24 November 2025
One simply cannot return from Brussels with just an “I ❤️ BXL” mug or a snow globe (unless you are a proud mug-collector or snow-globe-collector — we see you!). The capital has so much more to offer, with regional products, artisanal gems and local finds. Brussels is overflowing with creativity and self-deprecation. It’s not the capital of surrealism for nothing.
Here is a selection of unusual gifts that let you take home a bit of Brussels’ soul.
With around 750 varieties of cheese, Belgium is a paradise for cheese lovers. If you are passing through Brussels, it’s impossible to miss the local cheese mongers. Here, cheeses and charcuterie are artisanal, carefully crafted and environmentally friendly. Comté to die for, unmissable gorgonzola served by the spoonful or authentic goat’s cheese logs… There’s even mozzarella, burrata and other nodini made in Etterbeek. The perfect, tasty gift that will make everyone else jealous!
ℹ️ Here is a selection of unusual gifts that let you take home a bit of Brussels’ soul.
He sang “Bruxelles, ma belle, je te reviens bientôt…”. Dick Annegarn’s cult track Bruxelles, features on his 1974 record Sacré Géranium. It was in “small response” to this mythical song that Angèle composed her classic: Bruxelles, je t’aime. If you prefer her pop, bubble-gum style, it’s the first track on her album Nonante-Cinq (2021). Other essential listening includes Bruxelles by Jacques Brel from his album Les Bourgeois (1962). Jazz lovers can treat themselves to an album by legendary Brussels jazz icon Toots Thielemans. Head to a Brussels record shop and pick up one of these gems!
Want to give a unique Brussels gift? Offer (or treat yourself to) a fragrant interlude. Brussels is full of intimate perfumeries where you can explore, combine or personalise a fragrance depending on the perfumery or the workshop. Sometimes you create your own; sometimes you adapt an existing base to suit your tastes and olfactory memories. In every case, you leave with a scent that you have chosen. It’s a rare gift for someone dear.
“Non, peut-être!”, “Dikkenek”, “Alleï fieu”… You may not speak like a true Brusseleir, but nothing’s stopping you from pretending… At Belge Une Fois, Manneke or Bshirt, you can find a T-shirt or sweatshirt emblazoned with a brusseleir (or Belgian) expression or cultural reference. You’ll be able to show off your cosmopolitan, polyglot side – with a touch of self-deprecation. The perfect local souvenir with a Brussels twist. Careful, though, you might want to steer clear of slightly more “colourful” expressions such as “Snottebel”, “Froecheleir”, or even “Afgang”...
Brussels is a Mecca for comics, and it’s the kind of local gift that always hits the mark. Let yourself be guided through the comic-book shops scattered across the city. Stroll around, browse… you’re bound to find a gem: a cult comic, a striking manga, a stunning screen print… You’ll find the classics (Tintin, Le Chat, Brüsel by Schuiten & Peeters…), but also the new Brussels wave with authors such as Alix Garin, Judith Vanistendael or Max de Radiguès. Let yourself be advised by enthusiasts who could talk about comics for hours and leave with a stylish, vibrant and carefully chosen Brussels gift.
In Brussels, we know how to grow the improbable – we did invent chicory, after all. With PermaFungi’s white oyster mushroom kit, your friends can try their hands at becoming an urban grower. In just a few days they’ll have beautiful fresh mushrooms sprouting from recycled coffee grounds! These oyster mushrooms have a real advantage: a firm, versatile texture, perfect both in a sauté and as a meat alternative. A local, sustainable and deliciously Brussels gift.
Last but not least… bring back some Brussels beers. It’s impossible to list all the breweries and microbreweries that flood the capital with waves of pilsner, IPA, wheat beers and stouts – there’s truly something for every palate. From good old craftsmanship to brews that aren’t afraid to try something new, Brussels brews widely and powerfully. They all have one thing in common, though: a fierce love for being “made in Brussels”. A safe bet for toasting your trip… even once you’re back home.
