"Brussels doesn't leap to mind for most people when searching for this intangible feeling. The mazy Baroque streets of Italy draw the romantics, architecture nuts go wild for the eclectic grandiosity of Central and Eastern Europe, while even rival Belgian cities like Bruges and Ghent get more attention than the capital, thanks to their quaint medieval charm, the kind most associated with Germany. But I'm here to formally put Brussels forward as a truly classic European mooching city."
"The two most common criticisms I'd heard were that A: it's the mind-numbingly dull home of the European Union, a beating heart for nauseating bureaucracy, shiny, soulless and boring. And B: that it's dangerous, dirty and full of unpleasant experiences waiting to happen. On the first count, I couldn't agree less. Sure, Brussels is boring if you spend all your time at Berlaymont chatting about trade deals with the Slovenian Minister for Agriculture (no offence),"
Brussels offers the light exploratory pleasure of aimless strolling through historic streets, comparable to classic European mooching cities. The city is often overlooked in favor of Italy's Baroque lanes or the medieval charms of Bruges and Ghent. Common perceptions portray Brussels as a bureaucratic, soulless EU hub or as dangerous and dirty. In reality, the city displays vibrant energy, creativity, artisanship, and a playful atmosphere from morning into the early hours. The political quarter remains distinct from the lively urban neighborhoods. Brussels has more of an edge than many Western European cities but remains suited to curious, meandering city breaks.
Read at Culture Trip
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