Escapades BRUSSELS ESCAPADES INTRODUCTION 1

Brussels is the capital of Europe and the seat of its institutions. The town there- Brussels fore has an air of Europe in many neighbourhoods. It Escapades offers a larger and larger variety of boutiques and restaurants that keep alive the memory or nostalgia of Introduction 1 countries member of the Union. But it is however not My Brussels in Winter 2 the cosmopolitan spirit that dominates and that would My Brussels in Spring 3 make us strangers – as if lost – which is what we can My Brussels in Summer 4 feel in some towns of the world. No, Brussels wel- My Brussels in Autumn 5 comes the family Europe in its diversity, including its cul- My Brussels 6-9 tural diversity. But Brussels is also the capi- My Comic Strip Brussels 10-13 tal of . And fortu- nately this is not erased by My Brussels of Flavours 14-17 the “European invasion”. The character of the coun- My Brussels on Wheels 18-19 try continues to give out a particular perfume, proba- bly more sensitive to those My Brussels for Families 20-25 who always loved this country. It’s the pride of My Young Brussels 26-29 Brussels, to consolidate, against all odds, the exis- My Sporting Brussels 30-33 tence of a nation of well defined specificities, as we One can taste the charm of the agitated climate that has My Brussels on Sunday 34-37 were reminded by the what was and remains taken hold of our large © OPT/JP Remy recent Anniversaries. Brussels, so well told of agglomerations. In Brussels, My Gay Brussels 38-41 And Brussels is also sung about by its lovers. one pays attention to whom “Bruxellois”, with its so Probably, had I been obliged, one passes and not only to My Mini-trips to Brussels 42-49 charming and picturesque to typify, to select one known faces. For that alone, neighbourhoods, even if aspect of the spirit of the Brussels is unique. My Brussels e-shop 50-51 the madness of new con- “Bruxellois”, I would say the Jacques DELORS structions has taken hold of polite welcome, tinged with My Guided Visits 52-53 the town since 50 years. kindness, contrasting with President of the Practical information 54-60 European Commission

© JL Flémal (from 1985 to 1995) 2 MY BRUSSELS IN WINTER MY BRUSSELS IN SPRING 3

concertos for violin attributed with skating rinks, animations and festivi- certainty to the prodigy. ties in a warm-hearted and festive > Info : www.bozar.be ambience. A programme of feasts My and rejoicing: the Grand Place My brings out its magnificent Christmas Théo Van tree, the quaint wooden huts offer BrusselsRysselberghe their European specialities and the Brussels Baroque merry-go-round settles in Centre for fine Arts the Place Sainte Catherine. From 10 February to 21 May > Info : www.brusselsinternational.be Key figure of neo-impressionism, the Belgian painter, of international in Winterrenown, is exhibited in the frame- in Spring work of the great retrospectives of which Brussels has the secret. 2006, the Mozart YearFamous masterpieces, original pain- Brussels International

tings, photos, works on paper and © Mimi Dooms Centre for fine Arts portraits of friends will make this Festival of January to June exhibition a cultural event of the story of Art Nouveau through some Fantastic Film 400 objects having been exhibited Royal Greenhouses of Mozart celebrates his 250 years.An winter season not to be missed. > or negotiated by Bing, an out- exceptional celebration demands an Info : www.bozar.be Passage 44 and Nova From 10 March to 25 March standing collector, who rapidly exceptional cycle! imposed himself as a precursor of Laeken Coming to honour him in Brussels are Pleasures of Winter The place to be for those who seek Asian art in Europe. Not to be missed. End of April to early May absolute references of his concert thrills. Each year it assembles thou- > Info : www.fine-arts-museum.be Imperative. Magnificent presentation works in a repertoire as genial as evi- Brussels Centre sands of fans attracted by blood, in a bright environment of glass bor- dent: the whole of the piano concertos From 2 December 2006 to 8 January horror and fright. dered by steel, the floral collections (except for the first four, composed 2007. > Info : www.bifff.org Gotlib Retrospectiveare a real treat to our senses. This during his childhood), and the five Christmas markets, cribs, concerts, Rysselberghe Van Belgian Comic Strip Centre visit is exceptionally authorised dur- From 25 April to 17 September ing two weeks every year. Champion of a generation who rein- > Info : www.monarchy.be vented the European comic strip, Gotlib created a masterly work of which the prime quality is to make Zinneke Parade his readers split their sides laughing, Boulevards of the centre of Brussels since over 40 years. Articulated On 13 May around the original works of Gotlib, 4000 participants will invade the this Retrospective wants to be a centre of Brussels to parade their hilarious tribute to this cult author. colourful and inventive costumes, > Info : www.comicscenter.net their crazy ideas and festive mood, on unidentified rolling objects. The nights of the The Zinneke Parade 2006 will be visionary and clairvoyant. Botanical Gardens> Info : www.zinneke.org Botanique From 29 April to 06 May Brussels Jazz Marathon Exhibition Rock humming and buzzing, electro ”L’Art Nouveau – vibrations, French words and other Bars and places in Brussels unclassifiable styles, the Nights From 19 to 21 May The BING House” colour your evenings in May. 3 days of great concerts for all ama- Programming ever so vitamin-filled teurs of jazz and its entrancing by- Royal Museum of Fine Arts and discoveries full of vitality, this products, but also, for all the lovers (Mont des Arts) festival is a landmark of musical of ambience and « live » music. From 15 March to 15 July quality. > Info : www.jazzmarathon.be This exceptional exhibition tells the > Info : www.botanique.be © BGE 4 MY BRUSSELS IN SUMMER MY BRUSSELS IN AUTUMN 5

The Masters of pre- Colombian art, the My My Janssen collection Musées royaux d’Art et d’Histoire Brussels BrusselsFrom 15 September to 29 April 2007 The Janssen collection is known worldwide. With over 350 excep- tional works from the American continent, it retraces more than in Summer in Autumn3000 years of pre-Colombian art. Statues of stone and clay, masks and gold jewellery, fabrics and feather creations, made by Olmecs, Mayas, Ommegang Incas, Aztecs and other civilisations, compose this superb collection. Grand-Place > Info : www.kmkg-mrah.be 4 and 6 July This procession is one of the most grandiose in Belgium. It evokes the of Africa, of the Caribbean , of Latin Designers’ trail America… Brussels on Sea splendour of a feast given in the Dansaert Quarter – Brussels > Info : www.couleurcafe.be honour of Charles V and his 16th c. Brussels From 27 to 29 October court. From 22 July to 22 August Every two years, the Dansaert quar- > Info : www.ommegang.be Royal Palace The Tropics in Brussels : fine sand, ter transforms itself, the duration of palm trees, pétanque, water sports a weekend, into the headquarters of The present edition will have a spe- Couleur Café FestivalAnnual opening of the Royal Palace and salsa bars will be the spicy the latest trends of fashion. cial touch to it, seeing that it takes From 24 July to 17 September ingredients of this sunny feast. Happenings, fashion shows, work- place during the Year of Fashion. Tour & Taxis The monumental staircase and the > Info : www.bruxelleslesbains.be shops and designer boutiques, Creative Brussels opens wide its From 30 June to 02 July reception halls are submitted to spe- animations… your itinerary will be a gates just for you. The growing success of this festival cial attention, especially since the new stroll through the summit of hype. > Info : www.modobruxellae.be is due to its explosive and lively pro- additions ordered by Queen Paola Flower Carpet gramming. Over 50 concerts make from contemporary renowned artists. Brussels Grand Place us discover the spellbinding rhythms > Info : www.monarchy.be from 11 to 15 August One million begonias for... a unique carpet ? It’s a realisation that is really out of this world. > Info : www.flowercarpet.be

Heart at Work Museum of Natural Sciences From 14 December 2005 to 05 November 2006 Tribute to our most vital organ: the heart, the one that beats no less than 37.000.000 times per year and sometimes more when you’re in love, that gives an incredible amount of information on our health, that saves lives, and finally, that has been the object of the most intensive research. > Info : www.naturalsciences.be © Etienne Tordoir © Etienne © Etienne Tordoir © Etienne © Luc Cheffert 6 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY ART NOUVEAU BRUSSELS 7

New ➊ The Autrique House from the Ancient Greece to the music of Varèse in the 20th Century. . ’s first outstanding My building, the Autrique House has many surprises in store for you : François Schuiten and Benoît ➋ Horta Museum Art Peeters, well-known figures in the Access : Trams : 92 and 93 stop “Saint- world of the comic strips, conceived Servais” and 90 stop “Robiano“ - Bus : 65 Home andand workshop 66 stop ”Robiano” of the most and 59 stop an original scenography, turning this famous of Belgian architects, this Nouveau house into a sort of “house of hous- “Herman“. magnificent house saw life by the es”, tribute to the private architec- will of Victor Horta to mix his private Brussels ture of Brussels as well as a gate and professional lives. The house has into the imaginary. Meticulously retained most of its interior decora- restored and stage designed from tion: mosaics, stained glass, furni- attic to cellar, the Autrique House ture, wall paintings make an harmo- highlights the historical and aesthetic nious and refined setting. In no case interest of the houses of Brussels, to be missed ! revealing them in their seduction and mystery. > MUSÉE HORTA Rue Américaine, 25 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) Tel. : +32 (0)2/ 543 04 90 Email : [email protected] Website : www.hortamuseum.be Hulst Musical Instruments Museum - Saintenoy © Marcel van Open : daily except Mondays and Bank Holidays, from 14.30 to 17.30. Group visits> MUSÉE DES INSTRUMENTS in the morning (15 pers. max.) with previous DE MUSIQUE (MIM) appointment. Guided visits with previous appointment, in French, Dutch, English, Montagne de la Cour, 2 – 1000 Brussels German and Italian. (last entry : 17.30). Tel. : +32 (0)2/ 545 01 30 Price : adult : € 7,00 Email : [email protected] senior and student : € 3,50 Website : www.mim.fgov.be primary and secondary schools : € 2,50 Open : from Tuesday to Friday, from 9.30 to Access :Trams : 81-91-92 stop “ Janson “ 17.00, weekends from 10.00 to 17.00. Bus : 54 stop “ Ma Campagne “. Closed on Monday, on 1 January, on 1 May, on 1 November, on 11 November and on 25 December. Price : adult € 5,00 ; Rebates (students, seniors, groups, …) : € 3,50 ; Unemployed, The boom of Art Nouveau in Brussels between 1893 disabled, school groups : € 2,00 ; free for the teachers and the accompanied

Horta - Maison Autrique © François Schuiten Autrique © François Horta - Maison ➌ and 1905 deeply modified the look of the city. If the Musical Instruments under 12. Guided visit on request to OPT/Evrard & Bastin OPT/Evrard houses of the great architects (Victor Horta and Museum +32(0)2/ 545 01 53. Paul Hankar) can be considered as total works of art, > Access : Metro : “Gare Centrale” or “Parc” MAISON AUTRIQUE (line 1) - Bus : 71-95-96-60-38 stop hundreds of others with original facades are Chaussée de Haecht, 266 Technical wizardry of the era (1899), ”Royal” - Trams : 92-93-94 stop “Royal”. 1030 Brussels () the ancient Art Nouveau buildings of individualised by an artistic approach of the details: © Tassel Horta - Tel. : +32 (0)2/215 66 00 the very posh Old England shop, are ironworks, sgraffito, ceramics, woodwork, sculpted Email : [email protected] the work of the architect Saintenoy stone. Initially distinguished by the arabesque, the Website : www.autrique.be and are erected around a cast iron Open : from Wednesday to Sunday, from Belgian Art Nouveau adopts at the turn of the centu- 12.00 to 18.00 (last admission at 17.30) and steel skeleton, leaving all the ry more geometric shapes influenced by the Viennese Closed : Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays anddesired space to the large windows Not to be missed Bank Holidays. that were to bring light to the pre- secession. Nowadays, the Art Nouveau of Brussels is Price : Individuals : adult : € 5,00 – cious fabrics. The panoramic terrace of the internationally renowned and contributes greatly child (6 + years), student and senior The MIM that is now housed in to the pleasure of discovering the town. (65 + years) : € 3,00 . MIM restaurant all in glass Individuals with guided visit (Sundays, on these buildings, has one of the and metal to admire Brussels request) : adult : € 9,00 - child (6 + years),largest collections of musical instru- at a glance while sampling student and senior (65 + years) : € 5,00. ments in the world. Visitors may, FRANÇOISE AUBRY music and sweets. Curator of the Horta Museum thanks to infrared helmet, listen to nearly two hundred musical excerpts Horta © Sofam 8 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY ART NOUVEAU BRUSSELS 9

❹ Belgium Comic Strip ❻ The Hannon House - Centre Espace Photo- Housed in an Art Nouveau master- graphique Contretype piece designed by Victor Horta, the Here, you’ll breathe in the Art Belgian Centre of the Comic Strip Nouveau : decompartmentalization assembles over more than 43,000 of space, ode to light and matter, sq.ft. everything relating to the harmony of colours and gentle way comic strip since its origins up to its of life…This magnificent town house most recent developments. On the built by Jules Brunfaut in 1903-1904 ground floor, visitors will have free nowadays shelters the “Espace access to a permanent exhibition Contretype” dedicated to exhibitions “Espace Victor Horta” mainly allow- of photography. One can admire a ing, based on photographic docu- collection of marble, mosaics, stained ments, to replace the building, its glass windows and woodwork of architect and Art Nouveau in a glob- exceptional quality…a magic place! al historical and cultural context by including other masterpieces of this > HÔTEL HANNON architectural style. avenue de la Jonction, 1 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) > CBBD Tel. : +32 (0)2/ 538 42 20

Rue des Sables, 20 - 1000 Brussels Email : [email protected] R. © OPT/JP Remy Bénit - Evaldre De L’arbre Tel. : + 32(0) 2/ 219 19 80 Website : www.contretype.org Email : [email protected] Open : Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays> PALAIS DES BEAUX-ARTS DE Saint-Gilles and Forest and finally Website : www.comicscenter.net from 11.00 to 18.00. On weekends from BRUSSELS (BOZAR) the avenue Louis Bertrand and its Open: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00 13.00 to 18.00. Closed on Mondays, rue Ravenstein, 23 – 1000 Brussels surroundings); to 18.00 except on 1 January and on 25 Tuesdays, Bank Holidays and the whole of Tel. : +32 (0)2/ 507 82 00 • Judicious information on orna- December. January. Email : [email protected] Price : adult : € 7,50 ; Senior card & Youth Price : € 2,5 ; Guided visit on written Website : www.bozar.be mental techniques; card : € 6,00 ; - 12 years: € 3,00. Groups (1 request only to ARAU +32 (0)2/ 219 33 45 Open : every Sunday at 12.00 (FR, NL, EN).• A presentation of famous archi- Access : Trams : 81 stop« Janson » and 91- free accompanying person per 15 paying) : Price : € 7,00 ; € 4,00 (- 18 / 60 +). tects; adult : € 6,00 ; Secondary schools : € 4,50. 92 stop « Ma Campagne » – Bus : 54 stop Primary schools and Kindergartens : € 3,00. « Ma Campagne ». • The not to be missed public places Guided visits on request. Languages : of Brussels FR,NL,EN,D. While you are there, Access : Metro : Gare Centrale, Botanique and De Brouckère. pass by the Cinema Museum. All this to better grasp the sub- ❼ Horta to Horta, the tleties of Art Nouveau, and most Unique in the world, this true of all take nice walks through the Hannon Hotel, Brunfaut, Louis © Paul Palace from every angle : from Art nou- laboratory restores and projects town ! Art Nouveau. The facade, decorated masterpieces of all times, for > Available in French, English, Dutch, German Not to be missed with sgraffito, is one of its original veau to Art deco the pleasure of all. at the price of € 3,00 in the main tourist hallmarks. information centres of Brussels and some the “bédéthèque” The visit of ”Horta to Horta” will hotels. or Comic Strip library : 50.000 > reveal the genius of Victor Horta, MAISON CAUCHIE THE MUST www.brusselsartnouveau.be volumes to be perused in comfort Rue des Francs, 5 who himself considered the Palais and without moderation. 1040 Brussels (Etterbeek) des Beaux Arts (Palace of Fine Arts) Tel. : +32 (0)2/ 673 15 06 as the summit of his career.The con- A map of walks ”4 in 1” Open : the first weekend of each month, cert halls, cinemas, theatres, exhibi- individual welcome commentated by the to see and understand owners or by specialised guides : 11.00 - tion and reception halls articulate ❺ Maison Cauchie 13.00 and 14.00 -18.00 except on with one another in a complex and Art Nouveau 1 January and 25 December. audacious plan. Let yourself be mar- The house of Paul Cauchie, built in Guided visits every day for groups with an velled by prestigious places such as This pocket sized map suggests: 1905, can be considered as one of appointment (min. 15 pers.). the Horta Hall, the Royal lounge and • A number of itineraries (the city the most beautiful Art Nouveau Price : Individual visitors : € 4,00. Access : Trams : 81- 82 stop ”Place Saint- the Henry Le Boeuf Hall, mythical centre and its close surroundings, works in Brussels. This house-work- Pierre” - Bus : 22-27-80 stop ”Mérode”. space used for the Queen Elizabeth the “quartier Louise” and the shop is particularly illustrative of the competition thanks to its acoustic, ponds of Ixelles, the quarter of the

