you can also hear German, which is the third language spoken in Belgium.
Pictures below courtesy of Maxine Somers:
