Our selection of books about Brussels

19 julio 2022
boeken

Looking to expand your knowledge and understanding of Brussels? Our capital can also be discovered in books! Countless books have been written about the Belgian capital, given its special status throughout history. These books try to depict, explain and dissect it, to help you to understand it better!

Discover Brussels through the pages of this series of books which, each in their own way, contribute to a better understanding of how Brussels works!

You’ll find these books in Brussels’ bookshops or in its libraries (https://www.kbr.be/en/ and https://www.muntpunt.be/).

The Brussels-Capital Region, Heritage Library of the Belgian Communes – 2009

This is, without doubt, the best introduction to Brussels! Launched by Dexia in 2007, this collection is devoted to the history and heritage of all Belgium's communes. It an administrative identity card of the ten Belgian provinces. Naturally, Brussels had to have its own book: this one is entirely devoted to the nineteen communes that make up the Brussels-Capital Region. This extensive (624 pages!) and beautiful book gives a detailed and comprehensible picture of the agglomeration, and the iconography is also worthy of mention (old and recent maps and plans, photos, etc.).

Brussels – Claire Billen, Jean-Marie Duvosquel & Collective – part of the L’Esprit des Villes d’Europe collection – 2000

A must for understanding all aspects of Brussels: its history, demography, geography, sociology, economy, etc. This publication tells how Brussels has been a seat of power since the 11th century, finally asserting itself as the capital of a new nation in the 19th century. The current urban landscape is, more than anywhere else, a reflection of the city's history and its activities.

Best of Brussels – Eric Danhier – 2020

Brussels has many treasures, and this book has brought them together for your viewing pleasure. A veritable photo album of Brussels and its tourist attractions, this collection beautifully reveals the capital's most prestigious monuments. It features, among others, the historical centre, the Grand-Place, the European Quarter, the Art Nouveau houses, the green spaces and the capital of Europe's most important urban ensembles.

Europe in Brussels – Thierry Demey – 2007

Everyone knows that Brussels is the capital of Europe. This book looks at the European Quarter at its urban birth, before it became a geopolitical centre. It attempts to explain why Brussels became the capital of Europe and how the European Quarter developed as a result. It is also an educational tool for those who work in or visit the district. It contains a directory listing the European organisations, diplomatic representations, trade associations and NGOs present in Brussels, as well as essential services in the district. In short, this is a must for anyone interested in the EU in Brussels!

Expo ’58 – Jonathan Coe - 2013

It's 1958 and a London civil servant is offered a job at a major international event, the World's Fair, being held in Brussels that year. He is asked to supervise the construction of the British Pavilion and to run a pub that is supposed to embody the country's culture. His wife does not take kindly to his departure... The story alternates between a series of adventures the young man has in the Belgian capital and a correspondence he has with his beloved... The story, which is told as a spoof of a spy novel, is full of twists and turns, and the tension never lets up!

The Capital – Robert Menasse – 2018

Geert van Istendael did not think this Brussels novel by his Austrian friend Robert Menasse would work. But he managed to scoop the Deutscher Buchpreis with a story about European civil servants at Berlaymont - the future of Europe is at stake - and a pig wandering the streets of Brussels. Menasse thought a month's residency at Passa Porta would be enough for his book, but in the end he spent four years commuting between Vienna and his flat at Sainte-Catherine.

Brussels Beer City – Eoghan Walsh – 2020

Written by a leading English beer specialist, this book traces 200 years of beer and brewing in Brussels. It discusses the great brewing families, the context that led to Brussels becoming the world capital of beer and brewing, the transition from traditional beer brewing to the industrial era, etc. In short, it's a complete and fascinating overview of one of Brussels’ greatest assets!