"Brussels from BeChar's eyes" a Brussels Travel Page by BeChar

I have been living in Brussels since 1980, originally coming from the country side (Ronquières and shortly Nivelles). Although I would have preferred to stay around friends in Nivelles, I quickly felt comfortable in Brussels, a small but central capital.

I like Brussels as an international capital, providing many activities, inhabited by many people from different cultures and equipped with a right network of communication. But unlike larger capitals, Brussels remains human with 1 million inhabitants and small area of 161 km2 (equivalent to a circle with a radius of 7.2 km!).

Most travellers or people staying here for a while indicated they felt quickly home in Brussels. First impression can however be misleading, probably due to the chaotic architecture, mixing typical houses, old churches or hotels with character with recent large buildings made of concrete and glass, all this in a confine environment.

Apart from famous touristic attractions, I would suggest to walk in the streets and discover particularities of this millenary city. Since major attractions are thoroughly described in books or by VTers, I will mainly concentrate on some particularities.

During the last 10 years (much info about Europe in Europa) Brussels invited more and more "Europeans" to work for the European Union. On May 1st 2004, 10 new european members were welcome.