Belgium falls through the cracks. Nestled between Germany, France, and the Netherlands, it’s famous for waffles, sprouts, and a statue of a little boy peeing. But visitors find Belgium to be one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. After all, Belgium produces some of Europe’s best beer, creamiest chocolates, and tastiest French fries. From funky urban neighborhoods to tranquil convent courtyards, from old-fashioned lace to high-powered European politics, from cows mooing in a pastoral countryside to gentrified medieval cityscapes bristling with spires… little Belgium entertains. It’s here in Belgium that Europe comes together: where Roman languages meet Germanic languages; Catholics meet Protestants, and nations meet in Brussels—the capital of the European Union. Its crossroads location has made Belgium strong: Belgians are savvy business people, excellent linguists, and savvy chefs who’ve learned how to blend delicious culinary influences from various cultures.
Belgium is famous for two things – its waffles and a 400-year-old bronze sculpture of a naked boy peeing into a fountain basin. The latter also known as the Manneken Pis (Little man Pee) is pretty ordinary for a landmark monument of a country; though robbers seem to have a special liking for the statue since it has been stolen repeatedly. The current one was installed in 1965. The interest around the statue probably has to do with the legends about it with the most popular one being about a two-year-old Duke lord Godfrey III who during a battle in 1142 was placed in a basket and hung from a tree by his troops for encouragement. The boy lord peed on the enemy from the treetop and helped win the battle. Needless to say that the miniature versions of the ‘Manneken Pis’ are the most common souvenir sold in Belgium.
Brussels, the capital of Belgium has perhaps the grandest square in Europe—La Grand Place. There’s no better place to take in Brussels’ ambiance than its spectacular main square. This colorful cobbled courtyard, encircled by fanciful facades, is the heart of heart-shaped Brussels. The site where farmers and merchants once sold their wares in open-air stalls today hosts shops and cafés selling chocolates, waffles, beer, mussels, fries, and lace. It’s the perfect backdrop for concerts, flower markets, and sound-and-light-shows—and there’s always good people-watching.
European Union has its Headquarters in Brussels This sprawling complex of glass skyscrapers is a cacophony of black-suited politicians speaking 23 different Euro-languages. It’s exciting just to be here—a fly on the wall of a place that charts the future of Europe.
Another great place to visit is the Atomium which is a landmark building in Brussels, originally constructed for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. It is located on the Heysel Plateau, where the exhibition took place. It is now a museum. Designed by the engineer André Waterkeyn and architects André and Jean Polak, it stands 102 m tall.
Shared by : Ruchi Jain