Belgian Centre of the Comic Strip,Belgian Centre © OPT JP Remy Horta contribution of mural paintings to unique in the world. squares and of the Cinquantenaire, 10 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY COMIC STRIP BRUSSELS 11

The Comic Strip Itinerary What other town than Brussels My could assemble on its walls, gables and statues such a large number of famous comic strip characters ? World capital of the phylactery, the Comic Strip city invites you to take a walk along its Comic Strip itinerary. Having chosen the comic strip to visit Brussels you’ll discover neigh- Brussels bourhoods, surroundings, shops and various places of interest. You will see Brussels under a different light. The itinerary not being signposted, you’ll discover the various laps fol- lowing your mood and wishes. Treading on the ancient cobble- Drawing by François Schuiten, art designer and scriptwriter stones of Brussels looking for these frescoes and suddenly finding your- COMPULSORY On your way to the Belgian self face to face with a known comic strip character on a gable at the far STOPOVERS ON THE Comic Strip Centre, make a end of a mew is a real pleasure for ITINERARY little detour by the Boulevard all, be they 7 or 77 years of age. Pacheco, situated only 50 yards On the corner of a street, in the from there. At the top of the underground (where the stations of The Belgian Comic Strip Stockel, Ribaucourt and Porte de Hal Centre flight of stairs that separate the are decorated with phylacteries), on boulevard from the Comic Strip a wall or in a bar, the comic strip Major attraction of Brussesl, this Centre, you will have the heroes catch the eye of the passers place brings together two great pleasure of meeting Gaston by in Brussels. specialities of Brussels : Art Nouveau Don’t miss the recent frescoes of and Comic Strip. Lagaffe in person. Tintin, and Snowy, that colour the Built by the architect Victor Horta Rue de l’Etuve going towards the (1906), this fabric shop became the Manneken Piss. Belgian Centre of the Comic Strip in Tintin, Spirou, Lucky Luke, Gaston Lagaffe, the Smurfs, Boule et 1989. It assembles over some The Autrique House Bill, Achille Talon, Blake and Mortimer, Buck Danny, Bob and 43,000 sq.ft. everything relating to Bobette, Tif and Tondu, Ric Hochet, Corentin, Alix, The Blue Conceived by Horta in 1893 and the comic strip since its origins up to meticulously restored, this beautiful Coats, Cubitus, Natacha, Yoko Tsuno, Gil Jourdan, Olivier its most recent developments Rameau, Jeremiah, XIII, Largo Winch or The Cat … Brussels house is a major element of through exhibitions and a documen- our architectural heritage. Rescued by Oh yes, all these characters were born on our territory ! From tation centre. Hergé, Morris and Franquin up to Philippe Geluck, this repre- the will of François Schuiten and The museum of imaginary, a treasure Benoît Peeters of whom the graphic sents over 700 creators who day after day turned Brussels into de Kerchove/BITC © Olivier van Franquin of original drawings, the largest world has since long surpassed the the indisputable Capital of the Comic Strip. comic strip library in the world…are boxes of the comic strips, it tells of With its large museum dedicated to the comic strip, its itinerary GREAT ! as many attractions of this temple the magic of a Brussels home of the along the coloured walls of the Capital that show our favourite which also harbours temporary exhi- early 20th c….To be discovered with heroes in action, its statues and Underground stations, its comic bitions and prestigious events. passion. strip boutiques… the comic strip amateur who arrives in Brussels enters the enchanted land of the Smurfs. > CBBD > MAISON AUTRIQUE Rue des Sables, 20 - 1000 Brussels Chaussée de Haecht, 266 Tel. : + 32(0) 2/ 219 19 80 1030 Brussels (Schaerbeek) Email : [email protected] Tel. : +32 (0)2/215 66 00 Website : www.comicscenter.net JEAN AUQUIER Email : [email protected] Infos : see the Art Nouveau chapter. Website : www.autrique.be Belgian Comic Strip Centre Infos : see the Art Nouveau chapter Yves Chaland © Olivier van de Kerchove/BITC Yves Chaland © Olivier van 12 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY COMIC STRIP BRUSSELS 13

Multi BD SPECIALISED BOOKSHOPS Ixelles > Bld Anspach, 126-128 - 1000 Brussels Tel. : +32(0) 2/ 513 01 86 Open : Monday to Saturday 10.30 to La Bande des Six Nez City Centre 19.00 > Chaussée de Wavre, 179 - 1050 Brussels Email : [email protected] (Ixelles) Brüsel Website : www.multibd.be Tel. : + 32 (0)2 /513 72 58 Open : Monday to Saturday from 10.30 to > Bld Anspach, 100 - 1000 Brussels 19.00 Tel. : +32(0) 2/511 08 09 Email : [email protected] Open : Monday to Sunday from 10.30 to La Boutique Tintin Website : www.labandedessixnez.com 18.30 > Rue de la Colline, 13 - 1000 Brussels Email : [email protected] Tel. : +32(0) 2/ 514 51 52 Website : www.brusel.com Little Nemo Slumberland > Rue de Trône, 132 - 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) Tel. : + 32 (0)2/ 646 53 45 La Bulle d’Or > Rue des Sables, 20 - 1000 Brussels

> Boulevard Anspach, 124 - 1000 Brussels Tel. : + 32(0) 2/ 219 58 01 © Brüsel Tel. : +32(0) 2/ 513 72 35 Open : Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to Open : Monday to Sunday from 10.30 to 18.00 Tropismes Jeunesse et BD Espace BD 18.30 Email : [email protected] > > Galerie du Roi, 11 - 1000 Brussels Place Fernand Cocq, 2 - 1050 Brussels Website : www.multibd.be Tel. : + 32(0) 2/ 511 56 51 (Ixelles) Open : Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 Tel. : + 32 (0)2 / 512 68 69 Petits Papiers to18.00 Email : [email protected] Le Fantôme Espagnol Email : [email protected] Website : www.espacebd.com > Boulevard Lemonnier, 15 - 1000 Brussels Website : www.tropismes.com > Boulevard Lemonnier, 71 - 1000 Brussels Tel. : +32(0) 2/ 513 46 70 Tel. : +32(0) 2/ 512 32 04 Open : Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to Open : Daily from 10.00 to 19.00 19.00 Le Dépôt > Chaussée d’Ixelles, 120 et 142 Saint-Gilles 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) Tel. : + 32 (0)2/ 513 46 22 BédéMania Open : Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to18.30 > Chaussée de Waterloo, 169 Email : [email protected] 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) Website : www.depotbd.com Tel. : +32(0) 2 /537 96 20 Open : Monday to Saturday from 14.30 to 19.00 Email : [email protected] Website : www.bedemania.com Schirlf Book > Chaussée de Waterloo, 752 1180 Brussels (Uccle) Forbidden Zone Tel. : + 32 (0)2/ 648 04 40 > Rue de Tamines, 25 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) Tel. : + 32(0) 2/ 538 85 78 BAR Open : Tuesday to Saturday from 12.30 to 19.00 Email : [email protected] Le bar dessiné Website : www.forbiddenzone.net > Hôtel Radisson SAS rue du Fossé-aux-Loups, 47 – 1000 Brussels Tel. : +32 (0)2/ 219 28 28 The Skull > Ch. de Waterloo, 336 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) Tel. : + 32(0) 2/538.36.99 Website : www.skullbd.com Fresco by Frank Pé © OPT/JP Remy Pé by Frank Fresco Olivier Rameau, Dany © OPT/JP Remy 14 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY BRUSSELS OF FLAVOURS 15

GOURMET STOPOVERS

My ➊ Cantillon Brewery Brussels The Cantillon Brewery remains the only brewery open to the public in Brussels that is still in activity. Beer of Flavours is brewed here exactly as during the 19th c., and beers, tools, machinery and recipes are those of then! Red copper vats, age old barrels and ramparts of bottles are the decor of your visit. © Olivier van de Kerchove/BITC © Olivier van

> BRASSERIE CANTILLON Rue Gheude, 56 Open : Wednesday and Saturday from week without ever divulging which 1070 Brussels (Anderlecht) 14.00 to 18.00 beer he is serving the visitors at the Tel. : +32(0)2/ 521 49 28 Price : € 3,00 per person, including the end of the tour! Email : [email protected] sampling of a "Schaerbeekoise" Website : www.cantillon.be Languages : Fr, NL, EN (on request) Open : Monday to Friday from 9.00 to Access : trams 92 - 93 stop « St Servais »> LE MUSÉE DES BRASSEURS BELGES 17.00 and Saturday from 10.00 to 17.00 Grand-Place, 10 - 1000 Brussels Price : € 4,00 per person, including a tast- Tel. : +32 (0) 2/ 511 49 87 ing at the end of the visit. Email : [email protected] Languages : Documentation in FR, NL, ❸ Museum of Belgian Website : www.beerparadise.be EN, D, ESP, IT, JAP Open : daily from 10.00 to 17.00 – (!) Access : Trams 18-52-55- 56-81- 82 – Brewers period of 01/12 to 31/03 : Saturday and In Brussels, we like to eat … and to drink ! Some even say that it’s the Bus : 20-47 Sunday open as from 12 .00 /from January number one quality of the European capital. For you to try it out and try In the prestigious setting of the to June and from September to December : closed on the 1st Tuesday of the month. again! Cafés, restaurants, you will find them galore. Surprise starters, dishes Grand-Place, the cellars of the « Maison des Brasseurs” shelter the Price : individual ticket : € 4,00 - groups lovingly prepared, desserts that make you blush with pleasure! With us, the cui- (> 20 persons) : € 3,00 © Pain Quotidien © Pain Museum of Belgian Brewers since Languages : the visit is done with audio- sine is generous, inventive and tasty and it’s sampled with a smile on the lips. ❷ th The Beer Museum of1952. With an 18 century brewery, guides (FR, NL, EN) True to its multi-cultural reputation, Brussels the beautiful takes pleasure in Schaerbeek a cellar-tavern and an evocation of Access : underground or train stop ”Gare sharing all types of cuisines and ambiences. For all tastes and all purses! Only today’s high technology brewing. Centrale” one rule : let yourself be guided by your senses and your desire. This small Brussels museum located The barkeeper likes to surprise and In Brussels, you should know however that the taverns and their typical in the workshop of a former school changes beer a few times every woodwork and their shiny beer pumps have remained the meeting places of and surrounded by a pretty garden, the true “Bruxellois”, young and old! Saint-Géry, Saint-Jacques, Sainte- highlights one of the most typical Catherine, Saint-Boniface are neighbourhoods that abound in warm-hearted products of Brussels: beer. and joyful places where you should sample a « half en half » (half white With the help of didactic panels, the wine -half champagne), a faro or a kriek. museum presents the various stages As a dessert or for tea, opt for some Brussels’ waffles, a creamy pastry, of beer production and exhibits over 1500 bottles of Belgian beers, most “speculoos” or “pains à la grecque” (!) that have carved themselves a serious of them accompanied by their spe- reputation. There is no secret: quality and generosity are the master words of cific glass, machinery having served the success of the kitchen boys and master backers of Brussels. Wander to in beer-making, enamel plaques, the Grand Sablon where breads are particularly good. table sets… Last wink at the gastronomy of Brussels: don’t leave the town without having tasted the famous “caricolles”, sea snails and whelk served in their spicy > MUSÉE SCHAERBEEKOIS DE LA BIÈRE stock. What a memorable souvenir avenue Louis Bertrand, 33 Alain COUMON, 1030 Brussels (Schaerbeek) Tel. : +32 (0) 2/ 241 56 27 Founder of “Le Pain Quotidien” Email : [email protected] Website : http://users.skynet.be/museedelabiere Imperative © Chez Léon Imperative 16 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY BRUSSELS OF FLAVOURS 17

❹ Planète Chocolat SOME TYPICAL AND INESCAPABLERESTAURANTS OF BRUSSELS WITH MICHELIN STARS 2006 Chocolate planet? Well yes ! It’s as it “ESTAMINETS” (TAVERNS) sounds : a planet made of chocolate The starred restaurants are only a part of the selection of over 1000 restau- that only works in yesteryears tradi- rants that the Michelin guide suggests in Belgium.The selection of these estab- tion with a team of real 100 % pure Ancient cafés of Brussels, "Art lishments is done by Michelin inspectors operating professionally, in complete cocoa butter chocolate lovers, no Nouveau" cafés, traditional cafés of independence and to the sole benefit of the readers of their guidebook. conservatives, no artificial colouring! the low town, cafés of the sur- realists, show cafés, trendy cafés, This charming tea room welcomes 3 * Chez Marie cafés with bird names, they all have > Rue Alphonse de Witte 40 you to the pleasure of the eyes and their characteristics ! taste buds in the very heart of Comme chez Soi 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) And everywhere in Brussels, young- Infos : +32(0) 2 644 30 31 Brussels, between the Grand-Place sters and elders, Belgians and > Place Rouppe, 23 – 1000 Brussels and the Manneken Pis. Infos : +32 (0) 2 512 29 21 tourists gather in these typical Website : www.commechezsoi.be De Maurice à Olivier places where life is pleasant… > Chaussée de Roodebeek 246 > PLANÈTE CHOCOLAT 1200 Brussels (Woluwé-Saint-Lambert) Rue du Lombard, 24 – 1000 Brussels Infos : +32(0) 2 771 33 98 Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 511 07 55 La Mort Subite 2* Email : [email protected] Ancient and sacred Institution, a Hilton – La Maison du Bœuf Website : www.planetechocolat.be privileged stopover opposite the Bruneau Demonstration : every Saturday at 16.00 > Bd.de Waterloo 38 - 1000 Brussels > for individuals Galeries Royales Avenue Broustin, 75 - 1083 Brussels Infos : +32(0)2 504 13 34 The boutique : open from Monday to > Rue de la Montagne-aux-Herbes, 7 Infos :+32 (0) 2 425 70 70 Saturday from 10.00 to 18.30 - Sunday 1000 Brussels Website : http://www.bruneau.be/ Le Pain et le Vin from 11.00 to18.30. de Kerchove/BITC © Olivier van > Chaussée d’Alsemberg, 81 2A Price : €6. Claude Dupont 1180 Brussels (Uccle) Languages : FR, NL, EN, D In the shadow of the> Av. Vital Riethuisen, 46 - 1083 Brussels Infos : +32(0) 2 332 37 74 Access : Bus : 71-34-49-96 - Pre-metro : The unavoidables Infos : +32 (0) 2 426 00 00 stop ”Bourse”. Stock Exchange Le Passage Access : Metro Gare Centrale or De Sea Grill (Radisson SAS) • Les croquettes aux crevettes Cirio > Av. J.et P. Carsoel 13 - 1180 Brussels (Uccle) Brouckère - Bus : 29-38- 60- 63- 71 stop > Rue du Fossé aux loups 47 - 1000 BrusselsInfos : 32(0) 2 374 66 94 ”Gare Centrale” - Trams : 23- 90- 55- 52grises (shrimp croquettes) Infos : +32(0) 2 227 31 20 • Le filet américain, frites (raw All the charm of the Brussels Belle ❻ Thestop Museum ”Bourse”. of the Époque http://www2.resto.be/seagrill/ Senza Home ❺ minced beef with chips) Museum of Cocoa > Rue de la Bourse, 18 > Endive • Le Waterzooi (chicken, cream Rue Royale Sainte-Marie 22 and Chocolate 1030 Brussels (Schaerbeek) Housed in an ancient barn, the and vegetable broth) La Becasse 1* Infos : +32 (0) 2 223 16 17 The world of cocoa and chocolate : museum is an hymn to village life of • Le lapin aux pruneaux (rabbit Faro and gueuze in the austere set- one learns everything here ! yesteryear and more particularly to with prunes) ting of the ancient breweries. Bon Bon San Daniele How to grow cocoa, the various the growing of “witloof” (the fetish • Les ballekes à la marolienne > Rue de Tabora, 11 > rue des Carmélites 93 > Avenue Charles Quint 6 stages of the making of chocolate, vegetable of the Brussels region, (meat balls à la marolienne) 1180 Brussels (Uccle) 1083 Brussels (Ganshoren) Infos :+32 (0) 2 346 66 15 its origins, its arrival in Europe. Then, also known as chicory or endive). • Les moules, frites (mussels and Le Falstaff Infos : +32 (0) 2 426 79 23 to join the useful to pleasure, a The museum also houses a tavern- chips) Temple of the Jungendstil, to be restaurant where the vegetable is demonstration by a master choco- • La tartine de fromage blanc et devoured with the eyes. Delirium Cafe The served in various ways. > late-maker will make you discover sa Kriek (cottage cheese on Rue H. Maus, 17-21 Gourmet all the facets of our delicious choco- bread with a Kriek ) Amateurs of records, it’s in the ”Ilot A l’imaige de Nostre Damesacré” that you will find over 2000 Guide late. > MUSÉE DE LA WITLOOF • Le stoemp (Belgian version of beers ! To be drunk with modera- invites you to Rue Leekaerts, 29 Bangers and Mash) At the end of its cul-de-sac, intimate tion! dine in close to > MUSÉE DU CACAO ET DU CHOCOLAT 1140 Brussels () • Le spéculoos (caramelised and and irresistible, a true to life flash Rue de la Tête d’Or, 9/11 – 1000 Brussels Tel. : + 32 (0) 2 /216 10 59 back! > Impasse de la Fidélité 200 addresses Email : [email protected] spiced biscuit) classified by Tel. : + 32 (0)2/ 514 20 48 > rue du Marché aux Herbes, 8 Email : [email protected] Website : http://www.geuzenberg.be. neighbour- Website : www.mucc.be Open : Tuesday to Friday from 11.30 to A ”friture” or a ”fritkot” is a Au Bon Vieux Temps hood, opening Open : From Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00 14.30 – Sunday and Bank holidays from chip stall where the people of hours and 12.00 to 18.00 It’s so nice to sample our sponta- to 16.30. Closed on Monday. During July and Brussels like to purchase a specialities. Clear, self explanato- August the museum is open every day. Price : € 1,00 per person neous fermentation beers, to warm FR, NL. paper cone of chips to be eaten ry and provided with a multilin- Price : adult : € 5,00 ; child (-12 years) Languages : up in the ambience of this all in Access : Tram : 55 - Bus : 65-66-54-21. gual glossary of the inescapable students, seniors : € 4,00. on the street, dipping the chips wood café where everything men- Languages : FR, NL, EN, D, IT. De Lijn : all buses to Haecht Belgian dishes.- Price: € 2,00 into various sauces, mayonnaise tions Brussels. more often than not. > (€ 3,32 by post)

