visitbrussels sized for tourism & congress
EN
Brussels is multicultural, plurilingual, its population is cosmopolitan and the unexpected awaits you at every turn. No matter what time of year you visit, there’s always something happening: creativity here is contagious, good food is easy to find and the mood is festive. Add a dash of humour and a pinch of self-mockery and you have the recipe for the city’s legendary conviviality. Less than two hours from Paris or London, its incomparable quality of life and the modernity of its infrastructures make it the No. 1 city for congresses, conferences, lobbyists or press correspondents. Capital of Europe, as well as of comic strips, surrealism, chocolate, Art Nouveau and beer, it is also the greenest city. Its role and its talents may be on a vast scale, but it owes its very special charm to its human scale. It is an ideal size which enables it to adapt to your requirements or wishes, however ambitious they may be, and however long your stay. But judge for yourself: Brussels awaits you ... and is already missing you.
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sized for history The cultural and historic heritage of Brussels is really unique: the Grand’Place, considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world, is also included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Many outstanding buildings in a wide variety of styles, from mediaeval constructions to the most modern architecture, demonstrate the great architectural richness of the city. The Ommegang, a great historic pageant reconstructing Charles V’s triumphal entrance to the Grand’Place in Brussels in 1549 remains the oldest survivor of the intangible heritage of Brussels.
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THE ONLY CITY CENTRE LIKE IT IN THE WORLD
THE FAMOUS MANNEKEN PIS HAS AS MANY OUTFITS AS THERE ARE EVENTS
the Ommegang
EVERY TWO YEARS, THE GRAND’PLACE IS DECKED WITH THE COLOURS OF A HUGE CARPET OF FLOWERS
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sized for events
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14,500 EVENTS PER YEAR
BRUSSELS PUTS ON A SHOW, WHATEVER THE SEASON
Are you the sort of person who decides everything at the last minute? No problem: whatever the time, the day or the season, something is always going on. It must be said that the Brussels diary of festivals and other recurrent events is pretty impressive: from the International Fantastic Film Festival to the Jazz Marathon, a year in Brussels contains nearly 14,500 events of every kind. From the historic Ommegang to the contemporary dance festivals, Brussels has something to satisfy the most varied or unusual. Major events also keep pace with the seasons: the ‘Winter Wonders’ bring you one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe and an outdoor ice-skating rink right in the city centre, while in summer, ‘Bruxelles les Bains’ transforms an entire neighbourhood into a seaside resort. And while the ‘Reine Elisabeth’ is one of the world’s most prestigious music competitions, the ‘Memorial Van Damme’ attracts the cream of international athletes each year.
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BRUSSELS CAPITAL OF EUROPE, NATURALLY MULTICULTURAL
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PLACE DU LUXEMBOURG / LUXEMBURGPLEIN AT HAPPY HOUR
ARCHITECTURAL CONTRAST SQUARE MARIE-LOUISE/MARIA-LOUIZASQUARE >
You will hear people talking all sorts of languages, come across Swedish businessmen and women, Italian MEPs, Finnish lobbyists, Spanish conference participants and German journalists. No doubt about it, you are in the heart of the European district. Opposite you, overlooking the treetops of the Park Léopold, you will see the seat of the European Parliament, known locally as the ‘Caprice des Dieux’. And the place du Luxembourg/ Luxemburgplein, place de Londres/Londenplein or place Jourdan/plein bustle daily with this cosmopolitanism. A little further away, the Schuman district is home to the Berlaymont, the flagship building of the European Commission, and in its wake, the amazing meltingpot of the cultures that populate the capital. Brussels has the largest number of headquarters of international associations (1700), lobbyists (25,000) and press correspondents(1000) on the planet.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DEBATING CHAMBER
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT >
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sized for BRUSSELS, CAPITAL OF ART NOUVEAU AND ART DECO. A UNIQUE URBAN SETTING
Your gaze falls on the gable end of a façade. Your eyes follow the curved outline. Its plant-like scrolls guide your eye from one stone to the next, all over the capital. You feel your sense of harmony and detail becoming keener as you behold arabesques in bronze, marble and glass. It is said that Art Nouveau, as well as its direct descendant, Art DÊco, scattered some of their finest seeds here, and the roots that developed were called Horta, Cauchie, Hankar or van de Velde to name but a few. While the scope of its architectural heritage encompasses the whole millennium, it is the last century which is the finest testimony to the amazing creative richness that enlivens this city with its special charisma.
