We chose to visit Belgium because we were looking for less popular and less touristy destinations. However, we quickly realized we had underestimated Brussels’ charm and popularity. Another reason for visiting Belgium was to break from bustling big cities like Paris and Amsterdam and enjoy the authentic European vibes. In hindsight, it was one of our best decisions. We thoroughly enjoyed our four days in this beautiful country.
We traveled from Paris to Brussels via TGV and checked into a hotel near the Grand Place. The area is vibrant and lively, surrounded by cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, convenience stores, hotels, and several museums. After settling into our hotel, we got ready and headed to the Grand Place to soak in the evening atmosphere. After capturing some great photos, we explored a few of the city’s famous landmarks.
How to Reach:
Grand Place is less than a 10-minute walk from Brussels Central.
What We Explored:
Grand Place
The Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a stunning square surrounded by opulent Baroque guild halls. The intricate architecture and meticulous maintenance of the buildings were truly mesmerizing. As we wandered through the square, we couldn’t help but be captivated by its beauty. The square frequently hosts festive and cultural events, during our visit, a jazz festival was taking place.
Tintin Comic Mural
Belgium’s most famous comic strip hero, Tintin, was created by Georges Prosper Remi, known as Hergé, one of the greatest comic strip authors. The mural we saw depicts a scene from The Calculus Affair. Brussels is home to many famous comic artists and characters, and comic lovers can explore the various comic strip trails throughout the city.
Manneken Pis
The earliest mention of the Manneken Pis dates back to an administrative document from 1451–52 concerning the water lines supplying Brussels’ fountains. From its inception, the fountain played an essential role in drinking water distribution. The first statue, as depicted on a map by cartographers Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg, was installed directly on the street, not on a corner as it is today. The Manneken Pis is now a well-known landmark—a 55.5 cm bronze fountain sculpture depicting a naked little boy urinating into the fountain’s basin. There is also Jeanneke Pis and Het Zinneke.
Beursplein (Stock Exchange Square)
This is a major square in central Brussels, where the former Brussels Stock Exchange building is located. Today, the square serves as a gathering place, hosting many important events. There are plenty of hangout spots around the square.
While strolling through the area, a photographer approached us, took our picture, and handed us an old newspaper-style printed copy. Initially, we thought it was some sort of scam, but we were pleasantly surprised.
Next, we headed to Frites Atelier, located on a street lined with cafes and restaurants where people were enjoying live music, good weather, wine, and food. This eatery was on our list because they serve Belgian fries, fried in vegetable oil instead of animal fat.
Be aware that most places in Belgium prepare their frites in animal fat, making them unsuitable for vegetarians.
We enjoyed frites with various toppings and sauces, cheese croquettes, and draught beers – local Stella Artois and Hoegaarden.
On our way back, we stopped at Balkan Trafik and visited Galerie de la Reine. We discovered that almost every shop and some eateries close around 8 o’clock, so we missed out on having the famous Belgian waffle. However, we indulged in hot chocolate, chocolate mousse, and a chocolate tasting at Neuhaus and Pierre Marcolini.
Later, Yuven and I returned to the room while Mihir went out to capture the night scenes at Grand Place.
If you want to spend an evening like we did, follow the directions provided in the map below.
Stay tuned for our upcoming days in Belgium!
Read about our experiences of exploring Paris…
https://oneplusone3.in/category/city/france/paris
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