Brussels is the heart of Europe and the non-official capital of the European Union. It’s worth visiting its place at least once in a lifetime to see the gorgeous palaces, ancient architecture, extraordinary fountains, and sculptures. Thousands of tourists come here to attend unique museums and galleries, and afterward, relax in a cozy cafe or bar. It has a truly inimitable atmosphere that every person who likes traveling and discovering something new should experience. Brussels is located in the center of Belgium. The city stands on the river Senne. However, you won’t be able to see it. Due to the urbanization in the XIX century, the Belgian engineers covered it. Start your acquaintance with the city with the central square Grand Place (Grote Markt). There you can find the City Hall, King’s House, and other historical buildings that were built in the XVII century. The architectural complex of the square is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List.
Brussels is not only the capital of Belgium. It’s also the capital of the Brussels-Capital Region which consists of 19 municipalities. Each of them has its self-governing bodies. Nominally, Brussels is just one of them. However, in practice, that’s how they call the whole agglomeration while the municipalities often border on each other on the streets. Brussels region officially admits the equity of French and Dutch. Local citizens mostly speak French. But in reality, they know two or more languages.
Brussels is a perfect variant for those who want to see the ancient architecture (palaces, fountains, cathedrals, and galleries) together with the modern constructions made of glass, metal, and concrete (the Atomium, Building of the European Parliament, NATO). Here you shall find dozens of museums devoted to various themes. Still, Brussels is renowned for its art and delicious local cuisine. You should enjoy the Belgian chocolate, craft beer, and visit the Mini-Europe Park.
The population of Brussels compiles almost 180 thousand people. In fact, Brussels embraces nowadays a considerable part of the Brussels-Capital Region. Thus, the total number of citizens is more than one million people. Brussels is mostly inhabited by the Francophones. The main red line of the population is not in nationality but the language. It’s connected with a big number of immigrants, and employees of the European Quarter (an area with the establishments of the EU, NATO, and other organizations). Moreover, one-third of the population are foreigners.
Brussels literally translates as “the home in the marsh”. According to the legends, the city was founded in the VI century by Saint Gaugericus, a bishop of Cambrai whose statue is depicted on the gate of the City Hall. However, the documented record of the settlement called Bruocsella appeared only in the X century. The settlement was growing gradually and new fortifications appeared. Manual crafts and trading had been actively developing in the XII-XIII centuries. Naturally, the city wanted to have more independence. The citizens achieved the creation of the city council in 1302. It represented the interests of cross-sectional craftspeople.
Brussels became the capital of Burgundy in the XV century. At this period, the City Hall and other early buildings were built at Grand Place. The city was flourishing! It attracted sculptors, artists, and jewelers. Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Rogier van der Weyden (he was the official artist of the city) were some of the renowned painters who had been living in Brussels in that period.
The building of the Willebroek Canal began in 1531. As a result, Brussels became a seaport. After the rebellion of the Netherlands against Spain and repressions from the Spanish authorities, the so-called flow-out of “brains” began. The elite ran to Amsterdam. As a result, Brussels faced a period of economic decline.
After the Thirty Years' War, according to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the northern part of the Netherlands became independent. The southern part and Brussels remained under the Spanish government.
France actively conquered new territories under the reign of Louis XIV. Brussels was under the siege in 1695. The enemy’s artillery had been bombarding the city for 36 hours. As a result, the center of the city was almost demolished and the legacy of the previous epochs was destroyed. Later, the French left the territory of Belgium. The Austrian House of Habsburg got control over Brussels at the beginning of the XVIII century.
The French domination returned at the end of the XVIII - beginning of the XIX centuries. Later, after the final defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna of 1814-1815 decided to unite the Southern Netherlands with the Northern. However, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands did not last for long. A new state of Belgium (with constitutional monarchy) appeared in 1830 as a result of the revolution.
Brussels entered the epoch of industrialization. The population grows actively, and the territory of the city increases owing to the unification with the nearest rural communes. In the second half of the XIX century, the River Senne was covered and a number of famous constructions were built (the Stock Exchange, the Palace of Justice, the Triumphal Arch, and many others).
World Wars I and II didn’t have much influence on the image of the city even though it was invaded by the German forces. Brussels became the international political and diplomatic center in the 1950s. The general headquarters of the European Economic Community (the future EU) appeared here in 1958. In the same year, the city hosted the World’s Fair. It was connected with the creation of the symbol of the atomic age, Atomium. It became one of the main attractions in the city. The headquarters of NATO opened its doors in Brussels in 1967.
In the 1960-1970s, Brussels underwent the modernization of the urbanized areas. It involved demolishing the historical quarters and overbuilding the area with blocks of flats. Later, this phenomenon was called “the Brusselization”. To save the historic image of the city, authorities started practicing a so-called “facadism” in the 1990s. They reconstructed the buildings preserving the historical facade.