CAUCHIE HOUSE
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THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTs MUSEUM
STOCLET HOUSE
art nouveau
horta cauchie serrurier bovy
villa empain
van buuren
PLACE FLAGEY/PLEIN
THE HEYSEL EXHIBITION CENTRE
van de veldehankar
polak
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BRUSSELS, WORLD COMIC STRIP CAPITAL. YOUR CHILDHOOD HEROES IN THEIR HOMELAND BALLOONS
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Tintin, Asterix, Spirou, Gaston, Bob and Bobette, Blake and Mortimer, Boule and Bill, Quick and Flupke as well as Lucky Luke and Largo Winch all smurf the same country of birth. Of course they do! Although they have become world-famous, those who were part of your youth from age 7 to 77 now invite you to visit their temple in Brussels, the Comic Strip Museum, housed in a prestigious Horta building, as befits our national heritage! And if you do not want to miss a single panel, you will have to criss-cross the many little streets of the city, where the walls are painted with effigies of our comic strip heroes. Then, by Toutatis, what are you waiting for to re-awaken the young Spirou that is dormant in you, blistering barnacles!
comic strips
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BRUSSELS, WORLD N°1 FOR CHOCOLATE AND BEER, CAPITAL OF KNOW-HOW AND THE ART OF GOOD LIVING
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Are you hesitating between mussels and fries and a stoemp with Belgian endives, but you would like to try one of the many starred restaurants of the capital? The city is full of possibilities and places of discovery that often turn into places of pilgrimage. You will have to extend your stay! Especially as you still have to try some of the chocolate delights that are bound to melt anyone’s heart, and there are over a hundred traditionally-brewed beers to discover. From the most typical to the most modern, the cuisine in Brussels is welcoming and generous. So which of the many possibilities will leave you the best memory? The chip stands, bistros, star-winning restaurants or shady terraces? Perhaps the box of ‘pralines’ (those gorgeous filled chocolates) that you will take home to your friends!
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IN THE SOUTH, THE FOREST OF SOIGNES, IN THE CENTRE THE PARK OF BRUSSELS AND IN THE NORTH, THE ROYAL GLASSHOUSES OF LAEKEN
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sized for green spaces
THE ABBEY OF LA CAMBRE, ONE OF THE HAVENS OF PEACE IN THE UPPER PART OF THE CITY
THE GARDENS OF THE PETIT SABLON AND THE CITÉ ADMINISTRATIve
EUROPE’S GREENEST CAPITAL
At the southern entrance to the city, the Forest of Soignes, one of the largest beech woods in the world, is a prolongation of the Bois de la Cambre, one of the many verdant areas that function as the lungs of the capital. From the Abbey’s 15th century gardens to the greenhouses of the Royal Palace at Laeken in the far north of the city, there is no district of the city that does not have a park, tree-lined streets or avenues and its islands of gardens. Brussels is a city that can breathe. An unrivalled quality of life, at your own pace. In Brussels, the internationally-renowned landscape architect René Péchère, who was responsible for the gardens of the Cité Administrative, the Mont des Arts/Kunstberg or the Botanique, found fertile ground to develop models which are still emulated worldwide today. Pause for a moment in the shadow of a tree-lined avenue, and breathe the fragrance of a capital where gardens have kept their rightful place.
sized for shopping ALL THE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL STORES ... INCLUDING THOSE ORIGINATING IN BRUSSELS!
Today is a shopping day.You will not be disappointed, there is a vast choice. A sweet tooth? The world’s finest chocolatemakers have shops here.Or opt to sample one of 400 traditionally made beers. Antique-hunter? Stroll through the Sablon district, or visit the second-hand traders in the Marolles. Contemporary? Our designers are bound to have created that item you didn’t even know you had been dreaming of. Love books? Then have your lunch in a restaurant/ bookshop. Fashion victim? You ought to know that when it comes to fashion, Belgians have been among the trendsetters. Designers are most likely to be found in the trendy Dansaert district or the very chic Louise area. But there is something for every budget in the rue Neuve/Nieuwstraat, so you will certainly find something for you ... or a memory to cherish.