rue du Marché aux Herbes, 12 © O. de Kerchove/BITC van 18 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY BRUSSELS ON WHEELS 19

The bicycle has nothing but assets : convivial, non polluting, not cumber- GUIDED BICYCLE Friendly and secure some, it’s an excellent exercise for itineraries for My one’s health and an unusual mode RIDES of discovery. two-wheel rides. Mount your bike and see Brussels All year long, Pro Velo suggests a Brussels with other eyes. From little streets to number of themed rides to discover • The Bois de la Cambre : parks, from parks to monuments, from the various aspects of the town. is partially closed to vehicle traffic monuments to squares, the town is Here, no sports feat, the rhythm of during the weekend and offers yours in the crisp morning air! To pre- the rides is moderate and adapted beautiful riding space. pare your itineraries, the Region of to the participants. The themes on Brussels-Capital has published a map offer answer the tastes of the • The Forest of Soignes : on Wheels of Brussels for cyclists available at the largest numbers: from Art Nouveau paradise of giant beech trees and low rate of € 1 from the “Maison des to the Forest of Soignes, taking in glades , this green lung of Brussels Cyclistes” (House of the cyclists). Free-Masonry, comic strips, is partially accessible to cyclists on breweries…For individuals the the condition of only using the season starts in April and ends in permitted paths. BICYCLE HIRE October. For groups the cycling tours • The ancient railway tracks of are on offer throughout the year.To the Brussels-Tervueren line be tried out imperatively. are accessible from the park of ➊ La Maison des Woluwe. They have been realloca- cyclistes ted to the use of pedestrians and La Maison des Cyclistes cyclists, offering a number of miles (Cyclists House) de Brussels – Pro Velo of secure walks and rides to > rue de Londres, 15 à 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) nature lovers. Ultimate comfort: > Tel. : +32 (0) 2 502 73 55 15, rue de Londres à 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) the site is so flat, so flat…that Email : [email protected] Tel. : 32(0)2.502 73 55 everyone follows! Open : from 1 November to 31 March: Email : [email protected] Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 to 13.00 and Website : www.provelo.org to obtain the• The Brussels Institute for the from 13.30 to 17.00 program. Managing of the Environment From 1 April to 31 October: Tuesday to (l’Institut Bruxellois pour la Gestion Friday from 10.00 to 18.00. Also upon de l’Environnement (IBGE : appointment. Closed on 14 May. A few tips www.ibgebim.be) ) suggests a signposted ”green ride” allowing the complete tour of the region of ❷ In Brussels as elsewhere, it’s Brussels Capital (50 miles) Bois de la Cambre prudent to respect certain A number of sites will help > rules when riding a bike: road Au Carrefour des Attelages you to prepare your stay : Tel. : +32 (0) 2 502 73 55 rules and regulations (beware: If someone ever scoured the cobblestones of Brussels, Email : [email protected] in Belgium the vehicles coming • www.provelo.org it’s certainly me ! It’s here that I learned to ride a Open : from 1 April to 1 October, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from from your right have right of • www.velo.irisnet.be bicycle and that I was run in at the rhythm of the 12.00 to 18.00 (in July and August way), bicycle in a good state of • www.ibgebim.be deliveries that I made on wheels for the family grocery from12.00 to 20.00). Closed on 14 May. repair… When you ride, do (infos parks) © M. Hulst Van not hesitate to make yourself shop, Place des Bouvreuils in Woluwe–Saint –Pierre. If • www.gracq.org today, my business does not leave me the opportunity visible, to take your place on ❸ the road and to signal your to cycle through the town anymore, I can only recom- Le Parc de Woluwé intentions. When you stop, we mend the discovery or rediscovery of the town on a > Crossroads avenue du Parc de Woluwé et strongly suggest that you tie bicycle. What better way is there to discover a town, des Franciscains your bicycle to a lamp post or its inhabitants, its neighbourhoods and patches of 1150 Brussels (Woluwe-Saint-Pierre) a bicycle stand. Bicycle stands Tel. : +32 (0) 2.502 73 55 are more and more numerous nature. Email : [email protected] Pleasant rides ! Open : on Sunday, from 12.00 to 18.00, and available in front of most EDDY MERCKX from 2 April to 1 October. On Saturday, cultural places. Prefer a U- from 12.00 to 18.00, from 3 June to 30 shaped padlock, stronger than September. Closed on 14 May. others. 20 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY BRUSSELS FOR FAMILIES 21

Museum of Natural Sciences My This museum is indisputably one of the most impressive of Brussels. Brussels Minerals, moonstones, whales, insects, and of course the dinosaurs of which the famous for iguanodons of Bernissart…Only a small sample of the treasures of Families this dynamic museum situated right in the centre of the European quarter. To be seen at least once in a lifetime !

> MUSÉUM DES SCIENCES NATURELLES Rue Vautier, 29 - 1000 Brussels Tel. : +32 (0)2 627 42 38 Email : [email protected] Website : www.naturalscience.be Open : Tuesday to Friday from 9.30 to Sciences © Museum of Natural 16.45 (last entry at 16.15; last entry to > MUSÉE DU JOUET and € 3,00 for the Wednesday morning temporary. Exhibitions at 15.45); Saturday Rue de l’Association 24 - 1000 Brussels (9.30 to 11.30). and Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00; during Tel. : + 32 (0)2 219 61 68 Open : from 14.30 to 17.00, Wednesdays, the Belgian school holidays of autumn, the Website : www.museedujouet.be Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays. Christmas holidays, Carnival holidays and Open : 366 days per year from 10.00 to The Museum is destined to children of 4 to Easter holidays from 10.00 to 18.00. 12.00 and from 14.00 to18.00. 12 years. Open till the end of May 2006 Closed : on Mondays Price : Adult : € 4,50- Child, student, Reopening on 14/10/2006 with a new exhi- Price : € 4,00 adult; 6-17 years, student senior and groups : € 3,50 (for groups the bition "Rouge" (Red) and senior : € 3,00 ; disabled: € 1,50 ; child accompanying person goes free of charge) . Access : tram 90 (from gare du nord and under 6 years free - Supplement for tem- Languages : FR,NL,EN,D,ES du midi stop : ”Boondael”), bus 71 (from porary exhibitions : € 3,00 . Access : Metro - line 2 stops : ”Madou or gare centrale stop : ”Hippodrome”). Access : Railway station Brussels- Botanique” - Trams 92 -93- 94 (stop Luxembourg - Metro : line 1 ”Maelbeek” / Congrès) – Bus : 29 – 61 – 63 – 65 – 66 (stops Congrès, Madou or Botanique). line 2 ” Trône”) Bus : 34 – 80 ”Wayenberg” (opposite the Museum) ; 38, 60, 95 et 96 stop ”Parnasse”. Scientastic Museum Top secret – Reserved to children If one day you suspect your parents of preparing a visit to Brussels without Children’s Museum What can be more fun than to dis- you, tell them they are wrong. There are so many activities in Brussels for cover the world through the sensa- the children: parks to walk in, strange places to discover, an itinerary Pilot a bathyscaphe, become a magi- tions it gives us. during which you’ll discover your favourite comic strip characters, muse- cian, build a flying machine, be an Sit down as a fakir, fly as a bird, take ums that can interest you, theatre and musical activities, the whole of actor on a real stage, play with a picture of yourself in an impossible Europe to visit in a few giant’s footsteps…Brussels is in reality a Treasure Toy Museum colours, be the hero of a fairy tale, box, change your voice into that of

Island for the young and the others and your parents will be pleased o visit Scientastic Museum discover one’s own talents, express an alien, whisper secrets from one this town with your young eyes and then explaining it all to them ! The ideal family museum. one’s emotions…all this is possible A last tip: slip this brochure, open at this page… You’ll see the effect it has Youngsters and elders revisit the parabola to another, dance with on them, they will say: “Look at all the activities there will be for you. in the Children’s Museum. your gigantic and colourful shad- magic of childhood through the Could we accompany you ?” You will then be sure to be part of the trip, ows…and explore over 90 other sci- toys of their parents and grandpar- and believe me, nobody will regret it. > MUSÉE DES ENFANTS entific experiences and astonishing CHRISTIAN MERVEILLE ents in a building full of happy Rue du Bourgmestre, 15 - interactive discoveries. Singer nostalgia. Don’t miss the life size 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) Tel. : + 32 (0)2 640 01 07 tram, the miniature kitchen or the > E- mail : SCIENTASTIC merry-go-round cars where the [email protected] Pre-metro ”Bourse”, level -1 – Boulevard children can jostle each other with- Website : www.museedesenfants.be Anspach - 1000 Brussels out being scolded! Numerous ani- Price : € 6,70. Schools upon appointment Tel. : + 32 (0)2 732 13 36 at € 5,50 for a full day (10.00 to 15.00) Email : [email protected] mations make sure that each visit Website : www.scientastic.be

© OPT/JP Remy will be a new adventure! 22 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY BRUSSELS FOR FAMILIES 23

Price : adult : € 6,10 / < 26 years and > PARCOURS LUDIQUE Access : Trams 39 or 44 : stop ”Dépôt de senior : € 4,60 As from 6 years of age Woluwé” – Bus 36 and 42 : stop ”Dépôt de At the Heysel Languages : FR,NL,D,ES Tel. : +32 (0)2 507 84 32 Woluwé”. Open : every day on weekends, school holi- Website : www.montdesarts.be days and bank holidays from 14.00 to Open : From Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 17.30. to 17.00. Access : In the pre-metro station of ”la Price : € 15 (for 2 adults and at least 1 child)At the Cinquantenaire Bourse” (stock exchange), level –1, a stone throw from the Grand Place. Autoworld Museum of the Tram At the automobile museum, cars are Goddess of the Universal exhibition Brussels and its trams…a long love appreciated for their beauty or Recreational itinerary at design or for the quality of their of 1958 for which it was built, this story to be discovered “live” with phenomenal structure was admired the Mont des Arts over 60 vehicles – trams, buses, trol- technology. Over 400 vehicles, retracing the evolution of the auto- by over 42 million visitors in 6 Discover the historical site of the leybuses, taxis – from 1868 to pre- months time. sent days. Not to be missed, the ride mobile between 1886 and 1960, are Mont des Arts while visiting the exhibited under the huge metallic Dominating the Brussels landscape most prestigious cultural sites of the in an ancient tram along the presti- gious avenue de Tervueren between structure of the ancient World Palace from over 300 feet in height, this Capital: the Royal Museum of Fine of the national exhibition of 1880. edifice that embodies ever again Arts, the interactive Musical Woluwe and the cultural site of the Cinquantenaire. modern optimism, is one of the most Instruments Museum, the Palais de > AUTOWORLD significant constructions of the Charles de Lorraine (museum of the Parc du Cinquantenaire 11- 1000 Brussels > MUSÉE DU TRAM 1950’s. Its recent renovation has 18th c.) BOZAR, the Palace conceived Tel. : +32 (0)2 736 41 65 given it back its original shine and Avenue de Tervuren, 364B Email : [email protected] by Horta, master of Art Nouveau, 1150 Brussels (Woluwé-Saint-Pierre) its new fittings guarantee a true BELvue, dedicated to the history of Website : www.autoworld.be Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 515 31 08 Open : from 01/04 to 30/09 from 10.00 to durability. Belgium since the creation in 1830 Email : [email protected] 18.00 and from 01/10 to 31/03 from 10.00 Website : www.mtub.be © Mini-Europe of its constitutional Monarchy, but to 17.00. > Open : from the 1st Saturday in April to the Practical info : the Atomium is open as also , the archaeological Individuals : adult : € 6,00 ; child (6-13 from February 18th, 2006 site of the ancient Palace of Charles 1st Sunday of October only on weekends years) : € 3,00 - student : € 4,70 ; senior : fall of the Berlin Wall, the bullfight in 29 °C ( 85 °F) with indoor and out- and bank holidays from 13.30 to 19.00. Website : www.atomium.be Sevillia and so many others…Not to door zones. Come and live some Quint and finally the cultural space € 4,70. Open : daily, from 10.00 to 18.00 (ticket Price : € 2,00 : entry fee - € 5,00 : entry + Access : Parc du Cinquantenaire Metro be missed at the end of the walk, the unforgettable moments: 11 water- of the ING. historical tram ride - € 2,00 : child from 6 to office closed at 17.30) Mérode Price : February to April: € 7, seniors and “Spirit of Europe”, a recreational slides, swimming pool with waves, The non profit making ”Mont des 11 years and Brussels Tourist Tramway (guided visits + /- 4 h between end of children over 12: € 4, children under 12 gointeractive game to learn the ABC of aqua fun house, sauna land, Jacuzzi, Arts” suggests a recreational and March and end of September only on free. – 1 May to 31 December: adult: € 9, the building of Europe. bounty raft… informative itinerary, to be seen, Sunday mornings at 10.00) : € 12,00 - child seniors and children over 12: € 6, children heard and done with the family and from 6 to 11 years : € 6,00 - reservation under 12 go free. > MINI-EUROPE > OCÉADE compulsory : 02/515 31 08. Royal Museum of the Access : by underground, Heysel station. with the help of a booklet that will Bruparck – 1020 Brussels Bruparck – 1020 Brussels Languages : In French the 1st, 3rd, 4th andArmy and of Military guide you through this site imagined Tel. : +32 (0) 2/ 478 05 50 Tel. : +32 (0) 2/ 478 43 20 5th Sundays, in Dutch, only the 2nd Sunday. by the “builder king”, Leopold II, History Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] who changed the face of Brussels. Website : www.minieurope.com Website : www.oceade.be Situated just opposite the Autoworld, Mini-Europe Open : from 25/03 to 30/06 : from 9.30 to Open : Wednesday to Friday from 10.00 to this free museum houses 10 centuries 18.00 (*) - from 1/07 to 31/08(*) : from 18.00 – Saturday, Sunday and Bank 9.30 to 20.00 - from 1/09 to 30/09 (*) : Holidays from 10.00 to 21.00. of history and European military tech- Situated at the foot of the Atomium, Mini-Europe is the only park where, from 9.30 to 18.00 – from 1/10 to Price : Child < 1m15 : free - child between nology, from the Middle Ages to pre- 7/01/2007 : from 10.00 to 18.00 (*). Last 1m15 and 1m30 : € 11,50 - Adult and sent days through fire arms, armour, in a few hours, you will travel admission (*) : 1 hour before the closing of child >1m30 : € 14,50. uniforms, paintings, sculptures, tanks, through Europe, admiring its most the park. Access : Ring of Brussels exit 8 – Train : planes and personal memorabilia. We prestigious historical monuments Individuals : adult : € 12,00; child (- 12 Gare Centrale take the Metro Heysel line favour the section dedicated to the Air. and also its most edifying technolo- years) : € 9,00 - child -1 m20 : free 1A. Stop ”Heysel”. gical symbols, all represented by 300 Languages : catalogue available in scale models, all of which on the FR,NL,EN,D,SP,IT, Hebrew and Russian. > ROYAL MUSEUM OF THE ARMY Access : Ring of Brussels exit 8 – Métro Parc du Cinquantenaire 3 - 1000 Brussels same scale and of an unsurpassed Heysel line 1A. Tel. : +32 (0)2 / 737 79 07 quality. Planetarium Email : [email protected] Between a 42 ft. Eifel Tower and a Website : www.klm-mra.be 39 ft. long Acropole, it’s a real jour- The Planetarium is a magical place. Open : Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00 to ney that awaits you, bringing you 12.00 and from 13.00 to 16.45 Thanks to different astonishing Closed : Monday, 1 January, 1 May, fine souvenirs and projects of future Océade shows, you will learn to recognise 1 November, 25 December travels. Start off the animations your- the most known constellations, spot self: the eruption of the Vesuvius, the © Toy Museum Toy © Subtropical aquatic park heated at the Polar star and the Pleiades; fol- 24 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY BRUSSELS FOR FAMILIES 25

