Brussels Capital of Belgium: Part 1

Previously, I spent 2 days in the Medieval city of Bruges, and left for Brussels on a 10.45pm train:

https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/12/venice-of-north-canal-city-of-bruges-in.html

Brussels is my last stop before flying back to Glasgow. 

Thus complete my journey through Flanders

Brussels is the capital and largest city in Belgium, and the de facto capital of the European Union. It was September 2017, and Brexit discussions had started, and a deal was to be made in another year (by July 2018). In hindsight, writing this post on Christmas Day 2020, the interminably tedious UK-EU Brexit arrangement is at last, coming to an end. News came up that a deal has been struck today. Hopefully, some amicable consensus is reached, the countries involved would strive for peace and order. I think the world today is a gravely different place, having seen Trump, trade wars, Covid-19 and etc. 

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I arrived at Brussels Midi-Zuid Station at midday, after about 1 hour and 15 minutes on the train. I would stay at Midi Station Hotel for 2 nights. After having a quick lunch and storing my luggage at the hotel, I joined the 1.30pm walking tour. 

One of the hottest debate in this region is about who invented French Fries, yes the fried potatoes you eat at McDonald's. Apparently, French fries are not invented by the French, but Spanish Netherlands (present day Belgium) in the 1600's. The people here mostly speak French (85%) and Dutch (15%). It is possible that foreign armies during WWI mistook them as French, and it is easier to say "French Fries" rather than "Spanish Netherland fries". 

Tourist queueing for fries

There is a fantastic write-up on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries#Belgium_and_the_Netherlands

Anyway, I think McD's fries with chilly source are still the best. 

In Brussels, you need to visit Julien. The Manneken Pis is a statue of a boy (Julien) peeing into a fountain. This bronze sculpture has been standing and peeing in Brussels since 1619! It describes the humour and independent thinking of the people of Brussels. 

Different outfits are designed for different occasions, for Julien

It was 17th of September, and being a Sunday, the whole city seems to be having a carnival in a party-mood. 

Chill and stay calm. Why so serious?

Julien on tour, and no, this is not a bear

City center - Grand Place and Grote Market was buzzing (There are similarities with Bruges city center)

Scots were also in town

City Hall

I would find out that today was car-free day in Brussels. It seems like an annual event. Bruges was also having a carnival.

It was a beautiful day

Possibly the best day to visit Brussels

One of the landmarks of the city is the Palace of Justice. Decreed by King Leopold I (1790-1865), the first king of Belgian, it was completed in 1883. It was at that time the largest building in the world. It has a land area bigger than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Hitler was known to like the building very much. At the end of WW2, the retreating Germans burned the building and valuable records. It was restored by 1948, and acted a a court house, library, Bar Association center and etc. 

Another restoration and renovation project was initiated in 2003, but progress was slow. I wonder why... In fact, the scaffolding were found to be badly corroded in 2013, that the scaffolding itself had to be renovated. 

As of September 2017, I can confirm that the scaffoldings look ok

I like the concept of car-free day, if you have an efficient and convenient public transport system. Mild climate is also important.  

You can't walk under the midday sun in Malaysia for 2 hours - It is not practical

An off day for the petrol stations

I may have got myself on Belgian TV, as a passerby

Our guide - Leslezo was superb and knowledgeable. He was frank that the wealth and riches that powered and built Belgian came from Congo, their African colony. I tend to believe that 10 million people died in Congo under the rein of King Leopold II. The proof is that he once made a human zoo in Brussels, where people from Congo were put in zoos... Horrible scenes, but this is history. Today, Belgium people understand what happened in the past. 

Behind the impressive buildings, lie cruelty and crimes that we can't imagine today. Let this be a lesson that no one forgets. Colonizing a foreign land, to exploit natural resources discriminately, has no place in todays society. 

Saint Hubert Gallery - Italian style

Most of Brussels buildings are of Gothic influence

Courtyard

I found the adjacent Jardin du Petit Sablon garden a very green and relaxing place, perfect for reading a book. 

Fantastic way for a morning or evening walk

Brussels is also famous for her street murals and frescoes.

Victor Sackville Wall - From the Opera of Death comic, depicting a British spy in Brussels during WW2

Famous cabaret singer and dancer - Josephine Baker

Take the staircase carefully

Walking in Brussels was like visiting art galleries, with greens but minus the extreme crowd. 

Notre Dame Du Sablon, aka Church of Our Blessed Lady of Sablon

Always pleasant to take a breather, absorb some positivity and enjoy the serenity

The buildings in Brussels seem to be muscular

Embassy row - High security, and high walls

No photography allowed

Ended the day with a visit to the Royal Palace of Brussels - Again, very bricky and enormous building

I understood how Brussels became the de facto capital of the European Union. It was a neutral territory, the people speak multiple languages (French, Dutch, English, Spanish...), and the ambience is always calm and relaxed. Belgium, being part of the BENELUX Union, was no threat to anyone in Europe. 

Tomorrow, I will visit the European Union Parliament.

To be continued...

Check out Part 2 at:

https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2021/01/brussels-capital-of-belgium-part-2.html

PS: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.