Grand-Place
Often considered the most beautiful square in the world, the Grand-Place of Brussels' reputation precedes it!
Today, it still has a political and administrative function as it houses the City of Brussels Town Hall, which remains the workplace of the mayor and most of their aldermen.
As a prestigious venue, it hosts many festive events - concerts, fairs, folklore events, the Christmas tree and nativity scene, sound and light shows, the flower carpet in the summer, etc. - or symbolic events, such as the celebration of sportsmen and women after fine performances.
Its story began as a market square in the 12th century. Gradually, the square was filled with houses and halls, then primarily made of wood. The splendid Gothic town hall was built in the 15th century in three phases; the same 15th century saw the installation of trade guilds in the houses that border the Grand-Place. Even more so than at present, the square was the nerve centre of Brussels life: economically, as already mentioned, with intense sales activity (several halls devoted to the sale of bread - the present King's House or Broodhuis in Dutch -, meat, linen, etc.), culturally (theatrical performances), judicially (with executions taking place on the square) and, of course, local politics.
It was bombarded by Louis XIV's troops in 1695 and was subsequently almost entirely rebuilt. It underwent further major renovations and modifications during the following centuries, especially in the 19th century, which gave it its current appearance.
The Grand-Place of Brussels has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
Grand-Place
Museum of the City of Brussels / The King’s House
Two majestic buildings that stand opposite each other on Brussels' Grand Place have a long-standing rivalry: on one side you have Brussels' City Hall, and on the other the Broodhuis (Bread House), a UNESCO World Heritage Site which houses the Brussels City Museum. The rivalry between these two buildings is no coincidence. In the 15th century, the Duke of Brabant replaced the 13th century wooden bread market building with a prestigious building that would be a symbol of his power and face off against the imposing building on the other side of the Grand Place that symbolised the city's independence. The building owes its French name of Maison du Roi (King's House) to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who once ruled over a large part of the globe and once owned the Bread House. After being destroyed in the 16th century, it was rebuilt in the Gothic Revival style in the 19th century by city architect Victor Jamaer.
But it's not all about the Broodhuis' history and facade. Inside the Brussels City Museum gives a comprehensive overview of Brussels' history, with particular attention given to the arts, crafts,urbanism and architecture . The original Manneken Pis is also housed here for security reasons, but as for his wardrobe, which is a thousand times larger than even the most passionate fashionista's, you can marvel at that in its dedicated museum on Rue du Chêne - Eikstraat.
Combined ticket giving access to the Brussels City Museum -Maison du Roi and the Garderobe MannekenPis.
Museum of the City of Brussels / The King’s House
GardeRobe MannekenPis
The incredible Manneken-Pis dressing room awaits you at 19 Rue du Chêne, a stone's throw away from the famous fountain.
A representative selection of more than one hundred costumes is presented according to seven themes: geography, folklore, charity and citizens’ associations, trades, celebrities and characters, sports and designers. They show the richness of this fabulous and uncommon collection, which today includes nearly 1,000 items! The sculpture’s clothing – which is a tradition dating back to the 17th century! – is still part of the folklore and historical heritage of the city of Brussels.
Combined ticket giving access to the Brussels City Museum -Maison du Roi and the Garderobe MannekenPis.
GardeRobe MannekenPis
Belgian Beer World experience
Belgium, the land of beer? That's for sure! Belgium boasts more brands of beer than any other country in the world. And another unique feature: Belgian beer culture has UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.
Belgian beer quite simply holds an extraordinary mix of influences, creativity and... Belgitude. Discover what makes Belgian beer so special at Belgian Beer World, more than a beer museum, an interactive experience!
Museums & tourist attractions
Belgian Beer World experience
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
Initiated by the architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer, the spectacular Galeries Royales project took shape in the 1830's. The works, begun in 1846, were almost completed in time for the official opening on 20 June 1847.