GALERIES SAINT-HUBERT, A SHOWCASE FOR LUXURY SHOPS
ONE OF THE SHOPPING CENTRES IN THE HEART OF BRUSSELS
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sized for living
BRUSSELS, THE ART OF LIVING BY DAY AND BY NIGHT!
Would you like to live the good life for a while? You are in the right place! The quality of life is one of Brussels’ strengths. It has the options that you find in a large capital, while prices have remained very affordable. Whether you are visiting as a family for a relaxing time, or with friends to party all night long, you will always find a terrace where you can relax, or a bar where you can go a bit wild.
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Brussels, CAPITAL OF SURREALISM
LA MONNAIE/DE MUNT
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MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS OF IXELLES
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ART BRUSSELS
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TOURS ET TAXIS
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Brussels is the most surreal of all capitals! The Surrealist Centre was founded here in the early 20th century. Magritte trained at the Fine Arts Academy in Brussels, as did Khnopff and Ensor before him. In 2009, a museum entirely devoted to the work of Magritte opened its doors ‌ and a wide window on the world of surrealism. It has to be said that the whole mindset of Brussels and its people is slightly surrealist! But if you want to see something else, you have a hundred museums to choose from: art features prominently, but your curiosity may take you to the splendid and surprising museums of Musical Instruments, Aviation, Lace or Natural Sciences. And if Brussels, in the heart of Europe, prides itself on serving up a brew of different cultures, it is only to be expected that its museums include one devoted to Gueuze, that most typical of local brews.
MAGRITTE HOUSE MUSEUM
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MUSEUM OF ANCIENT ART
AUTOWORLD
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MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES
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mUSEE MAGRITTE MUSEUM
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AVIATION MUSEUM
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTs MUSEUM
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LA SALLE HENRy LEBOEUF, AT THE FINE ARTS CENTRE, WAS DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT VICTOR HORTA
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And while the Belgian film industry wins prizes on the international stage, Brussels is also considered as a specialist in co-production. With the tax shelter, access to European finance, Bruxellimages fund, the Brussels Film Office is a very efficient partner. Its daily air and rail connections to the world’s major cities and its plethora of technical specialists also make Brussels a prime destination. If Brussels had to produce a ranking of its artists, there would certainly be musicians, choreographers and film-makers in the top 10. Music and the performing arts are a constant feature of life in Brussels, with events at many different venues.
PLACES IN BRUSSELS, INCLUDING GARDENS, HAVE INSPIRED A NUMBER OF FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS
A SKATE PARK IN THE CITY CENTRE
THE CENTRAL AFRICA MUSEUM IN TERVUREN
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THE GLOBES OF THE ATOMIUM ARE NOT THE ONLY ROUND OBJECTS THAT ARE FUN AND EDUCATIONAL
AT MINI-EUROPE, CHILDREN DISCOVER THE CONTINENT IN GIANT STEPS
SLIPPING AND SLIDING AT THE OCÉADE AQUATIC PARK, OR DURING THE WINTER WONDERS
There is also a Brussels where children are kings, where the visit becomes playful and creative, where learning is fun and they learn to have fun! Many sites and activities, whether historic, scientific, interactive or aquatic are dedicated to the younger generations, indoors and outdoors. They will come back astonished at their unforgettable experiences as a family. 27
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ized for meetings In Brussels, everything is within reach. A translation into Bulgarian, high-tech infrastructure for 500 conference participants, a chic restaurant for the same evening, a tailor-made programme for an oenologists’ association ... Acknowledged worldwide as being in the vanguard of technology, Brussels also excels in common sense. A place where ideas are put into practice, and plans become reality. The team of experts of VISITBRUSSELS is at your disposal to meet your most exacting requirements and offer you the most personalised response. In other words, to make your business trip a real pleasure. just 1 hour 25 minutes by TGV from Paris, 1 hour 50 minutes from London and 2 hours from Amsterdam, Brussels is a candidate for organising your next event. And if you are still hesitating, a little fact-finding visit should be able to dispel any remaining doubts.
