Brussels

Likes & Dislikes

Likes

Brussels - Krista photo

1. The historic buildings are in excellent condition

2. Not a big city, easy to discover just by walking around

3. A lot of stunning green areas (for example Bois de la Cambre, Parc Royal, Forêt de Soignes)

4. A special bonus: it is close to my favorite European small town, Bruges

5. The thrilling, but also somewhat tense, multiethnic atmosphere in the streets

6. Brilliant beers, divine chocolates, fine dining, mussels, the best waffles we ever had – perfect for a diet…

7. The Grand Place, impressive by day or night, one of the most beautiful squares in Europe

8. The pleasantly stuffy atmosphere of the pubs

9. The metro system is efficient, the buses are nice and clean

10. Taking a stroll at the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

Dislikes

1. A lot of dull residential buildings built in the sixties and seventies

2. Rainy climate

3. Many hurrying, stone-faced bureaucrats in suits

4. Some unsafe streets and neighborhoods, the shady guys hanging out around the Midi

5. A lot of dog poop on the sidewalks

6. You get a feeling that behind the peaceful surface, there is a lot of tension between the different ethnic groups

7. Some of the locals seem arrogant, unfriendly

8. A lot of construction noises and blocked streets

9. You can start feeling bored of the city after about 3 days

10. Many services and attractions are closed on Mondays

11. The commercial overuse of the Manneken Pis figure

isn't that distasteful?

Opinions

Brussels - Grand Place - Krista photo

“The streets are full of Arabs and Africans, while women in headscarves push prams, with endless older children in tow. A few hundred meters from the city center the trash is piled in heaps, there’s dog doo everywhere, and men in robes sit in front of their shops.

The newcomers yell to one another in the street, and congregate in front of the once-pretty, colorful Belgian houses. The indigenous population, meanwhile, bypass the settlers with some dull, collective indifference, pretending it’s the most natural thing in the world. They lower their heads and quicken their steps. No police to be seen.

Of course, the downtown area is more orderly – there are more policemen, and plenty of beautiful old houses, churches and palaces. But even there, everything is run-down, dirty and decaying. (2019)

-----------------------------------------

“We didn’t see the dirt that so many people complain about, but we did see a very large number of homeless people. Especially around the train station, the underpasses and the metro stations. This came as a surprise to us, since for us the idea of Western Europe and the welfare state go hand in hand. Of course, we knew that even in Western Europe the economic situation would result in losers as well as winners, but it was shocking that the generally well-functioning social care and support network had so many people to deal with, and so many problems to solve. (2019)”

Practicals

Transport

Brussels - rental scooter - Krista photo

Food

A three-course meal for 2 people in a mid-range restaurant (2020):60 Euro

-------------------

"One of the most famous Belgian dishes is fries. Even when my husband and I were in Amsterdam, I was amazed at how many fast-food restaurants there are, serving fries in a paper funnel to take away, with a little mayo or sauce, and not just as a side dish. By the way, though it’s often referred to as ‘French fries’, opinions differ as to whether it is a Belgian or a French invention – everyone considers it their own. One thing is for sure, here in Brussels it was also available in many places, and several times huge queues formed in front of each counter. We tasted it too, and it was worth it – it wasn't dripping in oil and was very tasty and filling. I would eat this again anytime. If only because, in addition to the traditional ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise, there were about 8-10 other flavors to choose from. We tried the Andalusian (a spicy Mediterranean sauce with mustard and roasted vegetables), which was delicious.” (2019)

Brussels - restaurant terrace - Krista photo

Brussels - waffles

Shopping

Brussels - full kitsch or troll marketing? - p.k. photo

Others

Brussels - Manneken Peace - street art

Background

Brussels - typical houses - e.m. photo

Destination in brief

Brussels is almost in the middle of Belgium, in the Flemish part of the country.

Population (in 2020): 2 million - According to some estimates, 70% of the city's population is not of Belgian descent; half of the population is Arab, African, and Turkish.

French is the dominant language in the city.

Average net monthly salary (in 2020): 2300 Euro

People

Brussels - local of Moroccan origin - ata photo