Belgian politics

Just thought i'd make a little post about our politics :D because for the moment it's the only thing Belgium is famous for, our 250+ days long political crisis, just for information, we have three regions in Beglium, Flanders in the North, Wallonia in the South and Bruxelles in the middle. We also have 3 official languages French(spoken in the south) Dutch(spoken in the North) and German by roughly 75000 people living next to germany. For every region you have a different parliament, and then we have a fourth parliament the Belgian Federal Parliament. (=> 4 times more ministers) We have like 70 ministers in Belgium, lot of wasted money...
So after the elections all these people talk, and talk and talk and talk some more about all the little things there not happy about in our little country with our small problems and in the end we ( surrealist belgians) always find an agreement.

End of the story

History of the Belgians (Books that matter)

Floris Bar - The best Absinthe Bar of Brussels

Really a great bar to go, concerts every week, lots of different Absinthes to try, but beware don't drink too much them cause it's really strong, have fun

Impasse de la Fidélité, 12
1000 Bruxelles
tel: +32/2.514.44.34 - fax: +32.2.511.01.39.
http://www.floris-bar.be/

Jeanneke Pis a.k.a. Manneken Pis female counterpart

check for yourself, very easy to find, it's just next to the Delirium bar I already told you about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanneke_Pis

"Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale" in Tervuren

Royal Museum of Central Africa in Tervuren 

It hosts an amazing collection of African masks, really informative and beautiful, situated in a superb Park, it is not located in Brussels but it's very close ( like 15-20 min from the centre of brussels)
You really have to see it!!

Leuvensesteenweg 13
3080 Tervuren
02 769 52 11

 

Jacques Brel

Greatest belgian artist ever, born in Brussels Schaarbeek, hope you'll enjoy if you don't know him yet!!

Jacques Brel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Brel

bonnefooi bar

Great bar in the centre of Brussels, open till very late,

Rue des Pierres 8, B-1000 Brussel
info@bonnefooi.be

http://www.bonnefooi.be/

Le Puk's Café - Bar & snack

small bar & snack but the bartender is great, if you take the metro in brussels and you stop at 'Montgommery' station drink a beer there and have a chat with Nono, not smoking, pretty cheap

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6828138647

European Parliament

yes we host the most important decision taking entity of the European Union, big decisions are taken here, so I think, I've also heard these people get paid a lot for nothing :) ... your pick, still a nice place

Food - Moules-Frites

This is very popular in belgium, and it really is very good, be sure to try it!

here the recipe :
http://www.foodiesite.com/recipes/1999-09:musselschips

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moules-frites

Manekken Pis

Our National symbol, why? I don't know...
still funny :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis

Lambic (Beer) - Cantillon Brewery

If you want to visit an authentic Belgian(Brussels) brewery this is a nice place to go, they brew a very typical kind of belgian beer, the 'Lambic' which has a bitter taste but also a fruity taste.
Enjoy and don't forget to taste them all! :D

Rue Gheude 56
1070 Anderlecht
02 521 49 28
http://www.cantillon.be/br/3_1

Musical Intstrument Museum - MIM

 In a unique early 20th century 'Art Nouveau' building ( only for the building it's already worthwhile) they have a superbe collection of ancient musical instruments. At the top floor you have a restaurant (not cheap) but with a very nice view of the centre of Brussels

Rue Montagne de la Cour 2
1000 Bruxelles
02 545 01 30
http://www.mim.be/en

Opera and Classical Music - Le Théatre Royal de la Monnaie

ticket & reservations:

Place de la Monnaie 6, Bruxelles - 02 229 12 00

http://www.lamonnaie.be/en/home//

Movie theatres - CINEMATEK

You have different big movie theatres in Brussels like in every big city, but in Brussels there is one that is truely unique, the:

Cinémathèque royale de Belgique

it's a project started in 1938 to collect and preserve all existing movies and to show them on a regular basis to the public to enlighten them for a fair price.
So everyday of the year (excpet 2 I think) they screen old and recent movies for 3 euro/movie.
What is very amazing is when they screen silent films because then you have a pianist playing in the theatre, it truely is amazing. You can check out the movies they will screen for the next two months on their website.

One more thing, go watch a silent film there!


Rue Ravenstein 3 1000 Bruxelles
Tel : 02 551 19 30

http://www.cinematek.be/

Les jardins du Botanique & AB ( = Ancienne Belgique)

If you're looking for any good music concert in Brussels these are the 2 places to go.

