In addition to being the capital of Belgium, Brussels is also the administrative center of the European Union, home to several EU institutions in its “European Quarter.”
Often maligned as “boring” for its (admittedly) bureaucratic vibe, we still think it’s a shame to visit Belgium and skip Brussels. Located quite close by regional train to Ghent or Bruges, we recommend spending a weekend exploring a combination of the 3 to get a nice vibe of the area.
What is today Brussels was originally settled by a Celtic tribe called the Belgae, way back in the 1st century BCE. By the 10th century, a small village grew around a castle built by the Duke of Lower Lorraine, and Brussels later became the 15th century capital of the Duchy of Brabant and then part of the Habsburg-era Netherlands. Already important as a center of trade, it then played an important role in the various religious and political intrigues of that time.
In 1830, those intrigues culminated in Belgium declaring independence from the Netherlands, and Brussels became the capital of the new country. This role as a major center of European politics was further bolstered in the 20th century, when Brussels became the location of the European Union’s headquarters.
Today, it hosts a variety of EU institutions, most of which are open to the public via tours. These include the:
- European Parliament
- European Council
- European Commission
- European External Action Service
- European Economic and Social Committee
- European Committee of the Regions
Both French and Flemish, Brussels is technically (geographically) an enclave within Flanders, but it is not Flemish. Instead, the city has its own legislature separate from both Flanders and Wallonia, and is a totally bilingual city.
Getting There
Brussels is largely doable as a day trip from Amsterdam, but it can be a bit tight if you’re relying on the international train system. While often reliable, there have been strikes, outages, and construction in the past few years that lead to a direct train not always being an option. However, when the direct train does work, you can get from Amsterdam to Brussels in 2 to 2.5 hours. While a high-speed train does exist from provider Thalys, it’s often prohibitively expensive and only shaves off about half an hour.
Recommended Reading
The Perfect Day Trip to Brussels
Brussels is a world-class city packed with fun things to do. Here are our top tips for a wonderful visit.
1. Start out in the Grand Place
The central square of Brussels, the Grand Place is easily one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Surrounded by opulent “guildhalls” and the ornate Town Hall, you truly won’t know where to look first. In the nearby city center, don’t miss the St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece and a jaunt through the Royal Gallery of St. Hubert covered shopping area.
2. Giggle at the Manneken Pis (and his sister Jeanneke Pis)
While admittedly silly, the Manneken Pis, a small bronze statue of a little boy peeing is one of the famous landmarks in Brussels, just a short walk through charming city streets from the Grand Place. His sister nearby is (in our opinion) cuter, her name is Jeanneke Pis and she’s located by Delirium Café.
3. Pop by the Atomium
The unique Atomium structure, built in the shape of an atom for the 1958 World Expo, stands 102 meters tall.
4. Tour the European Parliament
While we listed many EU buildings above, the European Parliament is a great choice for a day trip tour. It is an interesting and educational experience to learn all about the inner workings of the European Union.
5. Devour some Belgian waffles
No visit to Belgium is complete without some waffles! It’s important to remember that there are two main types of Belgian waffle, and they are quite different!
- The Brussels waffle is usually what you think of when you envision the “classic” Belgian waffle. It’s made with a light and airy batter that is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, but doesn’t have a ton of flavor of its own– it’s often served with whipped cream, fruit, or chocolate.
- The Liege waffle is in our humble opinion the superior option, made with a brioche-type dough studded with sugar, which then caramelizes as the waffle cooks, giving it a rich flavor and a crispy exterior that yields to a soft and chewy interior. The Liege waffle is rich enough that you can totally eat it plain, but of course you can get whatever topic you like on there as well.
6. Wash down those waffles with some Belgian beer
We love Delirium Café for its super-convenience– not only is it very centrally-located, but it also has more than 2000 types of beer, as well as really cute brewery memorabilia and even live music.
7. Check out some of the city’s museums
Brussels has a number of excellent museums, including:
- the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, an absolutely massive collection of artwork from the Flemish Primitive era to contemporary art. It includes the Old Masters Museum, the Modern Museum, the Magritte Museum, and the Fin-de-Siècle Museum– heaven for art lovers.
- the Belgian Comic Strip Center, located in a cool art nouveau building
- the Museum of the City of Brussels
- Autoworld, home to over 250 vintage cars, and Trainworld, mapping the history of railways in Belgium
8. Take a stroll through the Parc du Cinquantenaire
This “Central Park of Brussels,” the Parc du Cinquantenaire, is a fabulous place for some strolling and people-watching. IThe Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History is also here if that’s something that interests you.
We hope you enjoyed this guide to a day trip to Brussels. For more “Benelux” content, don’t miss our day trip guides to nearby Bruges and Ghent, as well as our varied content on day trips from Amsterdam and the Netherlands in general, Why Not Walk’s home base 😉
You can save this guide for later on Pinterest by clicking on the photo below.
