Stefan's Guidebook
Neighbourhoods
The neighbourhood around Châtelain square boasts a lot of restaurants, wine bars, cafes and shops. It attracts the hip and chic crowd of Brussels. Not many tourists come here, but since Brussels is a very international city you can easily go undercover. The square hosts a market on Wednesdays: https://visit.brussels/en/place/Market-of-Chatelain
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Place du Châtelain
Place du ChâtelainThe neighbourhood around Châtelain square boasts a lot of restaurants, wine bars, cafes and shops. It attracts the hip and chic crowd of Brussels. Not many tourists come here, but since Brussels is a very international city you can easily go undercover. The square hosts a market on Wednesdays: https://visit.brussels/en/place/Market-of-Chatelain
This neighbourhood is situated in the city center, close to the famous ‘Grand Place’ . Here you will find designer fashion in Dansaert street, as well as the epicentre of the tiny Dutch-speaking minority. On two sides of Saint Catherine’s church there are squares. One very long; the other short. Go here for seafood or the best fries* from “Chouke”.
*general warning: Belgian fries are usually fried in animal fat. This makes most of them unsuitable for vegans. Seek out “Patatak” for vegan fries.
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Dansaert
This neighbourhood is situated in the city center, close to the famous ‘Grand Place’ . Here you will find designer fashion in Dansaert street, as well as the epicentre of the tiny Dutch-speaking minority. On two sides of Saint Catherine’s church there are squares. One very long; the other short. Go here for seafood or the best fries* from “Chouke”.
*general warning: Belgian fries are usually fried in animal fat. This makes most of them unsuitable for vegans. Seek out “Patatak” for vegan fries.
This is the neighbourhood that borders on the city center. It is full of antique stores that are great for buying vintage items, but some of the emporiums are worth a visit on their own - even without buying. Haute Antiques, Passage 125 Blaes, and Via Antica for instance.
On Sundays there are two antiques markets. One on place jeu de balle, and an upscale one on place Sablon.
Sablon square is the chic part of the Marolles, with high end fashion, bars, restaurants, and chocolatiers. Also a stunning church and palace gardens.
The upscale antique stores are in the triangle of Rue de la Regenca, Rue des Minimes and Sablon square.
If you descend downhill, on rue haute there is the quality antique furniture. Descend one more street to Rue Blaes and you fill find more affordable vintage items.
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Marollen
This is the neighbourhood that borders on the city center. It is full of antique stores that are great for buying vintage items, but some of the emporiums are worth a visit on their own - even without buying. Haute Antiques, Passage 125 Blaes, and Via Antica for instance.
On Sundays there are two antiques markets. One on place jeu de balle, and an upscale one on place Sablon.
Sablon square is the chic part of the Marolles, with high end fashion, bars, restaurants, and chocolatiers. Also a stunning church and palace gardens.
The upscale antique stores are in the triangle of Rue de la Regenca, Rue des Minimes and Sablon square.
If you descend downhill, on rue haute there is the quality antique furniture. Descend one more street to Rue Blaes and you fill find more affordable vintage items.
Matonge
Sightseeing
Beautiful city with a historic city-core. Antwerp is famous for its fashion, so do go if you fancy some shopping. Antwerp is less than an hour by train from Brussels Midi station. On the weekend, a return ticket can be bought for under €10.
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Antwerp
Beautiful city with a historic city-core. Antwerp is famous for its fashion, so do go if you fancy some shopping. Antwerp is less than an hour by train from Brussels Midi station. On the weekend, a return ticket can be bought for under €10.
Very close to Brussels; just take a train and you will be there in no-time. Leuven is known for its historic city center and university. The renaissance town hall is stunning.
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Leuven
Very close to Brussels; just take a train and you will be there in no-time. Leuven is known for its historic city center and university. The renaissance town hall is stunning.
The Belgian coast is nice in summer. Broad sandy beaches, and plenty of places to get coffee, drinks, food. To be honest, Knokke is not a pretty beach town. But then again, none of the Belgian coastal towns are. Knokke does have a beautiful part with a lot of century-old villas, a nature reserve nearby and a lot of shops. Knokke is the best known beach town, and very posh. If this is not your thing, the alternatives might appeal more: Blankenberge, De Haan, Oostende, Nieuwpoort. There is a tram running along the entire 60km Belgian coast.
