Welcome to Brussels, the vibrant capital city of Belgium!
From its rich history and cultural heritage to its remarkable foods 😋and stunning statues, the city offers fascinating facts for you to discover!
This article, we will now take a close👁️ into some of the interesting facts about the capital city of Belgium that will amaze 😲you.
Let’s begin this exciting journey 👏!!
Interesting Facts About Brussels
Brussels: It is home to more than 80 museums
If you love to explore museums, then you will definitely love Brussels!!
The city is home to more than 80😲 interesting museums!!
There are museums that range in focus from celebrity underwear to the sewage network to the history of street lights and many more.
The yellow iris: It is the official symbol of Brussels
Have you seen the flower🌼 iris?
The official symbol of the city of Brussels is the yellow iris, which is the region’s native flower!!
This beautiful yellow flower can be seen on the blue flag for the Brussels-Capital Region.
However, the City of Brussels flag is green and red with an image of St Michael slaying the devil😲.
St. Michael is famous as the Patron Saint of Brussels.
Official languages in Brussels: There are more than one
I always have loved to learn different languages, just like the people of Brussels!
There are mainly three official languages 😲spoken in Brussels!! Those are Dutch, French, and a small amount of German.
In the city, French is the most widely spoken language. It is also is the first language of almost 80% of the total population.
Almost 27% of the population of Brussels City is foreign, and hence, Brussels is one of the most international cities in the world!!
Though Brussels has only three official languages, there are actually more than 110 languages 👏, due to the city’s multicultural nature.
Brussels: It is not the only one
Brussels, the capital of Belgium is not the only ‘Brussels’ in the world; surprised😲? right?!!
There are some other towns known as Brussels around the world!
Two of them are in Canada, and two are in America.
The City of Brussels: Home to more than 1000 restaurants
In this famous city, we will see almost 138 restaurants 👨🍳per square mile!!
The city called Brussels is well-known for its cuisine😋, and there are about 1800 restaurants in total. It is quite wonderful, right?
Moreover, there is a gourmet restaurant on a tram where tourists can have a 6 or 7-course meal while exploring the interesting streets of the capital city of Belgium.
Brussels airport: The largest sales outlet for chocolates
Oh, chocolates😋!! How much I wish to have some🍫!!
Brussels is home to the airport which is famous the world’s largest sales outlet for chocolate🍫.
It exports around 800 tonnes per year.
Mannaeken Pis: A statue of a urinating boy is here
A statue of a urinating boy😜!! Sounds a little weird, right!?
One of Belgium’s most popular statues is a statue of a little urinating boy 😜called “Manneken Pis.”
This statue is a 24 in bronze sculpture and can be seen in the heart of the city, dating back to 1618 or 1619.
However, it is so frequently dressed up or stolen that the original one has to be replaced by a replica.
You can see the real statue in the Museum of the City of Brussels.
Enjoy Europe’s largest halls of dinosaurs
If you have a secret urge to know about dinosaurs🦖, like me, then let’s visit Brussels.
The Museum of Natural Sciences, located in the city, has Europe’s largest hall dedicated to dinosaurs 👏, with more than 37 million species in its collection.
Brussels: The origin of potato chips
A big fan of potato chips?? Then let’s go to Brussels!!
The capital city of Belgium is the origin of the humble potato chip!!
Now mistakenly known as French fries, people first started frying potatoes in Belgium in the late 1600s.
Now, there are fries on the menu at almost all restaurants😋 in Brussels, and there is also a fry museum.
Some students even swear by the local dish known as “mitraillette,” which is actually a sandwich with fries.
Brussels: Here you can see the world’s fifth-biggest church
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, also famous as the Koekelberg Basilica, is located in Brussels.
It is famous as the fifth biggest church ⛪in the world.
In addition, it is even the country’s third-largest cathedral ⛪and the single-biggest building of the famous Art Deco style around the globe.
Brussels: It’s population and climate
Want to know how many people reside here?
Recently, there has been an average of 5500 people per square kilometer or 14,200 people per square mile. The total population is almost 180 thousand people, and 1.2 million in the Capital Region of Brussels.
The average temperature of the city is not so high, as it is only 10.3 degrees Celsius.
Also, the residents of Brussels have to experience an average of 132 days of rain annually.
Brussels is the de facto capital of Europe
Europe’s de facto capital? Sounds quite interesting!!
Brussels is not only the capital city of Belgium but also the de facto capital of Europe!!
As the headquarters of the European Union 👏, the city is home to around 40,000 representatives from all over the continent.
