"Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium ..." Brussels Off The Beaten Path Tip by TrendsetterME

Actually on my travels to Brussels, each time more charming for me is not the Grand Place itself, but all the norrow streets leading to all directions around the Place ...

So many hidden gems on those streets, little cafes, handcraft shops, special beer houses and so on ... What I suggest to u is not to stuck on that classic souvenir shops and 24/7 crowded cafes at the Place Square, but make some walks to those narrow streets to explore .... I assure u that u wont regret ... :)

So, concerning the Place itself, The Grand Place continued to serve as a market until November 19, 1959, and it is still called the Grote Markt or Great Market in Dutch. Neighbouring streets still reflect the area's origins, named after the sellers of butter, cheese, herring, coal and so on.

The Grand Place was named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998. One of the houses was owned by the brewers' guild, and is now the home of a brewers' museum.

Every two years in August, an enormous "flower carpet" is set up in the Grand Place for a few days. A million colourful begonias are set up in patterns and the display covers a full 24 by 77 metres for area total of 1,800 square metres The first flower carpet was made in 1971 and due to its popularity, the tradition continued w the flower carpet attracting a large number of tourists.