"Brussels" Brussels by sarahandgareth

We found Brussels to be a very interesting city, with an unusual combination of attractions. On the one hand, the city is a very serious business and political center. As well as being the capital of Belgium, it is the 'de facto' capital of the European Union and also serves as the headquarters for NATO, which means that many thousands of diplomats and other international officials call the city home. On the other hand, it has quite a light-hearted side, since one of its best-known attractions is the Comic Museum and walking tours often include one or more of the comic murals that adorn walls throughout the city. And, of significant importance to beer tourists like us, it is also the home of Cantillon brewery, one of the few remaining authentic lambic breweries. It's a diverse city, too, with a population drawn from across the globe, including a substantial African community (no surprise, given that Belgium once controlled the Congo, 75 times larger than Belgium).