| Page Views: 270 Last Visit to Brussels: September, 2008 I Visit Here Frequently | CAPITAL OF THE EU Chips,Chocolate and Cherry beer by budapest8 - last update: Jan 12, 2009 |
The new home of my daughter Clara | Grand' Place, Brussels' main market square. |
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
I made a flying visit to this city in September 2008
and returned yesterday back to Budapest. I went to visit
my daughter Clara aged 10 who moved there at the
beginning of September to start her new school.
She moved together with her mother who got a new job in June with the European Commission as an expert on climate change.
We stayed the first night with friends of Clara and me in Uccle,
a lovely district of Brussels, the following 2 nights we spent
in Brugge an hours train ride from Gare de Midi (Brussels South Station)
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|  | Some history,thoughts and facts
Brussels the name for the Capital-Region,
is the de facto capital city of the European Union (EU)
and the largest urban area in Belgium.
It should not be confused with the much smaller City of Brussels
(which was founded circa 580) within it,
which is the capital of Belgium (and Flanders) by law.
The Brussels of today has grown from a 10th-century fortress town
founded by Charlemagne's grandson into a metropolis of more
than 1 million inhabitants. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers a total area of 4,127 km², covering the Capital-Region and 103 surrounding municipalities, and has a population of almost 2.7 million.
After the end of World War II, Brussels has been an important centre for international politics. It hosts the main institutions of the European Union,
and the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Thus, Brussels is the polyglot home of many international organisations,
diplomats and civil servants.Brussels is the EU's third-richest city in
terms of per capita income.
Although historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels has become increasingly francophone, and I notice the difference from my visits over 20 years ago.
Today most inhabitants are native French-speakers, although both
languages have official status, you will find it hard for French speakers
willing to or able to speak Dutch. This process has led to a longstanding
conflict between the French- and Dutch-speaking community, reflecting
the situation in Belgium at large.Brussels is the capital of Flanders and
of the French Community of Belgium.
It`s hard really to find what it means to be typical Belgian,
because the nation is
split in 2 halves by language, history and geography.
I find it strange to have such a city for being the centre of the EU,
when it`s own residents are so divided.
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The dilemma of Belgian identity
It looks calm and all is well when seeing the prosperous
hustle and bustle with its lace and chocolate stores, and beautiful
Bruges, and its glassy sprawl of European Union institutions
and its very own tennis champion, Justine Henin.
But since June 2008 Belgium has been
unable to form a government because its 10.4 million citizens
can’t decide what the state is for.
The present crisis is a result of the unwillingness of one or more groups
to participate in such a process. Although Europe is evolving into a
21st century entity, the francophone comunity in Belgium holds
on to a 19th century style structure.
Belgians they come from people who have found their racial/ethnic
bonds stronger than any they feel for their nation
(if they feel any national identity at all). Nothing new I suppose in
the Europe of 2009.
| | | Sultans of Kebab next to La Bourse, Brussels |
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> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Great beer, chocolates and tasty donner kebabs" | | Cons: | "dilemma of Belgian identity, split nation with 2 languages, even maps are confusing" |
budapest8's Brussels Travel Tips
 budapest8's Brussels Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for budapest8 about Brussels | | | | |
halikowski Sat Aug 1, 2009 23:26 UTC
Dear Tim, you can also take the train Brussels Midi-CRL. Ask for a `BULK' ticket, which costs 11 euro 50 and includes bus from CRL train station to the airport. | Nemorino Wed May 27, 2009 13:03 UTC
Happy Birthday! Interesting intro and tips here on your Brussels page. I had a fine time there on my visit in 2007. | MATIM Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:20 UTC
I love Brussels I really have to visit it soon again | Pawtuxet Thu Jan 8, 2009 22:02 UTC
Brussels is on my list of places to visit. Hopefully I will be lucky enough to get there in the coming spring. |
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