The Tenbosch Park fishing and playgrounds are perma- nently active. In certain occasions Green miracle in the heart of it’s the theatre of various attrac- Ixelles, this family park has 7.4 tions and animations: sport demons- acres surrounded by a high trations, open air concerts, fire- wrought iron fence. Children build works, inflated castles… sand castles or jostle in the play- ground, embracing on the public > BOIS DE LA CAMBRE benches, the teenagers build 1000 Brussels Permanently open castles in Spain. Dad and Mum hesitate between hitting the tennis ball, playing “boules” or wandering along the paths and the romantic THEATRE AND fountains. PUPPETS

> PARC TENBOSCH Chaussée de Vleurgat 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) Le Peruchet Open : from 9.00 to 20.00 from April to > Av. de la Forêt, 50 à 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) October, and from 9.00 to 16.00 the rest of Tel. : + 32 (0)2/ 673 87 30 - the year. +32 473/260 377 Access : Bus : 37,38 – Trams : 93,94. Shows on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 15.00. Closed in July / August. Languages : FR. NL or Eng on request The Bois de la Cambre © Océade Situated at the end of the avenue Théâtre du Ratinet low the movements of the planets Louise, the wood is a great walk. around the Sun; observe and under- PARKS AND WOODS The wood is forbidden to traffic > Av. de Fré 44, à 1180 Brussels (Uccle) stand the phases of the moon. You during the weekends of the good Tel. : + 32 (0)2/375 15 63 will also observe the brilliant images season. It’s an ideal place for Shows on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday walks, for relaxation and for games. at 15.30 also on the other days during of the spatial telescopes and find The Park of Brussels school holidays at 15.30 (except Monday) yourself amidst the astronomical Health paths and roller skates, sites of the Andes or even on the Between the visits of the BELvue, surface of the moon. The stars in the of the underground galleries of the sky will soon have no more secrets Palace of Charles de Lorraine, of for you. the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, of du Peruchet Théatre © the MIM and of the BOZAR, nothing better than a great breath of fresh > PLANÉTARIUM DE L'OBSERVATOIRE Théâtre de la MontagneFerme du Parc ROYAL DE BELGIQUE air for the kids in the playground magique Maximilien Avenue de Bouchout, 10 - 1020 Brussels of the Royal Park of Brussels, a Tel : +32 (0)2/ 474 70 50 stone throw from the huge fountain, > Rue du Marais, 57 – 1000 Brussels > 21, quai du Batelage - 1210 Brussels Email : [email protected] from the bandstand and the ponds. Tel. : + 32 (0)2/ 210 15 90 Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 201 56 09 Website : www.planetarium.be Website : Email : [email protected] Open : Monday to Friday from 9.00 to Enough to funnel the energies and www.theatremontagnemagique.be Website : www.fermeduparcmaximilien.be 16.30, and on Sundays from 13.30 to to awaken the most tired…This Language : Fr 16.00. Closed on Saturdays and on 1, 2, 11park is situated between the Royal and 15 November; on 25 December Palace of Brussels and the Palais Ferme "Nos Pilifs" Price : adult : € 4,00 - child, student, de la Nation. It was designed in > 347, Trasserweg - 1120 Brussels senior, groups : € 3,00. EDUCATIONAL FARMS Tel. : +32 (0) 2 /262 11 06 Access : Tram : 18 stop : Stade, trams : 23,the 18th c. in the classical style of Email : [email protected] 81 stop : Heysel - Bus 84, 89 stop : Heyselthe - Tuilleries of Paris. It welcomes Website : www.fermenospilifs.be Metro : line 1A way to Roi Baudouin, stopsince 1782 a theatre, still active, ”Houba-Brugmann or Heysel”. the Theatre Royal du Parc. Ferme d'Uccle Languages : FR,NL. Other languages > 93, veille rue du Moulin (EN,D) on reservation. 1180 Brussels (Uccle) Tel. : +32 (0) 2/ 374 18 96 26 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY YOUNG BRUSSELS 27

RESTAURANTS/CLUBS My BY DISTRICT To put you on the right tracks we Young have selected a number of inescapable places of the Brussels night around five “night life” Brussels neighbourhoods. Follow the guide!

The Centre The Place Saint-Géry and the Saint-

Jacques district: first of all have Night Club You © fun ! A stone through from the Grand Walvis L’Ultime Atome Place, to be discovered without Opposite the Canal and in the re- Inescapable canteen of the area to delay and without moderation, nowned street of the fashion crea- have a drink and eat small things at crowded terraces as soon as the tors, a cosmopolitan place. democratic prices. sun shines and bars for evenings “Bruxellois” and trendy. > Rue Saint-Boniface, 14 amongst friends with a good beer ! > Rue Dansaert, 209 - 1000 Brussels 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) Young and hip public. You Night Club Le Comptoir Florian Archiduc A must in the city centre . In an Art Nouveau house, small t’s evident. Brussels has something special : It’s a completely delirious In the purest art deco style, live jazz > Rue Duquesnoy, 18 - 1000 Brussels literary tearoom. I concerts. amalgam of small neighbourhoods! There is the Saint-Boniface area, the Site: www.leyou.be > Rue Saint-Boniface, 17 > Rue Dansaert, 6 - 1000 Brussels Flagey area, the area around the Place du Chatelain, the Ixelles cemetery, 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) the surroundings of the “Halles” St Géry… With a completely different de Kerchove/BITC © Olivier van Dali's Bar Sounds Jazz Club ambience, you lose yourself in the restaurants and small bars with DJ. Saint-Boniface Bar House. Decoration dedicated to Temple of Jazz and occasional Other strong point, the budget restaurants which, here, are a real treat! the artist. The Art Nouveau neighbourhood of concerts. > Everything is good! The amateurs of vintage and secondhand will also be Petite rue des Bouchers, 35 - 1000 Brusselsrestaurants > Rue de la Tulipe, 29 - 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) seduced: open your eyes as the comic strip places, the record shops and Le Montecristo Between the Matonge district that the secondhand clothes dealers offer good bargains at hours when the lives at the pace of Africa and the clubs and bars are still invisible. Warm ambience, sometimes feverish chaussée d’Ixelles with its cheap At nightfall, lights and neon signs appear at last…concert halls, private > Rue Maus, 25 - 1000 Brussels shops, a preserved island emerges, YOUTH ACCOMMODA- evenings, clubs and show places – of which the mythi- Le Mappa Mundo marked by the architect Blérot who cal Cirque Royal, the inescapable Botanique or the illuminated the facades with his sgraf- TION IN BRUSSELS ! Wooden caravel for an international Ancienne Belgique – offer excellent music – whatever fites and ”bow windows” that were in public. your preferred tastes can be – without mentioning all fashion in the 1900’s. The convivial > Rue du Pont de la Carpe, 2-6 - 1000 Brussels To know all about the five these incredible performances mixing music, dance, atmosphere is generated by the young population, students of the Academy photography and video. A particular tenderness for the Le Roi des Belges youth accommodation of Music or the school of cinema, also centres in Brussels. contemporary art galleries near the canal. Between modernism and retro, the very cosmopolitan – we are not far Every evening, something takes place and it imperative address of the covered from the European district - and finally Each one of them modern, would really be a pity to stay home! food market. very ”artist”. It’s also one of the comfortable and easily > Rue Jules Van Praet, 35-37 - 1000 Brusselspreferred neighbourhoods of comic Sold Out © Grégory Derkenne accessible, offers numerous Charlotte and David from the group Sold out Le Sud strip lovers who roam through the bookshops of the chaussée d’Ixelles services and quality Varied DJ's for a practically unique and chaussée de Wavre. In this area welcoming at low rates drink, an explosive mix of vodka and each doorway opens into a restaurant. lemon. A piece of advice: try them all, their > Rue de l'Ecuyer, 43 - 1000 Brussels quality is exceptional. www.logerjeune.be 28 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY YOUNG BRUSSELS 29

Belgium and its La Bastoche Europe in Brussels, Recyclart astonishing history As above. an evidence to be Underground festivities each week- Have you already asked yourself > Chaussée de Boondael, 473 seen and better understood… end evening and a few concerts. 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) > what you knew exactly about > Rue des Ursulines, 25 - 1000 Brussels Visit of the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Website : www.recyclart.be Belgium ? For a young country, Le Soho Club Visitors entrance : Belgium has a captivating history ! rue Wiertz, 43 - 1047 Etterbeek Meet at the BELvue: the first muse- Open Friday and Saturday as from Tel. : + 32 (0) 2 / 284 34 57 + 32 (0) 2 / 284 35 82 um dedicated to the history of 11 PM, disco. © OPT/JP Remy LOOKING FOR AN Belgium from the 1830 Revolution > Boulevard du Triomphe, 47 Website : www.europarl.eu.int 1160 Brussels (Auderghem) Conway's Free of charge AMBIENCE THAT’S BRILL? to the actual Federal State. Audio-guided visits : Monday to Thursday at 10.00 and 15.00, Friday > MUSÉES BELVUE L’Atelier America as if you were there : bud, only at 10.00. Place des Palais, 7 - 1000 Brussels shots, spare-ribs and MTV music. Halles de Schaerbeek Infos : +32-(0)2-545 08 00 With its 250 beers, it’s the meeting > Avenue de la Toison d'Or, 10 Email : [email protected] place par excellence of students. 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) Unique location in Brussels for its Website : http://www.belvue.be > Rue Elise, 77 programming and for the specificity Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00 to 18.00 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) Le Louise Gallery of its setting: the ”halles” (covered (from June to September)), from 10.00 Marolles Mythic disco of Brussels, Electro market) are an exceptional witness to 17.00 (October to May) Closed : La Petite Planète th 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and music, Dance or RNB. The Rue Haute and the Rue Blaes of 19 c. industrial architecture. 25 December. Pitta restaurant, with the enormous > Friday and Saturday. Galerie Louise, 1 are arguably the kingdom of second European Cultural Centre of the Botanique © F. Latinis Price : € 3 - students, youngsters from advantage of being open till 6 AM, 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) French speaking community, the hand shops and interior decoration. cess thanks to its multi-vitamin pro- 13 to 18 years, seniors, unemployed : € 2. the meeting point of those who can- Website : www.louisegallery.com “halles” develop a multi-discipli- You will find fabric merchants, exotic gramming and the quality of its Access : Tram : 92, 93, 94 stop ”Royal”not sleep. nary, contemporary, engaged and furniture or real “souks” where musical discoveries. – Bus : 38, 60, 71 – Metro : Parc, Trône, > Chaussée de Boondael, 467 Les Salons de l’Atalaïde international project that confirms Porte de Namur, Gare Centrale 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) crockery, trinkets, artefacts of all ori- > Rue Royale, 236 Restaurant and bar of baroque gins stand side by side. The neigh- their particular place in the creative 1210 Brussels (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode) Le Tavernier luxury close to the Thousand and bourhood of the Marolles is still geography of Brussels. Website : www.botanique.be One Nights. inhabited by ”echte brusseleirs" > Rue Royale Sainte Marie, 22 To have a drink, on the terrace or > Chaussée de Charleroi, 89 1030 Brussels (Schaerbeek) (true Brusselers), pure, original Website : www.halles.be inside. Mainly busy in the evening, 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) inhabitants who speak a very typical Want to know more Ixelles Cemetery with loud music on weekend nights. Website : www.b-eat.be half-French, half-Flemish lingo ! It is > Chaussée de Boondael they who animate the life of this The University neighbourhood 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) Ancienne Belgique Events taking place : Le Living Room popular area. Restaurants, typical The festivities often end in the early Who says concerts in Brussels says www.brusselsinternational.be Le Ratabar The great show off : lighting and cafés and trendy discos are galore. www.belgium-tourism.be hours of the morning. Also the uni- mirror effects , padded sofas and “AB”! The Ancienne Belgique orga- versity neighbourhood is one of the Relaxed ambience, with the apple majestic bar – very posh. Fleur en papier doré nises concerts of international artists rare areas of town to show constant submarine as the specialty of the > Chaussée de Charleroi, 50 (Flower in Golden Paper) Ancient as well as of local talents. The animation. Democratically priced house. To be tried by all means ! 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) café of the surrealists, when authen- DOMINO festival in March/April > restaurants and cafés open till late Chaussée de Boondael, 345 Website : www.lelivingroom.be tic rimes with lambic (a special beer). highlights all the music that is situ- 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) are the attraction of this area. > Rue des Alexiens, 53 - 1000 Brussels ated outside the beaten tracks and Notwithstanding its name, it’s the Dirty Dancing au Mirano during the last week of August the Mecca of student festivities. Hype evening on electro music. Fuse - La Démence AB organises a free of charge, open air festival in the city centre. Café de l’Université Upper Town > Chaussée de Louvain, 38 (Dementia) The best and best known 1210 Brussels (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode) techno DJ's but also drum & bass. > Bd. Anspach, 110 – 1000 Brussels The chic neighbourhood Website : www.dirtydancing.be (near the Stock Exchange) For a friendly drink and meal. > Rue Blaes, 208 - 1000 Brussels > Chée de Boondael, 475 In the posh quarter of the town, Website : www.abconcerts.be 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) the avenue Louise and the Belga Havana Boulevard de Waterloo are the Its inescapable terrace and its colour- For well to do amateurs of Cuban Botanique "Champs Elysées" of Brussels. The ful atmosphere make it a Must. joys. avenue de la Toison d’Or and the > Place Flagey, 18 – 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) > Rue de l'Epée, 4 - 1000 Brussels Mecca of rock music, of mad con- chaussée de Charleroi can also Website : www.cafebelga.be Website : www.havana-brussels.com certs, of exhibitions but also cinema, boast of a concentration of luxury the lot crammed into the gem of names, cinemas and a theatre. A Chez Johnny – Claridge Le Bazaar Brussels’ neo-classical architecture concentration of cafés, restaurants Fans of cloclo and old tacky songs Multi-cultural vocation for a varied (ancient botanical garden and and night clubs make this area the will love it here. dance floor. greenhouses dating back to 1826). Brochures Young, Night and Fashion are available inescapable meeting point of night > Ch. de Louvain, 24 > Rue des Capucins, 63-65 - 1000 Brussels End of May, early June, the “Nights revellers. 1210 Brussels (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode) of the Botanique” is a roaring suc- in the tourist offices © OPT/JP Remy 30 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY SPORTING BRUSSELS 31

JOGGING SWIMMING POOLS

My Nothing better than a little jogging in the splendid parks of Brussels to Victor Boin swimming pool 1210 Brussels (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode) help you unwind. One quarter of the Tel. : +32 (0) 2/ 217 39 41 Sporting surface of Brussels is occupied by Website : www.piscinestfrancois.be green spaces, there is therefore no A magnificent age old pool sur- Open : Monday to Wednesday from 8.00 lack of choice! If you are staying in rounded by individual cabins, to 20.00, Thursday from 8.00 to 22.00, Brussels hydrotherapy installations that are FridayDIVING from 8.00 to 19.00, Saturday : clubs the city centre, the Parc Royal with its geometrical alleyways dotted unique in Belgium! Price : € 2,50 with statues of the mythology and Némo 33 the majestic Parc du Cinquantenaire, > PISCINE VICTOR BOIN are havens of peace very appre- Rue de la Perche, 38 Baptisms and PADI diving certifi- ciated by city dwellers. 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) Open : Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday cates. Beginners or confirmed divers, from 8.00 to 19.00 – Wednesday from 14.00amateurs or tourists, come and dis- to 19.00 and Saturday from 9.00 to 18.00 cover the deepest in the world FITNESS Email : [email protected] indoor diving pool. Price : € 2,00 Access : trams 18-55-81-90, Metro stationBar,Asian restaurant, the ”Club Some very trendy places are accessi- ”Horta” - bus 48 House” with an extraordinary view ble without membership for a of the pool through 7 portholes. moment of relaxation or intense training! > NÉMO 33 Saint-François Rue de Stalle, 333 - 1180 Brussels (Uccle) Vitao Tel. : +32 (0) 2/ 332 33 34 swimming pool Open : 7 days a week A place where one feels well and where Price : available on the website one does oneself good in a zen loft. Warm-hearted welcome in this Website : www.nemo33.com Gym & Dance lessons and hydro magnificent Art Deco swimming Access : via the ring junction 18 dir. Uccle pool, major architectural achieve- – located at the rond-point des Menhirs. sessions a la carte ! Trams from the Gare du Nord and Midi : 18 > Rue de l’Abbaye, 20- 1050 Brussels (Ixelles)ment, witness of the social, technical and 52 – stop ”Stalle” Tel. : + 32 (0) 2 / 554 08 88 and sports history of the 20th c. Website : www.vitao.be > PISCINE SAINT-FRANÇOIS Waou Club Med Gym Rue Saint-François, 23-27

t’s not necessary to be a professional to practice The multilingual meeting of adepts I of body pump and body attack. one’s sport in Brussels. Even if events such as the Van One-day passes. Damme Memorial, or the Brussels marathon have > Av. de la Toison d’Or, 56 achieved international fame, sport in Brussels is equal 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 534 14 62 to conviviality. Website : www.clubmedgym.com

If we practice it with assiduity in the numerous clubs Mémorial Van Damme or if we take part in big popular events such as the 20 km of Brussels or the roller parade, what really characterises sport in the capital is the ambience. Here, the “3rd part-time” is a full part of the game.