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Knokke-Heist
The Belgian coast is nice in summer. Broad sandy beaches, and plenty of places to get coffee, drinks, food. To be honest, Knokke is not a pretty beach town. But then again, none of the Belgian coastal towns are. Knokke does have a beautiful part with a lot of century-old villas, a nature reserve nearby and a lot of shops. Knokke is the best known beach town, and very posh. If this is not your thing, the alternatives might appeal more: Blankenberge, De Haan, Oostende, Nieuwpoort. There is a tram running along the entire 60km Belgian coast.
Bruges is the prettiest town in Belgium, perhaps Europe. I think it is a must-see, but it can be very crowded. If the crowds put you off, go to Ghent instead. Nearly as pretty, but a bit larger and less touristy.
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Bruges
Bruges is the prettiest town in Belgium, perhaps Europe. I think it is a must-see, but it can be very crowded. If the crowds put you off, go to Ghent instead. Nearly as pretty, but a bit larger and less touristy.
Perhaps my favourite town in Belgium. Beautiful, vibrant, lots of culture, good restaurants. Allround excellent.
From 16 to 14 July Gent is hosting the ‘Gentse Feesten’, a large festival with street concerts, street theater and street parties. The third biggest festival of its kind.
In Gent, you can also rent little boats without a boating license. Due to the Gentse Feesten you cannot boat in the Gent canals, but you can take a trip on the beautiful Leie river. Minerva is the biggest boat rental.
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Ghent
Perhaps my favourite town in Belgium. Beautiful, vibrant, lots of culture, good restaurants. Allround excellent.
From 16 to 14 July Gent is hosting the ‘Gentse Feesten’, a large festival with street concerts, street theater and street parties. The third biggest festival of its kind.
In Gent, you can also rent little boats without a boating license. Due to the Gentse Feesten you cannot boat in the Gent canals, but you can take a trip on the beautiful Leie river. Minerva is the biggest boat rental.
You can get to Rotterdam in 1hr by high speed train. The regular train will get you there in two hours.
Rotterdam has a lot of works by renowned architects. They are clustered in the city center and at Wilhelminaplein (metro station). The Depot Boijmans van Beuningen is the latest addition to the collection of modernist building and home to a full museum collection that you can interact with. So not just the exhibited art, also the stored art. De Markthal is Rotterdams answer to the covered food markets of Spain and France.
For a nice lunch head to either the SS Rotterdam, a decommissioned cruise ship, or Hotel New York, an upscale hotel with a large waterfront terrace.
Make sure to take a trip on the water taxi, or a tour to enormous seaport with the Spido cruisers.
For dinner, I can recommend: Ayla, Vegan Junkfood Bar, aloha, old scuola, Restaurant de Jong and Mevrouw Meijer.
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Rotterdam
You can get to Rotterdam in 1hr by high speed train. The regular train will get you there in two hours.
Rotterdam has a lot of works by renowned architects. They are clustered in the city center and at Wilhelminaplein (metro station). The Depot Boijmans van Beuningen is the latest addition to the collection of modernist building and home to a full museum collection that you can interact with. So not just the exhibited art, also the stored art. De Markthal is Rotterdams answer to the covered food markets of Spain and France.
For a nice lunch head to either the SS Rotterdam, a decommissioned cruise ship, or Hotel New York, an upscale hotel with a large waterfront terrace.
Make sure to take a trip on the water taxi, or a tour to enormous seaport with the Spido cruisers.
For dinner, I can recommend: Ayla, Vegan Junkfood Bar, aloha, old scuola, Restaurant de Jong and Mevrouw Meijer.
For my money, the prettiest square in Europe. The main attraction is City Hall with its prominent spire, but all around it are the streets and alleys of old Brussels. For the postcard view of the spire, go to Mont des Arts and climb the hill.
Here you will find all the main museums. Hence the name: Mont (mountain) des Arts (of the Arts)
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Гранд-Плас
Grote MarktFor my money, the prettiest square in Europe. The main attraction is City Hall with its prominent spire, but all around it are the streets and alleys of old Brussels. For the postcard view of the spire, go to Mont des Arts and climb the hill.
Here you will find all the main museums. Hence the name: Mont (mountain) des Arts (of the Arts)
Train Station
Brussels is nice, but part of what makes it nice is the fact that it is well-situated in the center of Belgium connected by railways. Brussels-Midi is only seven minutes from the apartment. This can be your gateway to all the other towns in Belgium and some major towns in France, Holland and Germany.