Les Jardins du Botanique

Rue Royale 236, Bruxelles -

02 226 12 11

Ancienne Belgique
Boulevard Anspach 110
1000 Bruxelles
02 548 24 00

http://www.abconcerts.be/en

http://www.botanique.be/en

Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Museums

Panorama of the 'Parc du Cinquantenaire'

Most buildings of the U-shaped complex which dominate the park were commissioned by King Leopold II and built for the 1880 National Exhibition commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Belgian independence.

Another of King Leopold's Great architectural projects, it's a must to visit.
The Royal Military Museum has been the sole tenant of the northern half of the complex since 1880. The southern half is currently occupied by the Cinquantenaire Art Museum and the AutoWorld Museum. The Temple of Human Passions, a remainder from 1886, and the Great Mosque of Brussels from 1978 are located in the north-western corner of the park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parc_du_Cinquantenaire

For the Party-Beasts: Fuse

In the historical centre of Brussels, was awarded the 'Best Belgian Club'.

 Rue Blaes 208, 1000 Brussels

http://www.fuse.be/

Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art

For the younger tourists and for the comic fans, this is the place!
Comics are a part of Belgium's cultural identity, it influenced a lot of comics around the world during the 20th century. Most well known Belgian comic is.......................you guessed???.............. Tintin ;D
Every album is a 'chef-d'oeuvre'. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Centre_for_Comic_Strip_Art
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_comics

Royal Palace of Brussels

Built by Leopold II King of Belgium it's a masterpiece of architecture with a superb view on Brussels Parc. It is still used by the King Albert II of Belgium.
"The Palace is where His Majesty the King exercises his prerogatives as Head of State, grants audiences and deals with affairs of state. Apart from the offices of the King and the Queen, the Royal Palace houses the services of the Grand Marshal of the Court, the King's Head of Cabinet, the Head of the King's Military Household and the Intendant of the King's Civil List. The Palace also includes the State Rooms where large receptions are held, as well as the apartments provided for foreign Heads of State during official visits."

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Royal_Palace_of_Belgium

'Celtica' bar

For the nostalgic irish people and for cheap but good belgian beer you have to go to the Celtica ( Kiekenmarkt 55 1000 Brussel - tel: 02 514 22 69 )
It's open every day and night until very very late, 1 euro for a beer until 12PM.

Madame Moustache et son Freakshow

One of the best and most wicked bars of Brussels, 'Madame Moustache' et son Freakshow on the "Place Sainte-Catherine", the best place to go out in the centre of brussels.
(http://www.madamemoustache.be/)
Music is different every night, 50', 60', 70', electro-swing, jazz... and they serve the good beers, if you go there be sure to order a 'Triple Karmeliet'

• Contacts info par mail:
  info@madamemoustache.be
•  Booking par mail:
  madamemoustachesprl@gmail.com
• Brandhoutkaai 5-7
  1000 brussels, Belgique
  
  Get Directions
  0485 53 44 94

http://www.madamemoustache.be/

Audrey Hepburn

And BTW, Audrey Hepburn was born in Brussels!!(Ixelles)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Hepburn

Magritte

New Magritte Collection (since 2009) in The Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium next to the Royal Palace, they have an extraordinary collection of Magrittes Paintings.
Check out their website for future exhibitions  'http://www.fine-arts-museum.be/site/EN/default.asp'
also : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Museums_of_Fine_Arts_of_Belgium

Places to See & go out

Brussels like everyone knows, produces the best beers in the world and therefore we also have the best bars to consume it.
The most well known bar in brussels is the 'Delirium' Bar where you can choose from up to 2000 different beer brands. ( Impasse de la Fidélité, 4A - 1000 Bruxelles )
If you visit Brussels be sure not to miss it!!!
http://www.deliriumcafe.be/

Travel Tips

When coming to Brussels for tourism(when young and ethusiast) i advise you two ways to find a place to stay, couchsurfing at some place close to the center or a youth hostel.

 

 

1) Sleepwell Youth hostel

www.sleepwell.be

Rue du Damier 23

1000 Bruxelles

Itinéraire

02 218 50 50
  This one is pretty big and close to everything you need in Brussels, so if you're in a hurry to find someplace, ask there first!

The Grand Place

I'll Start with the Easiest, the 'Grand Place' the world comes to see. Most beautiful Grand Place of the world! ;)
This blog will be:
Travel tips, tourism, visit good places, links for your Day and Night trips in Brussels
hope you like it CS'er ( couchsurfing.org ) or Brussels-fan