PAUL VAN HIMST Football Star Némo 33 © Vitao 32 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY SPORTING BRUSSELS 33

Damme. Qualified as one of the Tel. : +32 (0)2 474 39 44 Festive and friendly ambience. GOLF best of all athletic meetings in the Email : [email protected] > Tel. : +32 (0)2 227 27 24 world and part of the Golden Website : www.staderoibaudouin.be Website : www.belgiumrollers.com League, the Van Damme Memorial Open : Wednesday to Saturday from 10.30 Open : Every Friday by good weather from to 18.30 June to September (Info as from 16.00). Brussels Golf Club is THE guarantee of witnessing Beware : closing of the discovery itinerary Academy & Training exceptional athletic performances. during events in the stadium. Music is also present at this unusual Price : Individual ticket : adult : € 6,00 – Center gathering. Punctuating the sporting Children, students and seniors : € 4,00 per THE 20 KM OF performances at the start, it person Access : Metro : line 1A stop Baudouin - BRUSSELS Comprehensive installations allow ini- resounds later till late in the night, tiation to golf or perfecting one’s Car : ring junction 8 (Wemmel) direction enticing many spectators to dance, centre – Bruxelles.. game on this 9 hole course. all styles mixed up. Excellent jogger or confirmed ath- lete? The Esplanade of the Cinquantenaire awaits you for the > BRUSSELS GOLF CLUB ACADEMY & > Website : www.memorialvandamme.be TRAINING CENTER departure of this race that follows Chaussée de la Hulpe, 53A SENTIERS DE GRANDE the prettiest avenues of the town 1180 Brussels (Watermael-Boitsfort) DISCOVERY ITINERARY and crosses the pastoral Bois de la Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 672 22 22 RANDONNÉE Cambre. Each year some 20.000 Email : [email protected] Website : www.brusselsgolfclub.com OF THE KING BAUDOUIN people take part, encouraged by (Grand Rambling paths) enthusiastic crowds massed all STADIUM along the itinerary. The shouts and If you thought that to go on a hike applause are just as appreciated as Royal Amicale Legendary games, memorable ath- you necessarily had to leave town the refreshments and musical mar- and go to the countryside, you were Anderlecht Golf Club letes and races, unforgettable con- quees stretched along this beautiful certs… and what a stadium ! A per- wrong ! To hike in Brussels ? itinerary. Nothing easier ! You need only to This 18 hole course demands a good manent exhibition, interactive and thrilling, shows you the surprising follow the itinerary of the GR who > Date : Sunday 28 May 2006 at 15.00 on technique and precision. It also suggest 9 walks in our capital and offers a practice of 35 places set on world of the King Baudouin the esplanade of the Cinquantenaire. who make the links with the GR Website : www.20kmdebruxelles.be two levels and lit till 20.00. Stadium. You’ll be able to visit the backstage of the stadium, the locker itineraries entering town from the rooms of the Red Devils, the dope- countryside. > ROYAL AMICALE ANDERLECHT GOLF control room, the security tower, the CLUB > Rue Scholle 1 press room and to walk on the pres- A GR topological guide that describes in 1070 Brussels (Anderlecht) tigious athletics track. Videos, arte- detail the GR itinerary, points out the Tel. : +32 (0) 2 / 521 16 87 facts, sounds will evoke for you the curiosities and gives technical indications is Email : [email protected] great moments, exhilarating or dra- available from : Les Sentiers de Grande Website : www.golf-anderlecht.com Randonnée – PO Box 10 – 4000 LIEGE matic of the history of the stadium. Tel. : 32 (0)70 223 023 In the footsteps of the greatest stars Website : www.grsentiers.org of sports and show, you will grasp

International Jumping of Brussels how one of the most prestigious stadiums of Europe functions. Hotel Le Plaza welcomes you in the magnificent SUMMER FRIDAYS – If you are “addicted”, then don’t INTERNATIONAL JUMPING setting of Tour et Taxis to offer you > STADE ROI BAUDOUIN ROLLERS hesitate to stay at the luxurious a top class indoor event. avenue de Marathon 121 Plaza Hotel ! On the roof of this OF BRUSSELS 1020 Brussels magnificent palace, that has wel- > Date : to be defined Nothing on TV Friday evening ? Put comed the greatest stars, you’ll The Audi Equestrian Masters has Website : www.equestrianmasters.com on your rollers, Brussels is yours for find the golf practice - question become one of the inescapable the evening ! The appointment is of not loosing that swing that events of the capital. With the set- made for 19.00, place Poelaert, ting up of a new world final for the suits you so well. THE KING BAUDOUIN departure 20.00 on an itinerary of 20 km of Brussels The best international horsemen, the approximately 3 hours. Note that it Brussels’ Jumping is part of the STADIUM changes each week and that it’s > Hôtel Le Plaza most prestigious sporting events bd Adolphe Max 118 – 1000 Brussels free of charge. Don’t forget the For all information concer- Tel : +32 (0) 2-278 01 00 organised in Belgium. Sustained by The Belgian national football stadi- necessary equipment though : Website : www.leplaza-brussels.be Nelson Pessoa, it guarantees a high um, it also welcomes various other rollers, helmet, knee pads, elbow ning a club : level show since it assembles the disciplines and sporting events of pads and reflective bands that you www.cocof.be/sport/hguide.htm 40 best horse riders of the world. It which the famous Memorial Van can eventually hire on the spot. 34 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY BRUSSELS ON SUNDAY 35

The ”Mont des Arts” Pass My As its name so well indicates, you’ll find here, a concentration of art and Brussels history. The most prestigious cultural venues of the capital are assembled

here on a few hundred square yards. Hulst on Throughout the year a most interes- ting “pass” allows you to wander on Saturdays and Sundays from concert Sunday to cinema to exhibition or workshop for kids, be it at the Palace of Fine Arts, at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts (permanent exhibitions), at the Royal Library, at the Palace of Charles of Lorraine (museum of the 18th c.), at the MIM (museum of

musical instruments) or the ING PLace du jeu de balle © BITC / M. Van Cultural Space, the BELvue museum and, below ground, the ancient > BOZAR STUDIOS Palais des Beaux-Arts de Brussels, Brussels Centre Palace of Charles Quint rue Ravenstein, 23 – 1000 Brussels Accesible to the disabled upon appoint- > MONT DES ARTS ASBL ment: +32 (0)2/507 82 20 ➊ Flower market Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 507 84 32 Tel. : +32 (0)70/34 45 77 Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Website : www.montdesarts.be The Grand - Place has always been Price Breakfast@bozar : € 10,00 (€ 3,20the theatre of a flower market. Price : € 11,00 (adults) - € 5,50 (students, under 12 years) under 26 years and unemployed), free for Price Bozarsundays : Family ticket € 24 Nowadays, modest but deeply children under 13. (valid for 2 adults and 2 children under 18)attached to the place, it remains an Access : – includes the whole programme and the eye-catcher. The colours and fresh- • Trams/Bus : 27-38-60-71-92-93-94-95-96tea break / it’s compulsory that the adults be stop ”Royal” ness of its roses, tulips, geraniums accompanied by children ! Individual ticket are: enhanced by the magnificent • Metro : Parc, Gare Centrale and Porte de adults : € 10; under 18 years : € 5; under 14 Namur years : € 3; Ligue des familles : 25%. decor. • Train : Gare Centrale Access : • Parking : Grand Place & Albertine • Train : 5 min. from the Gare Centrale via> Marché aux fleurs – Grand-Place Languages : FR,NL,EN - most often and the Galerie Ravenstein Daily, (except on Mondays) from March to depending on activities (multiple)... • Trams : 92, 93, 94 the end of October from 8.00 to 18.00. Sunday reveals the true face of Brussels. If, during • Metro : Gare Centrale the week, the town plays at being a great cosmopoli- • Bus : 21, 27, 29, 38, 60, 63, 65, 66, 71, tan city, on Sundays, it sheds its working clothes and 95, 96 ❷ Antiques reveals itself as it is: gentle, warm-hearted, dreamy, a Breakfast@bozar & place to stroll and chat. Bozarsundays Every Saturday and Sunday, in the © J-P Remy shadows of one of the prettiest I like to start the day with a walk in the forest of sacred buildings of Brussels, a luxury Soignes, then lunch at the Sablons, after having a look Sunday is first of all breakfast@bozar; breakfast, concert at the antique shops. The afternoon is dedicated to and workshops to start the day on a MARKETS the pleasures of the body: games, sports, sex – con- pleasant note. In the afternoon, currently - . And meet your friends in the evening. thanks to the BOZARSUNDAYS fami- In Belgium, markets are a real tra- Brussels is gentle. Brussels is warm-hearted. ly ticket, the parents follow the gui- dition. This is where you can feel ded visit and the children have the the heartbeat of Brussels. Each one choice between the discovery itine- ERIC-EMMANUEL SCHMIDTT has its originality, its ambience, its rary and the workshops. Culinary odours, its public and its street Writer creations, painting, computers and pedlars. For your facility we have photography are programmed… not classified the most typical by forgetting tea to end the day! district. 36 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY BRUSSELS ON SUNDAY 37

antique market takes place. It is held creation and is not far from it today on the Place du Grand Sablon invad- thanks to an exceptional and exact SECOND-HAND MARKETS BOOKSHOPS ON Waterstone’s ed by eclectic collectors in search of restoration. If you’re a fan of English literature, Rococo chairs, silverware or ancient The > Market, daily except Monday from 8.00 to SUNDAYS … To complete a collection, find a spe- this is your place! porcelain, hoping to find the gem of 13.00 ”Zwanze” cific artefact of your childhood, deco- 2 floors of books, novels, gripping their collection. rate your interior with ancient objects, Filigranes stories…all with the so typically Boutiques and posh shops surround decorate an office with a framed British welcome and accent. the market: renowned chocolate is favoured by the ”Bruxellois”. The European District – share or stock certificate, make an Situated in the European district, this > Bd Adolphe Max, 71 -1000 Brussels makers, gastronomic restaurants and word designates a way of speech, of Place Jourdan unusual gift or buy a valuable object, bookshop of over 9000 sq.ft. offers a Tel. : +32 (0) 2 /219 27 08 luxury furniture shops. making fun that is unique to the come and hunt around on the sec- coffee corner, concerts, a space for the Open : on Sunday from 10.30 to 18.00 inhabitants, a cocky humour tinted ond-hand markets of Brussels. Here little ones, not forgetting the interna- The other days from 9.00 to 19.00 > Convivial and cosmopolitan Place du Sablon – 1000 Brussels by surrealism and characterised by ambience in front of these stalls are some of the main ones : tional press and the book signings.The Every Saturday (from 9.00 to 18.00) and popular good sense. detective novels and science fiction can Sunday (from 9.00 to 14.00) where everything is found… La librairie de Rome > Every Sunday from 8.00 to 13.00 Anderlecht be found in the cellars of an ancient bank. Surrealist ! Only a stone throw from the very ❸ Flea markets Westland Shopping, boulevard > Avenue des Arts, 39 – 1040 Brussels trendy avenue Louise, squeezed Gare du midi A gourmet stopover is a Sylvain Dupuis Tel. : +32 (0) 2/511 90 15 between the dress designers and the > Every Sunday, indoors and outdoors.As from Website : www.filigranes.be hip interior decoration shops, an inter- A few minutes from the Sablon , in (South station) must in this district ! April, from 7.00 to 13.00 Saturday from 9.30 to 19.00 and Sunday national bookshop where you’ll find all the heart of the “Marolles”, old tele- Multicultural and popular ambience from 10.00 to 18.00 – 365 days per annum. Go to the most popular of our and everything in daily press and nov- phones, little spoons, rusted iron for the largest market of Brussels. “Baraques à frites”. Since els.A must of the cosmopolitan life. beds, vinyl records and prams pile up. > Every Sunday from 6.00 to 13.30 Auderghem 1948 the Maison Antoine > Rue Jean Stas, 16A The “Vieux Marché” (old market), as Hermann-Debroux provides chips that are “out of Candide 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) the inhabitants call it, is one of the > The last Sunday of the month from 6.00 to Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/511 79 37 most picturesque of the capital. The Ponds of Ixelles this world” and greatly 13.00 Little piece of paper in the blue sky Open daily from 8.30 to 20.00 contribute to the reputation of of the quaint Place Brugmann with At daybreak the trucks unload their Boulevard du Souverain, (opposite its resolutely different shops near treasures. This is where the popular ”Zen attitude” ambience for this our chips. Don’t hesitate to the Cultural Centre) the avenue Louise and the Place du heart of Brussels beats. The sur- market taking place alongside the take them into one of the > On the second Sunday of the month from rounding streets are packed with ponds : herons, swans and Art neighbouring “brasseries” to 7.00 to 14.00 Chalelain. The Candide bookshop, second-hand shops, antique dealers Nouveau town houses are present wash them down with a nice, much appreciated by the people of and bazaars of all sorts, turning the all around. After the walk through cool Belgian beer. the neighbourhood, displays general

area into an Ali-Baba cave. On the stalls a refreshment at the Café Forest literature on a minimum amount of © Tropismes Sunday the market and shops are Belga on the Place Flagey is a must. Maison Antoine – place Jourdan Place Saint-Denis square feet as well as national and open till about 3 PM. And just above, admire the modernist > Every Sunday from 7.00 to 13.00 international press. “Brussels ”Steamship”, previously the INR > Place Brugmann, 1 - 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) Yours to > Place du jeu de Balle (Institut National de Radiodiffusion). Tel. : +32 (0)2/344 81 94 1000 Brussels This image and sound factory was Koekelberg Open on Sunday from 8.00 to 18.00 Discover” Daily from 7.00 to 14.00 the best studio in the world at its Market of On weekdays from 8.00 to 19.00 Place Simonis You want to immerse yourself Watermael Boitsfort > The second Saturday of the month from 9.00 to 13.00 into the every day life of the Far from the hustle and bustle of the Tropismes “Bruxellois” in the very heart of city centre, a particular manner in their 19 neighbourhoods? You Original ball room décor for well- which to sample the charm of a Woluwé Saint-Lambert wish to discover their legendary well-to-do residential area highly Place Saint-Lambert behaved young girls right in the warm-heartedness, their home, their passions, their talents, their appreciated by the inhabitants of > The first Sunday of the month, from 6.00 centre of the Galeries Royales Saint the capital. Green district par excel- to13.00 Hubert… Astonishing stucco ceilings, artists, their little “tricks” to make lence, Watermael Boitsfort is the mezzanine and mirrored walls with life more pleasant, their neigh- Woluwe Shopping Center bourhood associations, their gar- darling of the “bobo” (middle class > shelves heavy with literature and The third Sunday of the month from 9.00 to dens, their windmills, their monu- person leading a Bohemian lifestyle) 13.00 books specialised in human sciences and of the real estate agents of or Fine Arts. Well worth a visit! ments ? Discover 6 times a year, Brussels: the tiniest plot of land is > 11 Galerie des Princes / 11 Galerie du Roi the weekends of “Brussels My worth a fortune! Spreading around 1000 Brussels Discovery”! The inhabitants open the town hall, the market specialises Open : on Sunday from 13.30 to 18.30 – their doors and their arms. To be in food, organic produce, crafts and Monday to Saturday from 10.30 to 18.30 sampled with the heart. Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 512 88 52 > Website : textile Website : www.tropismes.be www.brusselsinternational.be > Market every Sunday from 8.00 to13.00 © OPT/JP Remy 38 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY GAY BRUSSELS 39

