Welcome to Brussels
There is perhaps no other city in Europe that arouses wider differences of opinion than Brussels. Over the years, some have dismissed it as faceless and boring; a European capital of bureaucracy. In 1992, Bill Bryson unfairly wrote that its single most redeeming feature was its proximity to Paris.
In fact, it is a fascinating city at the centre of a complex country. Its very presence is reassuring to those who would wish to maintain Belgium in its current form; a largely French-speaking region surrounded by Flemish municipalities, nurtured by the cooperative efforts of French sophistication and Flemish enterprise.
Historically, it is the home of Art Deco and symbolism, of Tintin and other famous comic creations. Gastronomically, it is outstanding, offering the finest frites in the world on every street corner as well as luxurious chocolate, waffles, mussels and more Michelin starred restaurants per head than Paris. (Take that, Bill!). Its art galleries are world-class, its bars countless and bustling, and all these attractions are crammed around the stunning architecture of a wonderfully restored late 17th century city centre.
What it might lack in scale and reputation, it makes up for in rebellious eccentricity and a self-effacing sense of humour. There is no better example of this than in the city's emblem: a statue of a small boy, urinating down a side street, encroached upon by town houses and cobbled passageways. Without a doubt, however unfathomable it might appear, Brussels is a fantastic city to explore.
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