Brussels: Birthplace of Audrey Hepburn
I still love Audrey Hepburn and her excellent acting skills!!
Also, this beautiful city, Brussels, is the birthplace of Audrey Hepburn, who was born here on 4th May 1929. She is my favorite actress, and yours!??
It has a UNESCO World Heritage Site called the Grote Markt
Let us explore the city’s Grand Place 👏, called the Grote Markt.
It is famous as a UNESCO World Heritage Site 👏!!
It is even the perfect location to blend in with the people of Belgium and enjoy a memorable trip.
Once every September: Brussels enjoy a car-free Sunday
The city of Brussels has a car-free Sunday 👏 once every September per year.
From the time 9:30 am until 7 pm, the main roads of the city are closed to motorized cars or vehicles.
At that time, we can roam free in the city, and also pop-up shops, public art, and several community activities can take place here.
The Justice Palace of Brussels: A very important building in Belgium is here
Have you heard about the Justice Palace of Brussels?
Constructed in the late 19th century, the Palais de Justice or the Justice Palace of Brussels, is still famous as the most vital court building in Belgium.
I am completely amazed with its huge area, which is around 280,000 square feet.
When this building was constructed, it was the world’s largest building.
Today it is still popular as one of the biggest as well as most impressive edifices in Europe.
The city has attracted many important personalities over the years
I am a big fan of history, and hence love Brussels very much!!
The city of Brussels has attracted many historical figures over the years.
Karl Marx, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Paul Verlaine, Auguste Rodin, Charles Baudelaire….all super famous ones!!
Also, it is the place where the Bronte sisters came to study between 1842 and 1843.
Charlotte and Emily Bronte were pupils at Pensionnat Heger. It was a girls’ school that no longer exists.
However, you can see a brass plaque on the former building, now called the Palais des Beaux-Arts.
Europe’s oldest shopping arcades: A perfect place to enjoy shopping
Let us shop in the oldest shopping arcades in the continent of Europe!!
All those arcades are situated in the city of Brussels, called the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.
The center opened in the year 1847, and was famous as the heart of elegance and luxury.
It even attracted all the big persons of the time to its cafes😋, theaters, restaurants😋, and many shops.
Atomium is one of the striking buildings in Brussels
Atomium is one of the most striking buildings in the city of Brussels.
The building was constructed in the year 1958 for the World Expo!
I must say that it has an amazing shape that looked like a cell of an iron crystal magnified by 165 billion.
Brussels is home to more than 800 beer brands
Booze time!!!! Lets peep into the mug of beer!
This beautiful capital city is a proud trader of more than 800 brands 😲of beer.
We can even say that the entire country of Belgium produces more than 2200 brands 😲of beer.
This means an individual can spend more than six years drinking beer in Belgium without tasting the same brand twice. Sounds interesting, right?
Delirium Café: A bar that holds a Guinness World Record
Brussels City is home to the Delirium Café.
This unique cafe holds a Guinness World Record for having most beer in a bar😲, and the number is more than 2004 beers.
Here, we can indulge in beers from over 100 countries.
Brussels: The city is famous for its waffles
If you are a foodie like me, then this secret about Brussels will surely leave you hungry!
It is the place where the world-famous Belgian waffles🧇 were originated.
Actually, there are two types of waffles in Belgium, and one of them is named after Brussels.
The Brussels Waffle is bigger than many other waffles🧇, is rectangular in shape, and is lighter on the inside but crunchier on the outside.
The other one is the Liege waffle, which is doughier and sweeter 😋than the previous one.
You can find both of them in almost all supermarkets in Brussels.
Brussels: Home to many important organizations
As well as the European Union, this Belgian city is home to the headquarters of multiple worldwide organizations, including NATO.
Due to this, we can meet with more ambassadors and journalists 😃in Brussels than in Washington D.C.!!
Brussels is the origin of America’s most hated vegetable
The country of Belgium is cultivating Brussels sprouts for over 500 years.
It is a strong-flavored vegetable that is loved by many people and hated by others, especially kids.
Let’s explore the secret of the Royal Palace in Brussels
Little royal highnesses🤴, let share a royal secret about Brussels!!
The Royal Palace in the city is similar looking to the well-known Buckingham Palace in London.
However, it is actually 50% longer than Buckingham Palace.
Conclusion
So, little knowledge hunters😃, now you know that Brussels is a city that proudly celebrates its history, international importance, delicious cuisine, etc.
From restaurants to museums to stunning statues, what is Brussels attracts you more??
Get back to us with your questions, and we would love 😃to hear from you.
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)