The gallery included shops, auditoriums, cafés, restaurants and apartments. The place to be seen for the fashionable, right away, the Royal Galleries of Saint Hubert drew a wide audience, attracted by its luxury brands, elegant cafés and cultural spaces. These included the Théâtre du Vaudeville, the Cinéma des Galeries and the Taverne du Passage, called the Café des Arts until 1892 and the meeting place for painters and writers of the time. The colony of French refugees, like Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Edgar Quinet and others, would also gather there. The Surrealist painters and artists from the Cobra group were regulars at the venue.
A commemorative plaque recalls the first showing of the Lumière brothers’ motion picture camera on 1 March 1896, in the former dispatch room of the La Chronique daily newspaper (above Pâtisserie Meert, Galerie du Roi).
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
Espace Vanderborght
Owned by the City of Brussels, this building with a large shop window stands in the centre of Brussels, only a stone’s throw from the Grand Place. It occupies an impressive 6,000 m² of space spread over 5 stories.
Built for the “Nouveaux Établissements Vanderborght Frères”, who traded in household products like carpets, knick-knacks, garden furniture, bedding, etc., the building was designed by architects Govaerts and Van Vaerenbergh, who were used to working together, having previously collaborated on the house of Alice and David van Buren, now the van Buren Museum. The building works, which began in 1932, were completed in 1935. Built in a modernist style, the building did away with ornamental elements, favouring function over appearance.
With remarkable large shop front windows that allow for greater visibility, each story is made up of one large concrete floorplan that can be easily modified thanks to a system of sliding partition walls on tracks. Other stand-out features of this building are its terraces, which served as exhibition spaces for the company’s garden furniture back in the day, but also spots to relax and enjoy a cup of tea. The store went bankrupt in 1980.
Contemporary venues
Fairs & exhibitions
Espace Vanderborght
BattleKart Tour&Taxis
Come and discover BattleKart in Tour&Taxis (Shed 3)! BattleKart is quintessential of video gaming, augmented reality and electric go-karting, brought together to provide you with unparalleled sensations! Imagine a track on which we project different circuits and playing modes, where you progress at full speed onboard an electric kart while interacting with the scenery, the bonuses, and the other players...
BattleKart Tour&Taxis
WOM - World Of Mind
Challenge your brain at the WOM!
In a museum of 1500m², exercise your senses and challenge your brain in a colourful universe! Dedicated to the five senses, our perceptions and illusions, the WOM is scientific but also recreational.
It's an exceptional experience which questions reality as we perceive it and where science meets fun!
Discover famous illusions such as the mirror room or the vortex but also experiences never seen before in Belgium. Get ready for a visit full of surprises and emotions!
Throughout your visit, meet the well-known neurologist, author and Francqui Prize winner Steven Laureys in the Science Corners. Learn about the five senses, the way our brain works, and discover what happens when we interact with illusions and how we treat the information sent by our environment.
WOM - World Of Mind
BE-HERE
BE-HERE is a sustainable village where many initiatives are taken in terms of sustainable food, circular economy, social economy or cultural and welfare projects.
This energetic, convivial place is open to everyone, especially if you like to shop sustainably and locally, have lunch in the beautiful main hall, meet with friends in the brasserie, taste artisanal products, or have your bicycle repaired.
Numerous workshops, activities and events are also organised in this historic and beautifully renovated place.
BE-HERE
Café Walvis
Where Rue de Flandre and Rue Antoine Dansaert meet, Walvis welcomes you to its friendly brasserie-style kitchen, where Belgian cuisine and Belgian beers take pride of place. You'll feel right at home here.
Café Walvis
La Fleur en Papier Doré
The Gilt Paper Flower, a listed building since 1997, has for decades been a meeting place for locals and tourists alike, whether curious about or fascinated by the history of this 17th-century building. An estaminet for a long time under the premonitory name of Café des artistes, the Flower soon became what it is famous for today: the place where artists, particularly the Surrealists (Marcel Mariën, René Magritte, Louis Scutenaire, etc.) and the Cobras (Dotremont, Alechinski, etc.), met in an infernal flea market setting.