Leuven, Mechelen, Ghent, Namur, Mons, Antwerp, Bruges, and the Belgian coast can be reached by train in an hour or so. Tickets are not expensive, especially not on the weekend.
Rotterdam can be reached in two hours by regular train, or 1 hr 15 minutes by high speed rail (Thalys). A regular ticket (one way) costs between €18-34. Thalys tickets cost roughly double. Amsterdam is about an hour longer, at roughly the same price. Cologne Germany is exactly 2 hours by Thalys. Paris is 1 hr 30 minutes by Thalys, or 2hr 30 minutes by IZY (a budget high speed train).
Check out the ticket prices on NMBS
Brussels Midi / Brussel Zuid West
Brussels is nice, but part of what makes it nice is the fact that it is well-situated in the center of Belgium connected by railways. Brussels-Midi is only seven minutes from the apartment. This can be your gateway to all the other towns in Belgium and some major towns in France, Holland and Germany.
Leuven, Mechelen, Ghent, Namur, Mons, Antwerp, Bruges, and the Belgian coast can be reached by train in an hour or so. Tickets are not expensive, especially not on the weekend.
Rotterdam can be reached in two hours by regular train, or 1 hr 15 minutes by high speed rail (Thalys). A regular ticket (one way) costs between €18-34. Thalys tickets cost roughly double. Amsterdam is about an hour longer, at roughly the same price. Cologne Germany is exactly 2 hours by Thalys. Paris is 1 hr 30 minutes by Thalys, or 2hr 30 minutes by IZY (a budget high speed train).
Check out the ticket prices on NMBS
Food scene
Saint Octave - CHEESE AND CHARCUTERIE
54 Chaussée d'AlsembergExcellent cheese store; for me the best in Brussels
A friend of Aurelia’s runs this coffee place that caters to young parents and their children. The owners have degrees in childcare, and the interior is half playground / half café. They serve great coffee and home-made pastries.
Dînette
159 Rue VanderkindereA friend of Aurelia’s runs this coffee place that caters to young parents and their children. The owners have degrees in childcare, and the interior is half playground / half café. They serve great coffee and home-made pastries.
Le Kiosque
Avenue des GênetsVery nice outdoor pavillion in the park. Serves drinks, with small bites on the side.
Very nice atmosphere; excellent for brunch or an evening drink. Serves drinks, baked goods, and small bites
Le Flore
3 Avenue de FloreVery nice atmosphere; excellent for brunch or an evening drink. Serves drinks, baked goods, and small bites
NONA Merode
5 Avenue de TervuerenMy favourite pizza place, with an outdoor dining area
tuck shop
190 Rue Théodore VerhaegenBaked goods and coffee, very close to the apartment
Square which boasts a number of places where you can have good food at decent prices:
CiPiaCe, Chana, Vieux Mila, Ermitage, Standard, Maison du Peuple
On Sunday there is a food market; on evenings this square is one of the most popular areas to go and have a drink
Walk up a bit further uphill and you will find “le Dillens” - a kind of gastrobar with good food
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Sint-Gillis
Square which boasts a number of places where you can have good food at decent prices:
CiPiaCe, Chana, Vieux Mila, Ermitage, Standard, Maison du Peuple
On Sunday there is a food market; on evenings this square is one of the most popular areas to go and have a drink
Walk up a bit further uphill and you will find “le Dillens” - a kind of gastrobar with good food
Belgium is famous for its beer, and mostly for its small-scale breweries in abbeys run by monks that produce specialty beers. Brussels has its own varieties of beer, called “Lambic”, “Faro”, “Gueuze” and “Kriekenlambic”.
In my opinion, the beers of these varieties from Cantillon are among the best in Belgium. Some are stored in champagne bottles and kept to mature for years. A very special way of experiencing beer.
The Cantillon Brewery, with a museum attached, is close to the apartment and worth a visit.
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Brasserie Cantillon
56 Rue GheudeBelgium is famous for its beer, and mostly for its small-scale breweries in abbeys run by monks that produce specialty beers. Brussels has its own varieties of beer, called “Lambic”, “Faro”, “Gueuze” and “Kriekenlambic”.
In my opinion, the beers of these varieties from Cantillon are among the best in Belgium. Some are stored in champagne bottles and kept to mature for years. A very special way of experiencing beer.
The Cantillon Brewery, with a museum attached, is close to the apartment and worth a visit.