Brussels

Lore & Background

Brussels grew from a small rural settlement on the river Senne to become an important city-region in Europe. Since the end of the Second World War, it has been a major centre for international politics and home to numerous international organisations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants. Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union, as it hosts a number of principal EU institutions, including its administrative-legislative, executive-political, and legislative branches (though the judicial branch is located in Luxembourg, and the European Parliament meets for a minority of the year in Strasbourg). Because of this, its name is sometimes used metonymically to describe the EU and its institutions. The secretariat of the Benelux and the headquarters of NATO are also located in Brussels.

In Their Own Story

Rain slicks the cobblestones of the Grand Place, turning the golden statues atop the Town Hall into fleeting sparks against the dusk. A diplomat in a tailored coat hurries past the Manneken Pis, briefcase heavy with treaties, while just steps away, a street vendor wraps a steaming waffle for a local student. The air hangs thick with roasted coffee and damp stone—a scent that bridges centuries, connecting the quiet history of the Low Countries to the urgent, humming present of a continent striving to speak as one.

Reader's Guide

Brussels is the most densely populated region in Belgium, and although it has the highest GDP per capita, it has the lowest available income per household. The Brussels Region covers and has a population of over 1.2 million. Its five times larger metropolitan area comprises over 2.5 million people, which makes it the largest in Belgium. It is also part of a large diamond-shaped conurbation, extending towards the cities of Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven, as well as the province of Walloon Brabant, in total home to over 5 million people. As Belgium's economic capital and a top financial centre in Western Europe with Euronext Brussels, Brussels is classified as an Alpha global city. It is also a national and international hub for rail, road and air traffic, and is sometimes considered, together with Belgium, as Europe's geographic, economic and cultural crossroads. The Brussels Metro is the only rapid transit system in Belgium. In addition, both its airport and railway stations are the largest and busiest in the country. Historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels saw a language shift to French from the late 19th century. Since its creation in 1989, the Brussels-Capital Region has been officially bilingual in French and Dutch, although French is the majority language and lingua franca. Brussels is also increasingly becoming multilingual. English is spoken widely and many migrants and expatriates speak other languages as well. The Region is governed by the Dilliès government, a broad bilingual coalition of seven parties. Brussels is known for its cuisine and gastronomic offer (including its local waffle, its chocolate, its French fries and its numerous types of beers), as well as its historical and architectural landmarks; some of them are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Principal attractions include its historic Grand-Place/Grote Markt (main square), Manneken Pis, the Atomium, and cultural institutions such as La Monnaie/De Munt and the Museums of Art and History. Due to its long tradition of Belgian comics, Brussels is also hailed as a capital of the comic strip.

Did You Know?

• The most common theory of the origin of the name Brussels is that it derives from the Old Dutch, meaning 'settlement' and 'marsh' or 'island'.
• Saint Vindicianus, the Bishop of Cambrai, made the first recorded reference to the place in 695, when it was still a hamlet.
• In the Brabantian dialect of Brussels (known as Brusselian), inhabitants are called Brusseleers or Brusseleirs.
• The Brussels Metro is the only rapid transit system in Belgium.