EVENTS INFORMATION BOOTH Gay and Lesbian Bookshops 1 My Gay Gay Pride Tels Quels asbl Darakan 7 In the streets of the city centre. Centre of information, activity, > Rue du Midi, 9 - 1000 Brussels Brussels 6 May. exchange, bar. Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 512 20 76 > Website : www.blgp.be > Rue Marché au Charbon, 81 1000 Brussels Gay and Lesbian Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 512 45 87 Open : on weekdays as from 9.00 and Restaurants Film Festival weekends from 14.00 Website : www.telsquels.be Boysboudoir 3 At the Botanical Gardens from 12 to Ambience Latino/New York – 21 January. 2 > Rue Royale, 136 Maison arc-en-ciel Mediterranean cuisine. 1210 Brussels > Rue Marché au charbon, 25 Website : www.fglb.org (Rainbow house) 1000 Brussels Centre of information, exchange, Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 502 09 18 Pinkscreens Festival bar. Website : www.boysboudoir.be > Rue Marché au Charbon, 42 4 Queer and alternative festival. 1000 Brussels El Papagayo Mid-May. Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 503 59 90 Latino cuisine. Open : Wednesday to Saturday as from > > Cinéma Nova 18.00 Place Rouppe, 6 - 1000 Brussels Rue d'Arenberg, 3 Website : www.rainbowhouse.be Tel. : + 32 (0) 2 /514 50 83 1000 Brussels Email : [email protected] Website : www.pinkscreens.org

When I dropped my heavy suitcases in the heart of the Saint-Jacques quarter, over ten years ago, I was far from thinking that these narrow cobbled streets were to become the heart of gay Brussels. Don’t try to count the number of rainbow flags that adorn the © M. Hulst Van facades of shops and create a friendly ambience to welcome the numerous visitors from all over the world. You’ll find below the places to discover gay-ly.

MAMAN From Maman 40 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY GAY BRUSSELS 41

11 Duquesnoy The inescapable Leather bar. > Rue Duquesnoy, 12 evenings 1000 Brussels Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 502 38 83 Next >>> 19 Website : www.duquesnoy.com Queer & mixed public evening. 8 > Each first Saturday of the month at the Fuse Homo Erectus Rue Blaes 208 - 1000 Brussels > Rue des Pierres, 57 - 1000 Brussels Website : www.next-party.be Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 514 74 93 Website : www.lhomoerectus.com La Démence 19 Iris 12 Mythical & international. > Each last Friday of the month or before > Rue de la Fourche, 12 Bank Holidays at the Fuse 1000 Brussels Rue Blaes, 208 - 1000 Brussels Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 219 88 83 Website : www.lademence.com La Réserve 13 Bubble Gum Themed evening every month. Kitsch & fun. > Petite rue au beurre, 2a > Each Saturday at the Vogue 1000 Brussels Rue de Louvain, 2-4 - 1000 Brussels Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 511 66 06 Website : www.bubble-gum.be

© OPT/JP Remy Le Baroque 2 Dansez-vous français?20 Halloween 5 > Rue Marché au Charbon, 44 Off-beat and in French. 1000 Brussels > Each last Friday of the month at the Metro Fantasy brasserie restaurant. Website : www.lebaroque.be Valdi > Rue des Grands Carmes, 10 Rue des Poissonniers, 7 - 1000 Brussels 1000 Brussels Le Belgica 2 Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 514 12 56 Website : www.resto-halloween.be Inescapable. Le Retour du Vrai Thé > Rue Marché au Charbon, 32 Dansant 6 Kika 1000 Brussels Tea dance Website : www.lebelgica.be Pasta al dente and market cuisine. (waltz, tango, cha-cha-cha) > Bld Anspach, 117 Le Duplex 14 > Every last Sunday of the month (afternoon 1000 Brussels at the Salons de l'Atalaïde) Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 513 38 32 French restaurant bar - dinner show. Chaussée de Charleroi, 89 - 1050 Brussels Email : [email protected] > Website :

You Night Club You Place vieille Halle aux blés, 26 www.leretourduvraithedansant.be 1000 Brussels Le Tartisan Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 514 05 00 9 Speciality of quiches. Bxl Sungays > 15 > Rue de la Paix, 27 Place de la Veille Halle aux Blés, 46 Le Gémeau Tea dance (terrace). 1050 Brussels 1000 Brussels > Rue de Laeken, 12 > Every Sunday afternoon at the Jardins de Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 503 36 00 Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 502 99 80 1000 Brussels Bagatelle Website : www.letartisan.be Website www.bxl.be: Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 219 23 26 Rue du Berger, 17 - 1050 Brussels Website : www.sungays.be Chez Maman 10 Le Plattesteen 16 21 Bars Show bar, an institution ! > Rue Marché au Charbon, 41 You > Rue des Grands Carmes, 7 1000 Brussels Tea dance (club open in the after- 17 1000 Brussels noon) B-Koz Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 502 86 96 17 L'incognito > Every Sunday afternoon at the You Website : www.chezmaman.be Cosy bar with shows on weekends. > Rue des Pierres, 36 - 1000 Brussels Rue Duquesnoy, 18 - 1000 Brussels > Rue des Pierres, 28 Website : www.leyou.be 2 18 1000 Brussels Dolores The Slave Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 513 55 30 > Rue Marché au Charbon, 40 > Rue Plattensteen, 7 -1000 Brussels Website : www.b-koz.be 1000 Brussels Tel. : + 32 (0) 2/ 513 47 46 Gay Pride © M. Hulst Van 42 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY MINI-TRIPS TO BRUSSELS 43

My HOTELS « Art Nouveau in Brussels» Rate for the single package: Mini-trips FIRST EUROFLAT HOTEL – 4* € 85/night Ideally situated, the First Euroflat Hotel welcomes you in one of its taxes and service included spacious rooms (375 to 475 sq.ft.) distributed over 8 floors and all of them fitted with a kitchenette, with access to broadband Rate for the double/twin package: internet, with cable TV as well as an a la carte film service. • 1 overnight at the First Euroflat Hotel € 95/night to Brussels • 1 lavish breakfast per person taxes and service included • 1 special beer to discover in our bar • 1 ticket per person to the Hotel Hannon, masterpiece of Art Nouveau !

RESERVATIONBoulevard : Charlemagne, 50 - 1000 Brussels Tel. :+32 (0)2 230 00 10Fax - :+32 (0)2 2 230 36 83 Email :[email protected] Website http://www.euroflat.be:

« Art Nouveau in Brussels» Rate for the double/twin package: HOTEL AMIGO – 5* € 266/night Melting pot of “Art Nouveau”, Brussels celebrates this revolution- taxes and service included.The package ary artistic and architectural movement . Situated in the heart of is also available with a supplement for the capital, the hotel Amigo invites you to discover the most the "Deluxe" and "Executive" rooms. Child under 12 years: free lodging if stay- famous gems of this Art. ing in the same room as parents (max. 1 Visit the first town house conceived by Victor Horta in 1893 the child per room). Free breakfast up to ”Maison Autrique”, or the Horta museum built in the private - 4 years of age and residence of the artist himself. Combine your interest in Art Nouveau with a luxury stay at the hotel Amigo. • One night in a « Classic » room (double occupancy) € from14/night 5 to 12 years. • Buffet breakfast • Visit to the prestigious ”Autrique House” or to the “Horta Some ideas for stays at friendly rates for all tastes Museum”. Guide and map of Brussels- Special Art Nouveau gift. • Free access to the fitness centre and courtesy newspaper. and budgets. RESERVATIONrue : de l’Amigo,1-3 – 1000 Brussels. From the top class hotel to the cosy guest room, ta- Tel. :+32 (0)2 547 47 47Fax - :+32 (0)2 502 28 05 king in the small hotels of character, for a discovery Email :[email protected] Website http://www.roccofortehotels.com: weekend for two or a relaxing city trip between friends or with the family, discover Brussels during the « Inescapable Brussels » weekend with little “extras” that make all the diffe- HOTEL BRISTOL STÉPHANIE – 5* Rate for the double/twin package: rence included in the price. Grand luxury for this 5 star hotel. A dream situation on the Avenue Access to one of the masterpieces of Art Nouveau, to Louise, the most prestigious fashion and business district of Brussels. € 149 /night the temple of comic strips or to the fashion disco of An ideal location for your shopping sprees and cultural discoveries. taxes and service included • 1 overnight in a ”luxury” room the moment will transform your stay into an amazing • 1 American buffet breakfast per person This package is valid throughout 2006 discovery! Welcome to Brussels • 1 box of Belgian chocolates in the room and a welcome glass of on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays champagne per person in our bar. and daily from 01/07/2006 to • The possibility of keeping the room till 16.00 31/08/2006 inclusive and from

© OPT/JP Remy • 1 information kit on Brussels 16/12/2006 to 31/12/2006 inclusive. Packages valid every weekend and subject to availability. Please • 1 bus, tram, tube day-ticket (for two people) mention the code “Escapades” when you book. All establishments • A 10 coupon booklet ”The Must of Brussels”, giving access to a in this brochure have agreed to respect the offer described here- choice of the inescapable attractions and museums of Brussels after, subject to availability of rooms. Should a problem arise con- such as the site of the Atomium (reopening 18-02-2006), Mini- cerning a reservation, we suggest that you contact the reception Europe, the Belgian Centre of Comic Strips, the Royal museums, RESERVATIONAvenue : Louise, 91-93 - 1050 Brussels manager. Autoworld and many others... Tel.:+32 (0)2 543 33 11Fax – :+32 (0)2 538 03 07 Email :[email protected] - http://www.bristol.be: 44 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY MINI-TRIPS TO BRUSSELS 45

« Must of Brussels » « Brussels Discovery » LE CHATELAIN ALL SUITE HOTEL – 5* RADISSON SAS ROYAL HOTEL – 5* The ideal location of this hotel, its refined gastronomic restaurant, Ideally located in the very heart of Brussels, a stone throw from the Grand-Place the exclusivity of its B’artist Café, its Florentine garden and the and the Central Station, this 5 star hotel is prettily and uniquely enhanced by a Rate for the double/twin package: well-fitted Fitness Centre will contribute to the charm of your € 189 /night 12th c. Romanesque wall, vestige of the town ramparts, that runs across the ”home suite home” in Brussels. Atrium. Highly praised for its gastronomy, it nestles in a splendid Atrium offering a € 247/night unique atmosphere, in an incredibly well lit and green setting. It’s sure to be a hit! • 1 overnight in a double Executive room taxes and service included • 1 lavish international breakfast • 1 overnight in a ”Design” double room • A 10 coupon booklet ”The Must of Brussels”, giving access to a • 1 box of chocolates in the room. Rate for the double/twin package: choice of the most inescapable attractions and museums of • 1 welcome drink in the “ Bar Dessiné” Brussels, such as the site of the Atomium (reopening 18-02-2006), • 1 delicious 3 course musical meal in the ”Atrium” Restaurant Mini-Europe, the Belgian Centre of Comic Strips, the Royal • 1 lavish buffet breakfast per person Museums, Autoworld and many more! taxes and service included • One “Pass” per person to the Mont des Arts. This pass opens the • Access to the Fitness centre doors to concerts, to permanent collections and temporary exhibi- RESERVATIONrue : du Fossé-aux-Loups - 1000 Brussels tions of the various museums, while animations are foreseen for the Tel. :+32 (0) 2 227 31 31–Fax :++32 (0) 2 223 18 18 children. Email :[email protected] RESERVATIONrue : du Châtelain, 17 – 1000 Brussels • Infos : www.montdesarts.be Website http://www.brussels.radisson.com: Tel. :+32 (0) 2 646 00 55Fax – :++32 (0) 2 646 00 86 Email :[email protected] Website :www.le-chatelain.net/fr/chatelain.html « Modern Art Brussels » Rate for the single package: NH BRUSSELS CITY CENTRE – 4* € 74/night taxes and service included « Brussels on Sunday » A hotel of great beauty refitted in the heart of Brussels, close to the HÔTEL VILLA ROYALE – 3* trendy commercial area of the town and to the outstanding cultural Rate for the double/twin package: attractions, such as the Grand Place, the antiques market....Come and Located in the heart of Brussels, near the Grand Place and the th discover fauvism, futurism and 20c. Art. € 89/night main museums, the hotel Villa Royale offers you the warmth of taxes and service included a home far from your home, a personalised and efficient serv- • 1 overnight in double room ice that will make your stay as pleasant as comfortable. Rate for the single, • 1 buffet breakfast per person • 2 tickets to the Musée d’Art Moderne, to discover the master- • 1 overnight for two in an air-conditioned room € 82/nightdouble or twin package: pieces of Delvaux, Magritte, Ensor… RESERVATIONChaussée : de Charleroi, 17 - 1060 Brussels • 1 buffet breakfast per person • Guide and map of Brussels Tel. :+32 (0)2 214 07 55Fax – :+32 (0)2 214 07 80 • One “pass” per person to the Mont des Arts. This pass opens the Email :[email protected] doors to concerts, permanent collections and temporary exhibitions Website http://www.nh-hotels.com: of the various museums, while animations are foreseen for the chil- dren . taxes and service included • Infos : www.montdesarts.be « Belgian Beer Brussels » Rate for the single package: HOTEL IBIS - 3* € 79/night taxes and service included RESERVATIONRue : Royale, 195 - 1210 Brussels Une bonne adresse en plein centre ville, à deux pas du quartier animé Tel. :+32 (0)2 226 04 60Fax - :+32 (0)2 226 04 80 et fashion d’Antoine Dansaert, à 5 minutes de la très célèbre Grand- Rate for the double/twin package: Email :[email protected] Place et pour les amateurs de poissons, la Place Sainte-Catherine et Website http://www.villa-royale.be: son extraordinaire ”Marché aux Poissons”. € 89/night • 1 overnight taxes and service included • 1 delicious buffet breakfast per person « Brussels on Sunday » • 1 welcome drink • 2 tickets to the Maison des Brasseurs (House of Brewers) on the RESERVATIONrue : Joseph Plateau, 2 - 1000 Brussels SILKEN BERLAYMONT BRUSSELS - 4* Grand-Place Of a modern and artistic architecture, located amidst the European Rate for the single package: Tel. :+32 (0)2 513 76 20Fax – :+32 (0)2 514 22 14 institutions, just next to the Berlaymont building. The hotel has a € 53/night Email :[email protected] - http://www.ibishotels.com: restaurant, named « l’Objectif », a bar « the News », Jacqmotte taxes and service included Coffeehouse and Relax Spa with sauna, Jacuzzi, solarium, fitness and massages. Rate for the double/twin package: « Gourmet Brussels » • 1 overnight for two in a « Superior » room MELIA AVENUE LOUISE BOUTIQUE HOTEL – 4* • 1 breakfast per person € 106/night Ambience posh for this hotel situated only 10 minutes from the his- • 1 day access to the hotel’s Relax Spa with sauna, solarium, taxes and service included Rate€ 100/night for the double/twin package: Jacuzzi and fitness torical centre and surrounded by cosy restaurants and typical taverns. • One “pass” per person to the Mont des Arts. This pass opens the Pleasant and personalised stay in an elegant atmosphere. doors to concerts, to permanent collections and temporary exhibi- • 1 overnight taxes and service included tions of the various museums, while animations are foreseen for the • 1 delicious breakfast per person children • 1 welcome drink • Infos : www.montdesarts.be RESERVATIONBoulevard : Charlemagne, 11-19 -1000 Brussels • 2 entry tickets to the Maison des Brasseurs (Brewers’ House) on RESERVATIONRue : Blanche, 4 - 1000 Brussels Tel. :+32 (0)2 285 41 77Fax - :+32 (0)2 285 41 78 - the Grand-Place Tel. :+32 (0)2 535 95 00Fax - :+32 (0)2 535 96 00 - E - mail [email protected]: Email :[email protected] Website http://www.hotelsilkenberlaymont.com: Website http://www.solmelia.com: 46 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY MINI-TRIPS TO BRUSSELS 47

