I hopped on the Eurostar from London with an early start at 2am and headed for a day trip to Brussels, Belgium. This was my first time visiting Brussels and using the Eurostar. My overall experience of the journey was good, I was pleasantly surprised at the efficiency and ease of security, boarding and passport control. I ventured to the onboard cafe and I was slightly disappointed at the selection of food available. As this was a morning train I’d hoped there would have been more breakfast options aside from a croissant or a pain au raisin. The sandwich selection was adequate if you were desperate for something to eat. On the return journey the food was the same with a few snack packets of olives, crackers etc. But nothing substantial. I was also very surprised how uneventful going under the channel was, I hoped there would be a grand announcement that we were now entering the channel, but that was not the case. I surprised when I went to the toilet and brilliant daylight was shining through the windows and greenery and when I returned to my seat we were in darkness under a tunnel. The seats did provide charging points but for only plugs and not USB ports which was a little disappointing as I didn’t have a plug with me.
After a short stop in Lille and a 2 hour journey I arrived in Brussels. I’d planned to meet my friend in Brussels who would give me a guided tour. The benefit for having an expert in the local area is the hidden gems and quieter authentic Belgium architecture and interesting paths to walk that are lesser known to tourists.
First stop on my tour was to visit the 100 years of Belgium surrealism at Bozar, an Art Deco building with an array of famous surrealist paintings by Paul Nougé, René Magritte, Jane Graverol, Marcel Mariën, Rachel Baes, Leo Dohmen, Paul Delvaux, Max Ernst, Yves Tanguy, Salvador Dalí, Giorgio De Chirico, and many others. This was fascinating insight in the rise and fall of Belgium surrealism and the international context that coincided in the interwar periods that articulated the challenge to convention and psychological integration of artwork. I’d never seen so much surrealism in one place and this was a treat for the eyes. This was an incredible display of work that is a must see for art fans.
Next up I toured the beautifully decorated and serene palace park that led to the Royal Palace of Brussels. Architecturally, this was similar to Buckingham palace and green park in London that opens up to a magnificent building. I was amazed at the amount of art murals and statues that were dotted around the city and just walking alone was an unforgettable cultural experience. I also saw Brussels solution to public toilets and a urinal planted in the middle of the street, the smell was strong lets put it that way! Next up I wandered to Grand Place. This was extraordinary with the overwhelming gold leaf and towering architecture, my jaw dropped when I entered the plaza. The city at every point was bustling with music, art and people soaking up the atmosphere. I hadn’t expected this level of grandeur and excess. I always assumed the square would be one large building. These areas were much more busier with tourists especially with the Manneken Pis being a popular attraction. This area was unfortunately very dense with crowds and potential pick pockets. I was surprised at how many art installations were dotted around the city with art and history oozing everywhere.
By this point, my feet were sore and I was hangry. So off to find a gem of authentic Belgium cuisine, after a few looks at several menus I settled on La Maison des Gourmands outside the Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert shopping district. The food was excellent, the service was brilliant and the atmosphere serene. I ordered the hamburger with old chimay cheese and it was so creamy and delicious, a welcomed treat after exploring. As a customer I didn’t feel rushed to eat and be on my way, this was a dining experience to enjoy the company of your companions and chat without no rush, the food was fresh and hot, made to order and honestly no complaints. This was a slower pace than I’d experienced in London, where speed and efficiency is key and quality is often sacrificed. I highly recommend taking a look.
After lunch it was souvenir time – also known as my favourite part of a trip – where I explored the enchanting Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert, which is spectacular with a glass celling and historical shop fronts, it is like stepping back in time with the elegant designs and natural light. Belgium is famous for its chocolate so of course I had to purchase some chocolate to take home with me and obviously I needed a tacky magnet as a reminder of my trip. Soon it was time to head back to the Eurostar and rest my weary toes. I have to say the departure board at Brussels Central was a maze of platforms and destinations that was not user friendly for tourists, eventually we hopped onto the right train back to Brussels Midi and to my surprise the train was a double decker! I’d never seen one in person and was shocked when it rolled into the station. And just like that I was on the train home back to London.
Final thoughts…
Overall, I loved my first visit to Brussels and despite my aching feet it was worth the trip. Next time I would like to visit Antwerp or Ghent to experience the contrast between cities. The trains were a tad confusing, but I was pleasantly surprised with the ticket machines having an option for English. My Eurostar ticket included a free transfer from Brussels Midi to Brussels Central which was a convenient 2 min journey into the hub of Brussels culture. Six trains later, a trip to Brussels and being wide awake for 20 hours, this concludes my day out.
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Keep updated with the latest short stories, book and gallery reviews. Amy is currently writing and editing her debut fantasy novel and will soon be querying agents and publishers to help get this book into the world.
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