Open Monday to Sunday from 8am to midnight, La Fleur en Papier Doré offers a range of local produce (including Verschueren saison, beers from the De Ranke brewery, and Stouterik on draught from Brasseries de la Senne), which can be enjoyed with a portion of cheese or sausage. Since its reopening in May 2023, The Gilt Paper Flower has closed its kitchen to concentrate on its role as a café.
The venue also has two rooms where the public can enjoy a programme of lectures, concerts, poetry and literature...
La Fleur en Papier Doré
Café Roskam
From cocktails to authentic Belgian beers: you’ll find it all in this cosy and unpretentious pub in the Sainte-Catherine area. And a typical Belgian pub too: very loud and lively! They have a excellent programmation of free jazz concerts, usually on Sundayevenings, so take a look at their website for the upcoming events.
Café Roskam
BOA Karaoké Room
Karaoke fans, this one’s for you! Brussels’ first true karaoke bar has just opened. It’s ideal for team-building activity!
Discover a bright, trendy venue with an original decoration. Several fully sound-insulated rooms are at your disposal:
- The Ananas (Pineapple) room: 6 to 8 people
- The Birds room: 8 to 10 people
- The Perroquet (Parrot) room: 8 to 10 people
- The Jungle room: 6 to 8 people
- The Gatsby room: 10 to 12 people
- The Disco Room: 16 to 25 people
As for playlists, BOA offers a catalogue of 33,000 tracks, ranging from classics to the hits of the 2000s, including great Disney classics and famous film soundtracks.
An added bonus: you don't even need to queue at bar: each cabin has its own tablet for you to order drinks on.
Team-building
BOA can create a tailor-made event for you and your colleagues with tapas to share, catering, a buffet, etc. There's no end of options possible, whatever your budget or desires.
IN PRACTICE
- You rent the room for 2 hours, with prices starting at €60,
- BOA is open from Monday to Thursday, from 18:00 to 00:30,
- On Fridays Boa stays open until 02:30 in the morning and on Saturdays its open from 13:00 to 02:30,
- Book online on the BOA Karaoke Room website.
BOA Karaoké Room
L'Archiduc
The Archiduc opened back in 1937. Stan Brenders changed it into a Jazz Club in 1953. For Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Jacques Brel, and many others, it felt like home. Today it is still a Brussels monument where Belgian and foreign musicians, as well as famous artists and future stars, meet. Open every day from 4 p.m. – 5 a.m. Live jazz performances on weekends and occasional weekdays.
L'Archiduc
Madame Moustache
Madame Moustache ... We can barely imagine what life was like before this very quirky, temperamental, and moustachioed lady docked on the “Quai au Bois à Brûler”. Rockabilly and, for anyone who has had enough of electronic beats and wants go back to the era of rock‘n roll, lindyhop and swing - but also garage, soul, funk, etc ... A cosy, hot dance bar with a very American interior.
Madame Moustache
Fuse
It's one of the city's techno temples, and the biggest names in the field (without exception) play DJ sets there: le Fuse is a must for any decent, self-respecting clubber. The unique atmosphere attracts those in the know, and they come from far and wide. The end-of-the-night crescendos, as things approach hysteria, are legendary. The gay evenings on Sundays are as good as they are famous. Supervised cheap car park available.
Fuse
C12
C12 is a new multidisciplinary platform run by the Deep in House collective. Located at the heart of Brussels, C12 is tucked in the depths of the Horta Gallery next to the Grand Place and the Central Station. C12 is a safe place where freedom, diversity, creativity and alternative culture are protected from the restrictive and normative outside world. It is a safe place where the passion for art & music in all its forms unites all identities. The project will include concerts, art installations, lives, club nights and last but by no means least, a local market.
C12