« Flavours of Brussels » « Gourmet Brussels » NH STÉPHANIE – 4* HOTEL VENDÔME – 3* € Rate80/night for the single package: € 117,50/nightRate for the single package: A dream location for this charming hotel entirely renovated in 2005. The hotel offers you a warm-hearted welcome making everyone feel Quiet street in the vicinity of the historical centre of Brussels, of the at home. It’s an ideal starting point for all your visits in Brussels. Place du Sablon (antiques), of the Avenue Louise (shopping) and the taxes and service included • 1 overnight in the Hôtel Vendôme taxes and service included Bois de la Cambre (walks). What more can you ask for ? • 1 English buffet breakfast per person Rate for the double package : • 1 overnight in double room Rate€ 100/night for the double/twin package: • 1 ”Happy Belgium” menu booked on Friday or Saturday night in € 180/night • 1 delicious breakfast per person the Brasserie Vendôme (1 Belgian beer as aperitif + 3 course menu • 2 tickets for a guided visit of the Cocoa and chocolate + 3 types of beers to go with the dishes) taxes and service included museum. taxes and service included • Presentation of the making of Belgian chocolates by a choco- • A box of chocolates RESERVATIONrue : Jean Stas, 32 - 1060 Brussels (Saint-Gilles) late craftsman and sampling ! (only on Saturday at 16.00 sharp). RESERVATIONboulevard : Adolphe Max, 98 – 1000 Brussels Tel. :+32 (0)2 214 07 52 53 54Fax - :+32 (0)2 214 07 80 Tel. :+32 (0)2 227 03 00Fax - :+32 (0)2 218 06 83 Email :[email protected] Email :[email protected] Website www.nh-hotels.com: Website http://www.hotel-vendome.be: « Gourmet Brussels » « Comic Strip Brussels » € 60/night ATLAS HOTEL BRUSSELS – 3* € 95/night CAPITAL HOTEL – 3* Rate for the single package: Only 4 minutes walking distance from the Grand-Place, close to the Rate for the single package: The Capital Hotel is situated in the elegant ”quartier Louise”, Stock Exchange, in the Saint-Géry neighbourhood, the most trendy renowned for its luxury boutiques, and seat of numerous companies, part of town. The Rue Dansaert and its numerous dress designers it links the romantic heart of the old Brussels to its green lung : the taxes and service included give this very hip district a soul of its own. Near the Place Sainte- taxes and service included Bois de la Cambre, an ideal setting for those who like to go for a walk. Rate for€ the80/night double/twin package: Catherine reputed for its excellent fish restaurants . Rate for the double package : • 1 overnight in a double room • 1 overnight for 2 people € 105/night • 1 delicious breakfast per person • 1 buffet breakfast per person • 1 little chocolate sweetness taxes and service included • In your room : a box of 7 delicious chocolates and a small bottle of taxes and service included • 1 ticket per person to the Belgian Centre of the Comic Strip. 1 child per room free of charge (up to champagne. A must ! 12 years of age) • Two tickets to the Museum of Chocolate and Cocoa a treat to RESERVATIONRue : du Vieux Marché aux Grains, 30 –1000 Brussels RESERVATIONChaussée : de Vleurgat ,191 – 1050 Brussels your taste buds ! Tel. :+32 (0)2 502 60 06Fax - :+32 (0)2 502 69 35 Tel. :+32 (0)2 646 64 20Fax - :+32 (0)2 646 33 14 Email :[email protected] - http://www.atlas.be: Email :[email protected] - http://www.hotelcapital.be: « Gourmet Brussels » « Brussels Discovery by bus » € 72/night NOVOTEL BRUSSELS CENTRE – TOUR NOIRE – 3* HOTEL SAINT NICOLAS - 2* Rate for the single package: Modern hotel situated in the heart of Brussels only 500 yards from €Rate 102,50/night for the single package: In the heart of Brussels, a stone throw from the Opera, the Monnaie the Grand-Place.You will benefit from the following equipment: com- and the Grand Place.The Hotel Saint Nicolas has 60 rooms, each with fortable rooms with bathroom, Bar & Brasserie, room service 24h/24, TV, private bathroom and telephone. Its modern and spacious rooms taxes and service included laundry services, free access to the Aqua Health Centre (fitness room, taxes and service included will help you to appreciate the welcome that Brussels will extend. Rate for€ the 88/night double/twin package: Jacuzzi, hammam and swimming pool with jet-stream). Rate for the double package : • 1 overnight • 1 overnight for two people € 110,00/night • 1 buffet breakfast per person taxes and service included • 1 lavish buffet breakfast per person • One bus ticket ”City Sightseeing” per person. This is the ideal These rates are also valid on weekdays • 1 welcome beer per adult in the bar & brasserie-restaurant taxes and service included way to visit all the tourist sites. You mount and dismount the bus as from 15/07/2006 to 31/08/2006 and • 1 ticket for two at the Brewer’s House often as you want with your ticket, valid for 24 hours. In addition, from 15/12/2006 to 31/12/2006 • Accommodation and breakfast with the family are offered free of RESERVATIONRue : de la Vierge Noire, 32 - 1000 Brussels when showing your ticket you will get discounts on the entry prices RESERVATIONRue : Marché-aux-Poulets, 32 - 1000 Brussels charge to two children under 16 sharing the parents room. Tel. :+32 (0)2 505 50 50Fax - :+32 (0)2 505 50 00 to museums and attractions. Tel. :+32 (0)2 219 04 40Fax – :+32 (0)2 219 17 -21 Email :[email protected] – http://www.accorhotels.com.be: Email :[email protected] – http://www.st-nicolas.be: « Brussels All in Chocolate » « Brussels Discovery by bus » NH ATLANTA - 4* € 99/night MONTGOMERY HOTEL BRUSSELS – 5* € 140/night 4 star hotel with all modern comforts with a modern and Baroque Rate for the single package: Come and discover this luxury hotel, intimate and elegant with 63 Rate for the single package: style architecture , situated in the city centre close to everything. A rooms that will satisfy the most demanding travellers. A warm-heart- special feeling for the breakfast served at the "Terrace Level" with a ed address – only 5 underground stations from the city centre. Ideal panoramic view over Brussels. taxes and service included place for people sensitive to the charm of small hotels ! taxes and service included • 1 overnight in double room Rate for€ the 129/night double/twin package: • 1 overnight in luxury room Rate for€ the170/night double/twin package: • 1 delicious buffet breakfast per person • 1 exquisite buffet breakfast per person • A lavish 3 course menu • 1 visit of Brussels by "Hop On/Hop Off" Bus valid 24 hours. • The ”Brussels guide and map” brochure taxes and service included • Free access to the sauna & fitness taxes and service included • A voucher for a pastry and hot drink at Wittamer, renowned pas- try and chocolate maker. RESERVATIONBoulevard : Adolphe Max, 7 - 1000 Brussels RESERVATIONavenue : de Tervuren, 134 – 1150 Brussels Tel. :+32 (0)2 214 07 52/53/54Fax - :+32 (0)2 214 07 80 Tel. :+32 (0)2 741 85 11Fax - :+32 (0)2 741 85 00 Email :[email protected] – http://www.nh-: E -mail [email protected]: Website - http://www.montgomery.be: 48 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY MINI-TRIPS TO BRUSSELS 49

BED & BREAKFAST « Brussels seen from above » NH GRAND PLACE ARENBERG – 4* € 85/night Ideally situated in the very heart of the town and only a few strides Rate for the single package: from the commercial centres and historical sites of the city. The prestigious Sablon district, the Mecca of antique shops and choco- Bed & Brussels”Live and discover Brussels with the inhabitants” late makers, as well as the symbols of Brussels the ”Manneke Pis”, taxes and service included Reservation St. Michel Cathedral, the ”Galeries Royales” and the Grand Place • A qualified team to advise you and to organise your stay €Rate 110/night for the double/twin package: are in the immediate vicinity. A dream location ! centre for • A choice of over 350 quality rooms (in different categories) • 1 overnight in double room • An official label “Registered guest room” • Attractive rates throughout the year • 1 delicious champagne breakfast per person taxes and service included guest rooms • Themed packages organised for you. • 1 visit of Brussels by ”Hop On/Hop Off" Bus valid 24 hours, an ideal way to visit the town ! in Brussels • Free upgrade in a Junior Suite RESERVATIONBoulevard : Adolphe Max, 7 - 1000 Brussels Tel. :+32 (0)2 214 07 54 Email :[email protected]

Site:http://[email protected] 9 rue Kindermans • B-1050 Brussels • Tel. : +32 2 646 07 37 • Fax : +32 2 644 01 14 • Email : [email protected]

Rate for the package in a 2 star guest « A Gay week end in Brussels » « Bruxelles 1 pintje(Brussels 1 pint)- Discover Brussels room as from : NEW LOUISE – 4* € 100/night and its beers while staying in a guest room » Rate for the single package: € 50/night Hotel situated in the centre of the Avenue Louise in close proximity Throughout the year, set off on the discovery of Brussels, of its guest taxes and service included to the luxury boutiques and trendy restaurants. rooms and of its blond, dark, white or amber coloured beers. Belgian Exceptionally spacious rooms with balcony. On the ground floor is a taxes and service included beers are irresistible. piano bar and a billiard open every evening. Rate for the package in a 3 star guest room as from : • 1 overnight in double room in a Gay Friendly hotel Rate for€ 125/nightthe double/twin package: The package includes : • 1 delicious breakfast per person • the visit of the Museum of Belgian Brewers. On the prettiest square in € 62/night • 2 tickets to a Gay disco : the ”Touch Me” on Saturday evening or the world, the high technology making of today’s beer, in sound and pic- the You on Sunday evening (www.touch-me.be / www.leyou.be) taxes and service included tures, since the 18th c. . Tasting of a surprise Belgian beer in the presti- taxes and service included • Two tickets to the ”Spade 4” sauna (www.saunaspades4.be) Valid on Saturdays and Sundays gious décor of the Brewer’s House that dates back to 1695. • The lesbian & gay Safer Guide and the ”Friends Gaymap” • the visit of the Cantillon Brewery. Welcome to this family owned Discovery tasting of 5 beers, of which the famous Gueuze-lambic RESERVATIONAvenue : Louise, 212 - 1050 Brussels brewery unique in Brussels, living museum of the Gueuze, of the • Brochure and comprehensive information on all activities related Tel. :+32 (0)2 644 29 29Fax - :+32 (0)2 644 18 78 Kriek and of many other beers of spontaneous fermentation pro- to beer (visits, public brewing ,cafés,...) in Brussels and in Wallonia Email :[email protected] – http://www.newlouise.be: duced on the premises. Here, nothing has changed since centuries. , Map of Brussels included.

Total price per person in a Deluxe room : Rate for the package in a 2 star guest « Gay Brussels » « Brussels to the discovery of Art Nouveau classics » room as from : € 150/night LE MÉRIDIEN – 5* Throughout the year, come and discover Brussels, its incredible ART NOUVEAU heritage (over 500 buildings) and its guest rooms. Admire € 50/night In the heart of Brussels, the Méridien, Gay Friendly, invites you to Total price per person in a Junior Suite : the prettiest Art Nouveau facades, discover the surroundings of each taxes and service included spend a weekend in a Deluxe room or Junior Suite. Preferential VIP one of them and savour the thousand and one details that make the rates for the great monthly events at ‘La Démence’ as well as for the € 282,50/night richness of this art, born in Brussels ! Rate for the package in a 3 star guest Touch Me (Saturday night) and You (Sunday night) discos. Rate valid on weekends (arrival on room as from : Friday, Saturday or Sunday) from 1 • 1 night in a Deluxe room or Junior Suite January to 31 December 2006 subject The package includes : • Champagne breakfast in the room to availability. • the visit of the Belgian Centre of the Comic Strip. You will receive a € 62/night • 1 ticket per person to the ”Spade 4” sauna (www.saunas- ticket to the ”Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée” (CBBD) housed in taxes and service included pades4.be) the ancient Waucquez shops built by Victor Horta. • Welcome drink served at the bar • the visit of the Autrique House. Fabulous house, built by Victor • International Spartacus Gay Guide + Safer Guide and city map RESERVATIONCarrefour : de l’Europe, 3 - 1000 Brussels HORTA. Much more than a simple visit, the discovery of the ART NOU- • ART NOUVEAU map of Brussels (guided visits, walks, shops, restau- Tel. :+32 (0)2 548 42 11-Fax :+32 (0)2 548 40 80 VEAU building is conceived as a real story, a discovery of François rants, cafés,...) Email :[email protected] – http://www.lemeridien.com: Schuiten’s and Benoît Peeters’ imagination.

Rate for the package in a 2 star guest « Brussels and Europe in Miniature » « Discover Brussels and the Comic Strip » room as from : HOTEL ARLEQUIN GRAND-PLACE – 3* Rate€ for 75/night the single package: In Brussels, the Comic strip is everywhere or nearly; bookshops, painted € 47/night walls and gables in town, bars, underground stations, museums, every- Very comfortable, the hotel Arlequin has the good fortune of occupying a taxes and service included thing reminds us that the comic trip is part of the Brussels life.. privileged location in the very centre of town, close to Grand Place, its ani- Rate for the package in a 3 star guest mations and shops. You will be plunged into the very heart of the history of taxes and service included The package includes : room as from : the capital.The breakfast room will dazzle you by the magnificent view over Rate for the double/twin package: • the visit of the Belgian Centre of the Comic Strip. This visit is a must the rooftops of the Grand Place. A great panoramic view to start the day ! € 95/night in Brussels, be it only for the beauty of the building built by the mas- ter of Art Nouveau, Victor Horta, but also for its collections of comic taxes€ 59/night and service included • 1 night in double room strip originals. • 1 sumptuous buffet breakfast taxes and service included • the Comic Strip on the walls and gables itinerary. Throughout the • 1 ticket per person to , the most beautiful miniature Mini-Europe RESERVATIONRue : de la Fourche, 17-19 -1000 Brussels town, you’ll discover and follow an itinerary of walls and gables pic- park of Brussels for the kids, teenagers and grown-ups. • Brochure and complete information on all the activities linked to the Tel. :+32 (0) 2 514.16.15Fax - :+32 (0) 2 514.22.02 turing comic strip characters. Email :[email protected] - www.arlequin.be: comic strip, Map of Brussels included. 50 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY BRUSSELS E-SHOP 51

MAKE YOURThe e-shop advantages of LIFE EASIERwww.brusselsinternational.be Make your choice in comfort from home and The Musts of Brussels : as much as 35 % rebate on the WITH THEbook now : published prices of attractions and museums of Brussels. • your exhibition tickets E-SHOP •AND your chocolate tasting 10 coupons to combine as you wish and to visit the best museums and attractions of Brussels! THE CULTURAL• your beer tasting Choose from: • your visits to attractions • Mini-Europe : In the shadow of the Atomium, take a fantastic trip through more than 350 PASSES •! your tickets for guided themed visits monuments and interactive animations of the European Union reproduced in meticulous detail at • and of course your ”all inclusive” city pass ! the scale of 1/25th. It only takes a few clicks to fill your basket and create • Océade : It’s summer all year ! Sub-tropical aquatic park of pools with waves, waterslides, water- your scenario before even treading the soil of Brussels. falls, saunas. Time saving and maximum security, you are now the • Atomium : From the top of its 300 ft., this symbol of the Capital and also of Belgium during the master of your discoveries ! universal exhibition of 1958 you’ll have the best panorama of Brussels and Brabant. • Cantillon Brewery : Beer lovers, convene to the last traditional brewery of Brussels! Discover the traditional world of the 19th c. brewer in this very Belgian living museum of Gueuze. • MIM : in a magnificent Art Nouveau building, a collection of musical instruments of international renown. Admire and put on the headphones as it will be well worth opening your ears. • Belgian Centre of the Comic Strip : A gem in a beautiful Horta building that houses all things Discover Brussels with the Brussels Card pertaining to the Comic Strip, from its prestigious origins to its most recent developments. • Fine Arts Museum : Constituted by the Modern Art Museum and the Ancient Art Museum, which 72 hours, 27 museums, 30 euros, free access to public transport (STIB) assemble rich collections of plastic arts from the late 14th c. to present days. Over and above providing free access to public transport, the Brussels Card offers you free access to • Guide & Plan : The ”bible” for information on Brussels ! Walks, museums, good addresses for 27 museums in Brussels. shopping & gastronomy, bars and clubs, city map and practical information... The BELvue museum dedicated to the history of Belgium, the Japanese Tower and Chinese Pavilion • Autoworld : Over 400 ancient vehicles to admire, as well as the history of the automobile from built on the request of Léopold II opposite the Royal Palace of Laeken, the Palace of Charles de Lorraine 1886 to the nineteen seventies on the prestigious site of the Cinquantenaire. but also the archaeological site of the ancient Palace of Charles Quint located under the Place Royale • Museum of Natural Sciences : An inescapable must for families, an exceptional didactic and fun and many other! For the complete list of participating museums : www.brusselscard.be museum! Rebates in a number of attractions, cultural institutions, shops, bars and restaurants. • Royal Museums of Art and History : Sheltered in one of the Palaces of the Cinquantenaire, these prestigious museums exhibit collections from Antiquity, the main artistic currents in Europe as well The Brussels Card is accompanied by a guidebook containing all useful information about the par- as works from all over the world. ticipating museums and the rebates you’re entitled to. More info on www.mustofbrussels.com > Price : € 30 > Price : € 17

