Things to do Belgium

Brussels is the capital city of Belgium. Located in the heart of the European Union, it is the capital of the Flemish Region and home to the headquarters of many European institutions. Today, thanks to its urban and industrial development during the XIXth century, this great destination is a modern cosmopolitan city. However, despite this Brussels has succeeded in preserving its cultural and historical heritage. The Grand-Place, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and its magnificent Gothic City Hall are among Belgium's most important tourist attractions. Visitors may also admire the famous Manneken Pis, which has come to represent the spirit of the city. Its various districts boast a huge number of museums, of which the most famous is the Bellevue Museum, located within the old castle of the Dukes of Brabant. It recounts the history of the kingdom and the Belgian dynasty, going back more than three centuries. Beyond its cultural aspects, the atmosphere of Brussels is renowned for being relaxed and its nightlife is active. The Belgian capital remains a city on a human scale enjoying a high social and cultural diversity. Unique and surprising, it is an ideal destination for incentive travel. Some of the numerous available activities are inspired by Brussels’ culture and tradition; others are based on its cosmopolitan aspect. In addition, the European capital city is acclaimed as an exceptional convention destination. It offers a wide choice of conference spaces and a great variety of tourist attractions, guaranteeing the success of all your company events.

The Grand-Place of Brussels

The Grand-Place of Brussels is the central square of the city. Famous for its architecture, its rich ornamentation and  its numerous monuments, it is considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998, this historical site bears witness to the several happy and tragic events that the country has experienced, from the execution of the first Protestant martyrs to the Bombardment of 1695.
La Grand-Place is an unmissable tourist site, located only a few minutes’ walk from Brussels Central Station. The square hosts numerous events and festivals, and every year on Assumption Day it is covered with a huge floral carpet. Originally a simple shopping district, the Grand-Place is now home to Brussels' most beautiful monuments and buildings. The most important buildings surrounding the square are the town hall, a masterpiece of Gothic civil architecture, built between 1402 and 1455, and the King's House, built in the XIIth century, which has housed the Brussels museum since 1887.

The Bellevue museum

The Bellevue museum is located between the Place des Palais and Palais Royal of Brussels. It is housed in a XIXth century building, constructed on the ruins of the ancient castle of the Dukes of Brabant. It also served as a palace for the Dukes of Burgundy and the Emperor Charles V and his heirs.The old hotel hosted many eminent figures such as the Princess Clementine and the future King Leopold III after his marriage to Princess Astrid. It currently houses a museum recounting the history of the kingdom and the Belgian dynasty from the Revolution of 1830 until the reign of Leopold III through an amazing collection of objects and documents. Its nine rooms exhibit a host of unique documents, extracts of unreleased films and unforgettable photos, as well as audiovisual presentations and interactive screens. The site also hosts the archaeological remains of the old medieval palace dating from the XIth century. In addition, this beautiful historical site offers a prestigious setting and is a unique venue for all types of corporate events. Luxuriously decorated with beautiful mouldings, fireplaces, and old chandeliers, its five large halls can accommodate up to 200 people.

The Saint Michael and Gudula Cathedral

The Saint Michael and Gudula Cathedral of Brussels is one of the city's unmissable sights. Built with Gobertange stone at the crossroads of two major old routes, it represents the fusion of three Gothic styles. In fact, the construction of the existing building began in 1226 and lasted over 700 years. The nave and transepts were built between the XIVth and the XVth century,  while the chapels date from the XVIth and the XVIIth centuries.
Thanks to its magnificent ornamentations, the frontal towers, the central gateway and the sculptures overlooking it, the exterior is unique. The cathedral interior, on the other hand, is very sparsely decorated. However, the sobriety of the whole does not prevent the building from being extraordinary. This monument is characterized by remnants of the old Romanesque collegiate church, its XVIth century stained glass windows, the statues of the Apostles in the nave, the Baroque-style pulpit of truth, its treasure and its large organ.

The Royal Park of Brussels

The Royal Park of Brussels was built around 1775 on the ruins of the castle of the dukes of Brabant. It covers an area of 11 hectares and is located near three of the town's main stations.This public park is divided into two parts: the small park and the big park, which serves as a hunting reserve. Designed by Austrian Joachim Zinner and Frenchman Barnabé Guimard, its architectural plan includes symbols of Freemasonry which were very popular in the Brussels of the Enlightenment. Commonly called the "Sculpture's Garden", the Royal Park contains around sixty sculptures inspired by Greek and Roman mythologies. Most of them come from the ancient labyrinth of the Château de Tervuren. It also houses an Italian-style theater, which can serve as a banqueting hall or literature cabinet. Both its exterior and its interior are a show in themselves.  With its four balconies and luxurious ornamentation, the show hall room combines elegance and gigantic proportions, taken to the extreme. Extensively renovated in 2000, this building offers private space for all types of business events.

