Belgian Culture and Travel Experiences in Brussels

People who travel from far away often overlook Brussels as a travel destination. But if after seeing a waffles-filled Instagram feed of your friends who have been there; or being half-forced when travelling with family (which happened to me), you decide to add it to your Europe trip where you are going to spend your gold worth of vacation days, here are my tips to conquer it.

Belgian Culture and Travel Checklist To Tick Off in Brussels

Stay in an authentic European Airbnb

While I don’t recommend staying on Airbnb in some cities (Hong Kong, Beijing, and especially don’t in Kochi), I absolutely loved the Brussels apartment I stayed in with my cousins. It was in the city centre, where many tourist attractions are located, and we got to experience the city like the locals.

Eat the waffle again and again

There is only one reason for me to go back to Brussels, the waffles.

Belgium waffles are to die for, even to stab someone over it. And this is coming from me, a previously self-proclaimed waffle hater. It’s gooey, sweet and warm, topped with your choice of toppings. When you eat it, you get the feeling of being hugged.

Visit the overrated Manneken Pis (or not)

Yes, it is overrated.

Yes, it’s just a sculpture of a boy holding his wee-wee. But it has a rich history and cultural references. Also, it has been stolen many times and dressed in costume throughout the year, which is cool and makes it a unique experience to see.

Also, I had the best waffle in my life from the 1 Euro Waffle shop just beside it. So you can always use it as an excuse to visit it.

Befriend a local

We met my cousin’s schoolmate in Brussels, Astrid. She took us everywhere. She companied my cousin when we were too lazy to go to the antique car museums, brought us to her favourite restaurants, took tons of pictures of us in front of Cinquantenaire and shared some local insights.

After hanging out with the locals in Berlin and Shanghai, I think it’s such a great cultural travel experience to explore a new city with a local friend.

If you don’t have local friends, how about a local tour guide to start with?

Rub Everard t’ Serclaes statue for some good luck

Many tourist attractions are associated with good luck, like tossing a coin into the fountain de Trevi or eating the black eggs of Owakudani in Hakone. In Brussels, it’s all about rubbing the local hero, Everard t’ Serclaes, statue which is located near the Grand Palace.

Touching the statue from head to toe is believed to bring good luck. Meanwhile, rubbing its’ elbow brings one love luck and rubbing the dog, money luck.

Interestingly, the locals believe it’s more about being able to return to Brussels when you touch the whole body up and down, instead of getting some love luck just from elbow-rubbing. Either way, we did all types of touching and rubbing. I would settle for either good luck or coming back to Brussels, just so I can eat the waffle again.

Buy Belgium chocolate as a souvenir

Belgium is known for its beer and chocolate. I was not going to drag bottles filled luggage around Europe, so I settled for chocolates for people back home.

Big mistake!

Belgium chocolate is the best, you guys! I couldn’t resist eating it one by one out of the box until I had nothing left but two pieces of it, which I “lovingly” kept for Fafa. Since Godiva is available everywhere, get Neuhaus instead, they are versatile during a long trip.

Let your inner geek out

Brussels is a comic city; it is where both Tin Tin and the Smurfs were born.

If you are a fan of it or comic in general, rejoice!

You get to see an amazing collection of it in the Belgian Comic Strip Centre (CBBD) or even follow the comic strip trail around the city. Otherwise, head down to the Atomium, the molecules like building. I have been told it’s best viewed during sunset.

Explore Brussels’ neighbouring cities

If you stay in Brussels for more than two days and have walked past the grand palace more than ten times, it’s time to venture out of the city.

There are many neighbourhood cities you can explore. My personal favourite, after watching the movie in Bruges, is Bruges. Bruges seems to me like a lovechild of Amsterdam and Brussels. Canals and medieval town, It has the best of both. Also, a few scenes from the critically acclaimed, almost banned, Bollywood movie PK were shot in Bruges. I highly recommend the movie.

I have heard Brussels being called boring way too many times; my advice is not to skip it, even if just to experience the Belgian culture through its’ waffle.

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