BRUSSELS, TOP EUROPEAN DESTINATION FOR CONGRESSES AND CONFERENCES
PRACTICAL INFORMATION tourist information VISITBRUSSELS T +32 (0)2 513 89 40 F +32 (0)2 513 83 20 info@visitbrussels.be www. visitbrussels.be Opening hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed: 25/12 and 1/1 VISITBRUSSELS at bip rue Royale 2-4 Koningsstraat | 1000 Brussels • • • •
Last-minute hotel bookings. Tourist literature, souvenirs, books, Brussels Card, Pocket Guide … City tours & Mini-Europe ticket sales Ticket sales for shows (via Ticketnet, Sherpa) VISITBRUSSELS at the Town Hall
Grand’Place / Grote Markt | 1000 Brussels • • • • •
Grand’Place D*Tours audio guide to rent Last-minute hotel bookings on the spot Tourist literature, souvenirs, books, Brussels Card, Pocket Guide … City tours & Mini-Europe ticket sales Ticket sales for shows (via Ticketnet, Sherpa) VISITBRUSSELS at Gare du Midi / Zuidstation (railway station)
Horta exit • Last-minute hotel bookings. • Tourist literature, souvenirs, books, Pocket Guide, Brussels Card, … Belgian Tourist Information Wallonie-Bruxelles Tourisme – WBT Postal address: rue St-Bernard 30 St-Bernardusstraat | 1060 Brussels info@opt.be www.belgique-tourisme.be
Tourism Office for Flanders
Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes 61 Grasmarkt | 1000 Brussels T +32 (0)2 504 03 90 F +32 (0)2 513 04 48 info@toerismevlaanderen.be www.toerismevlaanderen.be www.visitflanders.com Opening hours: October to March: Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; April & September: Monday to Saturday, 9 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; July and August: daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed: Saturday and Sunday, 1p.m. to 2 p.m., 25/12 and 1/1. Other information points > Brussels Airport: Arrival Hall > Brussels South Charleroi Airport : Friendly Desk Places to stay A hotel booking service is available in the tourist offices. Hotel bookings online: www.visitbrussels.be - book your stay - in just 2 clicks Youth hostels: www.hostelsinbrussels.be Guest-house rooms Bed & Brussels: www.bnb-brussels.be Taxistop - Bed & Breakfast: www.taxistop.be Brussels Destination: www.brusselsdestination.be (min. 1 week) TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL Arrival by air Brussels Airport Brussels Airport is 14 km from the city centre. Trains run to the stations Bruxelles-Nord /Brussel-Noord, BruxellesCentrale /Brussel-Centraal and Bruxelles-Midi /Brussel-Zuid every 20 minutes. Journey time: approx. 30 minutes. www.brusselsairport.be
Arrival by train Railway station Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid is the main interchange for international services, particularly TGV (Thalys) and Eurostar. Passenger information: www.sncb.be or www.b-rail.be T +32 (0)2 528 28 28 national services (weekdays and WE 7 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.); T +32 (0)70 79 79 79 (0,30e/min.) international services and reservations (weekdays 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. - WE 9 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.) The main stations in Brussels are all interlinked: Gare Centrale (Central Station) Carrefour de l’Europe 2 Europakruispunt (200 m. to Grand’Place)| 1000 Brussels Gare du Midi (South Station) rue de France 2 Frankrijkstraat|1060 Brussels (Eurostar, Thalys, TGV) Gare du Nord (North Station) rue du Progrès 85 Vooruitgangstraat| 1210 Brussels Gare du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Station) place du Luxembourg / Luxemburgplein | 1040 Brussels Gare Schuman (Schuman Station) Rond-point Schuman / Schumanplein | 1040 Brussels Serves European institutions. Travel on public transport By metro, tram and bus www.stib.be – www.mivb.be - buy tickets from metro stations or GO machines installed at some stops and at some newsagents’ and one-day passes from the VISITBRUSSELS tourist information office on the Grand-Place/Grote Markt and at bip – rue Royale 2-4 Koningsstraat - tickets: 1 journey: 1.80e (2.00e if bought in the vehicle) – lower priced: passes for 5 or 10 journeys, 1-day card, 3-day card - airport line one way: 3.00e (5.00e if bought in the vehicle) - return: 3.30e (valid 24 hours) Travel on bike Villo: Hotline 078 05 11 10 www.villo.be Provelo: www.provelo.org
