Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel; ) is the capital city of Belgium. As headquarters of many European institutions Brussels might also be considered something of a capital for the European Union. The fact, moreover, that Brussels acts as political capital of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) serves to give the city a Transatlantic twist. Lying at the crossroads of cultures (the Germanic in the north and the Romantic in the South) and playing an important role in Europe Brussels fits the definition of the archetypal "melting pot", but nonetheless retains its own unique character. Population of the Brussels metropolitan area is just over 2 million.
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The European Union showing all its bureaucratic facades here. It's somehow special to visit the "heart" of the EU and see all the buildings well known from TV, but you can keep this short - unless you are really into "glass and concrete" architecture. 143 days, 11 hours ago
The store of a chocolatier - Pierre Marcolini is a place where you have to visit, especially if you love chocolate! Plenty of beautifully made chocolate in pretty boxes, then you just have to buy something :) 39 days, 16 hours ago
Just outside to the (South Eastern?) corner is a Hotel Ibis that we stayed at. The rates were good and the hotel was very clean and nice. From then on if we stayed in a hotel in Europe we would look for a Hotel Ibis or Mercer. 189 days, 12 hours ago
We arrived via the Euro Star. We had no idea where our hotel was, except it was a business/conference hotel and we figured it was outside the old city. We walked around and found it, in about an hour. The next day we saw the sights and truly experienced the city on foot. There was underground and taxis, but totally unnecessary. 188 days, 3 hours ago
A famous statue, but there's really nothing to it. Just one of those, been there, done that, now let's move on. 285 days ago
So this is European Union? Do not expect to feel too confortable between these huge buildings... 143 days, 18 hours ago
Maison Antoine at Place Jourdan is where you get the best fries in Belgium (well, that's what the rumors say). Queue for your fries, then sit down in one of the cafés' terrace and order a drink. You are indeed allowed to bring your own fries to these restaurants - a perfect symbiosis. 143 days, 11 hours ago
A bit old fashioned glamour, but cool. Just stayed here for a conference, no idea what the rooms look like. 285 days ago
Well, it's a railway station. :) 285 days ago
Images from Flickr. View bigger size for authorship information
Images from Flickr. View bigger size for authorship information
Have you ever been shopping and found a boutique, where you just couldn't leave without buying SOMETHING? Well, at least I have :D
Links for tag: brussels
wikitravel.org:
The fact, moreover, that Brussels acts as political capital of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) serves to give the city a Transatlantic twist.
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http://wikitravel.org/en/Brussels
lonelyplanet.com:
In 843, the Treaty of Verdun split the Frankish Empire along the Schelde (Scheldt) river: this was the first division of Belgian lands into what would become modern-day Wallonia and Vlaanderen (Flanders).
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http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/belgium/bru...
timeout.com:
Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent & Bruges guidebook Whether you're travelling to Europe's quirky capital for business or pleasure, our local insider knowledge will open up this characterful city.
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http://www.timeout.com/travel/brussels
bugbog.com:
Short daylight hours, cold and grey, but Christmas markets in December are light and lively.
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http://www.bugbog.com/european_countries/belgium_t...
wikipedia.org:
When the nine provinces that broke away from the Kingdom of the Netherlands formed the Belgian State in 1830, there were three state universities in the country: Ghent, Liege and Leuven.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universit%C3%A9_Libre...
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