Bruges is a city located in the Belgian Flemish Region, 99 kilometers from Brussels. Its historical center was added to UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. Called the “Venice of the North”, the heart of the city is bisected by numerous romantic canals and rivers from which the ruins of ancient fortress and windmills emerge. Known in the Middle Ages as a fortified town, Bruges reached its apogee between the XIIth and XVth centuries thanks to a successful business based on drapery. During this period, it became the heart of European trade before falling back into oblivion. Today, Bruges is one of the most beautiful European cities and unmissable tourist destinations. It has everything required for relaxation, including comfortable hotels and excellent cuisine. The city also has numerous rich and varied museums which bear witness to its captivating and animated history, in addition to several unique monuments, such as the cathedral of Notre Dame de Bruges. The new Concertgebouw reflects the city's interest in contemporary culture.

The Grand-Place of Bruges

The Grand-Place of Bruges is the historical center of the town. A number of wonderful buildings surround it, including the Provincial Palace, erected in a Gothic Revival style in the XVIIIth century, and numerous houses dating from the XVth century. Originally a simple, popular marketplace, this square is now classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. From the top of the 366 steps and the 83-meter high of the Belfry, visitors can take in a breathtaking view over the town, its romantic canals and old buildings. However, the charm of the Burg comes mostly from the three buildings bordering it to the South: the City Hall, the Chapel of the Saint Sang and the Old Civil Registry.

The Groeningemuseum of Bruges

The Groeningemuseum of Bruges, dedicated to painting, offers visitors the chance to peruse its exceptional collections. Featuring the greatest collection of Flemish Primitives in Europe, works of Renaissance and Baroque masters, a unique selection of Neoclassical and Realistic paintings from the XVIIIth and the XIXth centuries, symbolist and modernist works, masterpieces of Expressionism and a varied collection of Art Moderne dating back from the postwar period, these chefs d'oeuvre alone are worth the trip to Bruges.

The Church Notre Dame of Bruges

The Notre Dame Church of Bruges is a Gothic church dating from the XIIIth century. It was erected on the ruins of an ancient Roman church in the historical center of the town. With a height of 122 meters, it dominates the city, its canals and ancient fortresses. Its tower, topped with a spire of 54 meters in height, is one of the tallest brick buildings in the world. With the collection that it hosts, the Notre Dame Church can be considered a real museum. Indeed, it offers its visitors the opportunity to take in the magnificent XVth century Gothic tomb of the Duchess Maria of Burgundy, a Renaissance mausoleum belonging to the ”Duke Charles le Téméraire”, a statue of the Madonna with the infant Jesus by Michelangelo, as well as a number of Flemish Primitive paintings.

Antwerp is one of the most populous cities in Belgium. Its entire history is linked to its geographical location on the right bank of the Scheldt river. In the wake of the Eighty Years' war, it transformed from a small, fortified village on the border of the German empire into the main city of Belgium, and one of the largest in Europe. Antwerp also possesses an extended international commercial port, whose activity is the major economic asset of the city. Antwerp is also a beautiful tourist destination. Enjoying an exceptional cultural heritage, its visitor attractions include its Old Centre, its Grand Place and its guild houses. The impressive Renaissance City Hall, which dates from 1561, and the Notre Dame Cathedral and its belfry, which are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are the emblems of the city. The world's diamond capital, Antwerp is also known for its Diamantaire district. With its numerous diamond cutting stores, the city is the heart of the international diamond trade. Since the 1990s, this destination has also become an important centre of fashion thanks to its creativity and the establishment of many design houses. Acclaimed as a City of Art, its Museum of Fine Arts and the house of Rubens alone are worth the trip.

The Grand-Place

The Grand Place of Antwerp is located in the heart of town's the historical center, 20 minutes from Central Railway Station. With its existence recorded in contemporary chronicles from the XIVth century onwards, it owes its current appearance to the expansions it underwent between the XVIIIth and the XXth century. The old streets connect it to the “Porte de la Vigne” and to the city’s antique ramparts. Renowned for its magnificent historical architecture, the Grand-Place is a lively, bustling site. While you have to pass through it to get around the town, it is still an unmissable tourist attraction of Antwerp. The square is surrounded by many beautiful monuments, including the houses of the various guilds or corporations, which are characterized by sculptures and bas-reliefs representing the activity they represent.The site is dominated by the impressive City Hall building. This is also the location of the Brabo fountain, which since 1887 has perpetuated the legend that, according to folklore, gave the city its name. Visitors can also enjoy the Cathedral of Notre Dame, a Gothic building erected between 1352 and 1520. It houses major works of Rubens and other contemporary artists.

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts, founded in Antwerp in 1810, is located in a majestic building which was erected in 1884 by Jacob Winders and Frans Van Dijk. Its facade is topped with sculptures of bronze tanks and decorated with four allegorical figures representing architecture, painting, sculpture and printmaking. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp hosts one of the most beautiful art collections of the world, which consists of 13 000 pieces. Its collections give a complete overview of the artistic developments in the region between the XIVth and the XXth century. Dutch masters, as well as the Antwerp and Flemish schools, are well represented. The collection is made up mainly of paintings, but also includes drawings, carvings and sculptures.