BELGIAN TOURIST OFFICES USA Belgian Tourist Office Brussels -Wallonia Mailing address: 220 East 42nd Street – Suite 3402 New York, N.Y. 10017 / USA Tel +1 212 758 81 30 Fax +1 212 355 76 75 info@visitbelgium.com www.visitbelgium.com Tourist Office for Flanders - Belgium – New York office The New York Times Building 620 Eighth Avenue, 44th floor New York, N.Y. 10018 / USA Tel. +1 212 584 23 36 info@visitflanders.us www.visitflanders.us UNITED KINGDOM Belgian Tourist Office Brussels-Wallonia Mailing address: 217, Marsh Wall London E14 9FJ UK Tel +44 20 75 31 03 90 Live operator 0207 537 1132 Fax +44 20 75 31 03 93 Free brochure line: Tel 0800 9545 245 (UK only) info@belgiumtheplaceto.be www.belgiumtheplaceto.be Tourism Flanders-Brussels Flanders House 1A, Cavendish Square UK - London W1G 0LD Live operator: Tel. +44 20 7307 7738 info@visitflanders.co.uk www.visitflanders.co.uk
Bike point: www.recyclo.org 31
JAPAN Belgian Tourist Office Wallonia-Brussels Mailing address: Chiyoda-ku, Nibancho 7-3 Nibancho Bldg 3F JP - 102-0084 Tokyo Tel +81 3 3237 7105 Fax +81 3 3237 840 opt@belgium-travel.jp www.belgium-travel.jp Tourist Office for Flanders - Belgium - Tokyo office NK Shinwa Bldg 5F 5-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, JP - 102-0083 Tokyo Tel. +81 3 3237 8031 Fax +81 3 3237 8075 info@visitflanders.jp www.visitflanders.jp POLAND Urzad Promocji Turystyki Walonia-Bruksela Mailing address: Ul. KS. I. Skorupki 5 – VI pietro PL – 00-546 Warszawa Tel.: +48/ 22 583 70 06 or 01 Fax: +48/ 22 583 70 03 GSM: +48 604 733 953 mjanow@poczta.onet.pl www.belgique-tourisme.be CHINA - BEIJING Tourist Office for Flanders Room 612B, Beijing Kuntai International Mansion, 12-B, Chaowai Avenue Chaoyang District
100020 Beijing - China Tel. +86 10 5879 0785 / 86 Fax +86 10 5879 0787 info@visitflanders.com.cn www.visiflanders.com.cn INDIA Tourist Office for Flanders - India – New Delhi office Represented by Mileage Communications Pvt. Ltd. Sunil Puri 30, Hauz Khas Village (3rd floor) New Delhi 110 016 – India Tel. + 91 11 2651 1423 Fax + 91 11 2651 1246 puri@mileage.in www.visitflanders.in Tourist Office for Flanders - India – Mumbai Office Represented by Mileage Communications Pvt. Ltd. Pooja Razdan 306,Abhishek Building (3rd Floor) New Link Road, Andheri (West) Mumbai – 400 053 - India Tel + 91 22 2673 1108 Fax +91 22 26731109 pooja.razdan@mileage.in www.visitflanders.in RUSSIA Toerisme Vlaanderen Marketing Grasmarkt 61 – B 1000 Brussels Pedro Waeghe Pedro.waeghe@toerismevlaanderen.be
FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM By road: Via France E42 (Calais-Lille-TournaiNamur) Via Zeebrugge E40 (Oostende-Brussel) By rail: EUROSTAR: High-speed trains from London to Brussels. Numerous crossings daily. Journey: 1h51 Info: www.eurostar.com EUROTUNNEL: n www.eurotunnel.com By coach: Eurolines: various destinations n www.eurolines.com By air: Frequent flights between UK cities and Brussels. By ferry: Several ferry companies have crossings to Belgium: NORFOLKLINE-FERRIES (Dover-Dunkerque): n www.norfolkline-ferries.com P&O FERRIES (Hull-Zeebrugge) n www.poferries.com More ferry operators on: www.directferries.co.uk
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www. visitbrussels.be
A VISITBRUSSELS production Bip - rue Royale 2-4 Koningsstraat 1000 Brussels Photos: © O. van de Kerchove, © M. Vanhulst, © E. Danhier, © L. Viatour, © C. Licoppe, © Mario, © O. Brouwers, © Amanito, © D. Marlé, © J.P. Remy, © J.P. Vandewiele, © F. Dujardin, © S. Richardson, © Mini Europe, © Viage, © VISITBRUSSELS © Belgian Tourist Office – Brussels Wallonia, © Merckx, © Adopt studio Concept & Design: Adopt © Atomium
2011-2012
Publisher responsible: Patrick Bontinck, Managing Director