Buy it now from the e-shop Book the Musts of Brussels now from the e-shop www.brusselsinternational.be www.brusselsinternational.be 52 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY GUIDED VISITS 53

> Alfons Gossetlaan, 15 - 1702 Groot- Bijgaarden APA - Association du Onthaal en Promotie Tel.: +32 (0) 2 466 11 11 Patrimoine Artistique Brussel Fax : +32 (0) 2 463 51 95 Email : [email protected] My ”Discovery of the baroque, neo-clas- ”Visit of the traditional tourist attrac- Website : www.opentours.be sic and eclectic town of the 17th,18th tions and thematic tours by coach or th on foot. This association regroups Guided and 19 centuries” Visit Brussels Line > Rue Charles Hanssens, 7 - 1000 Brussels some fifteen associations of guides Tel.: +32 (0) 2 512 34 21 and will help you in your research”. ”The ideal way in which to visit all Visits Fax : +32 (0) 2 512 34 21 > Rue des Princes, 8 - 1000 Brussels the tourist sites without effort. You Website : http://users.skynet.be/APA Tel.: + 32 (0) 2 22718 18 mount and dismount the bus as Email : [email protected] Website : www.opbrussel.be many times as you wish with your 24 hour ticket. When showing your ticket Brukselbinnenstebuiten you will benefit from reduced prices in museums and tourist attractions. ”For unusual discoveries off the CHURCHES IN BRUSSELS Departure from the Central Station”. beaten path” > Rue de la Colline, 8 (near the Grand-Place) ”Voir et Dire Bruxelles” offers 1000 Brussels > Rue du Houblon, 47 - 1000 Brussels personal and alternative glimpses of Animation Chrétienne Tel.: +32 (0) 2 513 77 44 Tel.: +32 (0) 2 218 38 78 the realities of Brussels. Each start- et Tourisme (ACT) Fax : +32 (0) 2 502 58 69 Email : [email protected] ing off from a different angle of Email : [email protected] Website : www.brukselbinnenstebuiten.be”Guided visits on the theme of” Website : www.brussels-city-tours.com view, the six associations share, © OPT/JP Remy with the visitor, their knowledge of ”Gothic Art - Baroque Art” in vari- Every days at 10.00 and 14.00 the historical, architectural, economic, ❸ ❻ ous churches throughout the town Itinéraires La Fonderie > social, folkloric and natural heritage Culturama Rue du Bois Sauvage, 13 - 1000 Brussels Tel.: of their town/region and highlight it. “Interactivity, exclusivity, creativity, ”Work, it’s quite a story”. +32 (0) 2 219 75 30 Fax : +32 (0) 2 219 68 34 TOURS IN HORSE- A valuable originality for the public: to live the art as an art of life”. > Rue Ransfort, 27 - 1080 Brussels ”Walks through the history of the Website : www.act-asbl.be the guided visits of ”Voir et dire > Rue de l’Hôtel des Monnaies, 157 Tel.: + 32 (0)2 410 99 50 town, guided walks of important DRAWN CARRIAGES Bruxelles” give the viewpoint of the 1060 Brussels (Saint Gilles) Fax : + 32 (0)2 410 39 85 exhibitions and art collections” inhabitants of Brussels about their Tel.: + 32 (0)2 534 30 00 Email : [email protected] > Baron de Vironlaan, 140 - 1700 Dilbeek Website : www.lafonderie.be city. Fax : + 32 (0)2 534 02 14 Tel.: +32 (0)2 569 27 74 BRUSSELS BY BOAT Calèches Carlos Moens- Email : [email protected] Fax : +32 (0)2 569 31 44 Stassens www.voiretdirebruxelles.be Website : www.itineraires.be Email : [email protected] Website : www.culturamavzw.be Brussels By Water ”A little ride through the city centre, ➊ Arau - Atelier de ”For boat lovers : river cruises with the sound of the hoofs. The car- Recherche et through the heart of the town and riages await you at the rue Charles Buls, ❹ Le Bus Bavard near the Grand-Place (in summer)” Dédale its surroundings”. d’Action Urbaines > Quai des Péniches, 2 bis > Oude Watermolen, 1 - 9300 Aalst “Original guided visits, fascinating Tel.: +32 (0) 53 70 05 04 and convivial to discover, dream and 1000 Brussels “The evolution of Brussels seen by ”Walks, bus rides and night walks” Tel.: +32 (0) 2 203 64 06 Fax : +32 (0) 53 78 63 27 its inhabitants”. love Brussels”. > Avenue de la Nivéole, 10 Fax : +32 (0) 2 203 07 09 > Boulevard A. Max, 55 - 1000 Brussels > Rue des Thuyas, 12 - 1170 Brussels 1020 Brussels (Laeken) Email : [email protected] Tel.: + 32 (0)2 219 33 45 Tel.: + 32 (0)2 673 18 35 Tel.: +32 (0) 2 268 42 26 Website : www.scaldisnet.be Fax: + 32 (0)2 219 86 75 Fax : + 32 (0)2 675 19 67 Fax : +32 (0) 2 268 21 14 AUDIO-GUIDES Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Website : www.BusBavard.be Website : www.arau.org ”Curious and comical audio itinerary, dis- © OPT/JP Remy COACH TOURS WITH tracting and dreamlike in the popular Marolles neighbourhood, about the history ❷ ❺ Korei FREQUENT DEPARTURES of the Grand-Place or the charming neigh- Arkadia.be Pro Vélo bourhood of the place Saint-Catherine.” ”Walks from architecture, to litera- “Art historians who develop an edu- “On your bicycle for the discovery of ture, to the trends of thought, the Open Tours cation of the glance”. the hidden history and the preserved savoir-vivre of the 18th c. to pres- > Rue de l'Hôtel des Monnaies, 120 nature of Brussels” ”For visits by red busses that criss- D*Tours 1060 Brussels (Saint Gilles) > Rue de Londres ,15 - 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) ents days” cross the town, departing from the > Info : Brussels International Tel.: + 32 (0)2 537 67 77 Tel.: + 32 (0)2 502 73 55 > Boomgaardpad, 18 - 1120 Brussels Central Station with multilingual Tourist office - Grand Place - 1000 Brussels Fax : + 32 (0)2 537 67 77 Fax : + 32 (0)2 502 86 41 Tel. / Fax : + 32 (0) 2 380 22 09 guides.” Tel.: +32 (0)2 345 09 59 Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Departure from Central Station (Gare Email : [email protected] Website : www.asbl-arkadia.be Website : www.d-tours.org Website : www.provelo.org Website : www.korei.be Central). 54 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY PRACTICAL BRUSSELS 55

MY BRUSSELS My ACCOMMODATION Practical Hotels As in all large cities, you’ll find Brussels hotels of all categories. You should know however that many hotels offer weekend and holiday rates (mainly in July/August), quite, even very advantageous ! Take a look at our “Mini trips” chapter with all the great offers of the Brussels hotels. Grand Place © M.Grand F. Plissart Guest rooms Auberge de Jeunesse One of the best ways to discover a Camping sites Génération Europe country and its inhabitants is to > The only camping site of the region rue de l'Eléphant, 4 – 1080 Brussels Tel.: + 32 (0)2 410 38 58 stay in private homes. Let alone of Brussels-Capital is situated in the warm-hearted ambience, it’s a Email : [email protected] Ixelles, not far from the European Website : www.laj.be privileged moment to be informed district. It can welcome 80 campers. on the local way of life and to dis- Only accessible from 1 July to 31 Sleep Well Youth Hostel - cover this secret town. August. The site is of course fitted Espace du Marais with the usual amenities: toilets and Bed & Brussels > rue du Damier, 23 – 1000 Brussels showers. > rue Kindermans, 9 Tel.: + 32 (0)2 218 50 50 [email protected] 1050 Brussels (Ixelles) Email : Camping "Brussels Europe à Website : www.sleepwell.be Tel.: +32 (0)2 646 07 37 ciel ouvert" Fax : +32 (0)2 644 01 14 > chaussée de Wavre, 205 - 1050 Brussels Email : [email protected] Centre Vincent van Gogh (Ixelles) Website : www.BnB-Brussels.be (CHAB) Tel.: + 32 (0)2 640 79 67 Fax : + 32 (0)2 648 24 53 > rue Traversière, 8 – 1210 Brussels Tel.: + 32 (0)2 217 01 58 Belsud Booking Centre Fax : + 32 (0)2 219 79 95 Office de Promotion du Tourisme Email : [email protected] Website : www.chab.be Wallonie-Brussels Youth Hostels and > Rue Saint-Bernard, 30 1060 Brussels (Saint Gilles) youth accommodationJeugdherberg Bruegel - IYHF Tel.: + 32 (0)2 504 02 80 Centres > rue du Saint-Esprit, 2 - 1000 Brussels Fax : +32 (0)2 514 53 35 Tel.: + 32 (0)2 511 04 36 Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Website : www.belsud.be Hyper friendly, 100% youthful, maxi- Website : www.jeugdherbergen.be

© BITC / O. de Kerchove van mum comfort and small prices ! Taxistop Auberge de Jeunesse Jacques > Rue du Fossé-aux-Loups, 28 Brel 1000 Brussels > rue de la Sablonnière, 30 – 1000 Brussels Tel. : + 32 (0) 70 22.22.92 Tel.: + 32 (0)2 218 01 87 Fax : +32 (0) 2 223 22 32 Fax : + 32 (0)2 217 20 05 Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Website : www.taxistop.be Website : www.laj.be / www.cbtj.be © Jeep Novak © OPT/JP Remy 56 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY PRACTICAL BRUSSELS 57

7.00 to 22.00 (answering machine Information Office at Tourist Information in the PRACTICAL LIFE 24h a day) Brussels-National Airport Midi Station From abroad: +32(o)2/753 77 53 () Brussels International - Tourism ESPACE WALLONIE BRUSSELS Legal holidays All other information : B.I.A.C. > TGV / Thalys and Eurostar Hall January 1st (New Year), Easter (Brussels Airport): +32(0)2/753 40 40 > Arrival Hall - B-1930 Zaventem Opening hours: Monday (17/04), May 1st (Labour Website : www.biac.be Tel. : +32(0)2.725.52.75 Winter: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Email : [email protected] Thursday, from 8.00 to 17.00 ; Day), Ascension Thursday (25/05), • Brussels-South Airport Friday from 8.00 to 20.00 th Website : www.belgium-tourism.be Whit Monday (05/06), July 11 (Gosselies) Saturday from 9.00 to 18.00; st Open : 7 days a week from 08.00 to 21.00 (Flemish Community Day), July 21 > Tel. : +32(0)71 25 12 11 Closed : 25/12 and 1/1. Sunday and Bank holidays (National Day), August 15th Email : [email protected] from 9.00 to 14.00. (Assumption), September 27th Website : www.charleroi-airport.com Summer: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Information Office at the Thursday from 8.00 to 20.00, (French speaking Community Day), Friday from 8.00 to 21.00; st Brussels-South Airport of November 1 (All Saints Day), Saturday and Sunday from 8.00 to 20.00. th Charleroi November 11 (Armistice 1918), EXCHANGE RATES ESPACE WALLONIE CHARLEROIClosed: 25/12 and 1/1 December 25th (Christmas). During these holidays all banks, (at 27/10/2005) > Aérogare, Bte 30 - 6041 Gosselies

shops, post offices and national Bernard Centre de Communication Nord © OPT/Boccara Tel : + 32 (0) 71/251.207 1 US dollar = € 0.82 1 DKK = € 0.13 museums are closed. 1 livre sterling = € 1.47 1 JPY (100) =Email € 0.01 : [email protected] Eurostar (info and reservations) : In case of breakdown : Touring 1 SEK = € 0.10 1 CHF =Website € 0.65 : www.belgium-tourism.be Opening hours +32(0)2/528.28.28 (7d/w) Secours : 070/34.47.77 (only from Open :7 days a week from 08.30 to 21.00 Closed : 25/12 and 1/1. Post offices are generally open from Brochure on tourist trains, summer Belgium). www.touring.be 8.30 to 17.00. Banks are usually season, available free of charge in Air travel open from Monday to Friday from all stations ( info available on TOURIST INFORMA- Over 100 pages easily slipped into one's pocket, 9.00 to 16.00. Most shops are open www.sncb.be ) • Brussels-National Airport (Zaventem) TION IN BELGIUM the Guide and Map is THE source of information for from 9.00 to 18.00 except on going out, having a drink, relaxing, visiting or wan- Urban transport Located 14 km (9 miles) from the Sundays. Some close between 12.00 dering through Brussels along the Comic Strip, Art and 14.00. You will find a well organised public city centre. A train circulates Brussels International transport network: trams, busses between the airport and the stations Nouveau or posh itineraries. Emergencies and guard Hôtel de Ville de Brussels Available in all tourist offices. and underground. Combined tickets of Bruxelles Nord, Bruxelles Central > Grand-Place - 1000 Brussels services and travel cards are available at and Bruxelles Midi every 20 min- Tel.: +32/ (0)2 513 89 40 > Price : € 3,00 Emergency call number. One access- reduced rates. In order to win time utes. The bus, line 12 (Airport bus) Fax: +32/ (0)2 513 83 20 es emergency and guard services and money, plan your itineraries in also links the airport to the city cen- Email : [email protected] (police, firemen) by dialling112 advance on the web: tre every 25 minutes. Website : www.brusselsinternational.be http://www.stib.irisnet.be. Information on flight times and gen- Open : Every day from 09.00 to 18.00 – from anywhere in Europe, that is to Sunday: In Summer : from 09.00 to 18.00 say in any member state of the Cars eral information: 0900/70.000 from In Winter : from 10.00 to 14.00 European Union. The 112 number is Closed from Januari to Easter also accessible on mobile phones The Belgian motorway network is Closed : 25/12 and 1/1. and can only be used to call emer- one of the most performing of gency services. Europe. It’s free of charge, lit at night and signposted by green road signs. All the medical guard services are Office de Promotion du mentioned in the newspapers and Speed limits : Tourisme Wallonie-Brussels pharmacies. • within agglomerations: 30 or O.P.T.Fondation d’utilité publique 50 km/h (19 or 31 miles/h) Website : www.112sos.be > Information Emergency services : 100 All school neighbourhoods have Rue Marché-aux-Herbes, 63 - B become 30 km/h zones . 1000 Brussels • On other roads: 90 km/h. Brochure line : 02 509 24 00 TRANSPORT & TRAVEL (56 miles/h). (only from Belgium) Fax : +32(0)2 513 04 75 • On motorways: 120 km/h Email : [email protected] The train (75 miles/h) Website : www.belgium-tourism.be S.N.C.B (The National Society of The wearing of safety belts in front Open : 7 days a week from 09.00 to 18.00 and back seats is compulsory. Sundays and Bank holidays: from 09.00 to Belgian Railways) 13.00. Closed on 25 December and Website : http://www.sncb.be Road information : 1 January Travel information : National and Federal police :

International traffic, Thalys and www.policefederale.be Place © OPT/Jeanmart Grand © OPT/JP Remy 58 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY PRACTICAL BRUSSELS 59

The area of Brussels-Capital and its 19 communes

Céroux-Mousty 60 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY PRACTICAL BRUSSELS 61

ADRESSES OF THE BELGIAN TOURIST OFFICE IN YOUR COUNTRY

Belgium Italy Spain

Brussels International Ufficio Belga per ilTurismoOfficina de Promocion del (BI-TC) • Milano Turismo Valonia-Bruselas • Town Hall - Grand-Place • Tel.: +39 02 86 05 66 • Barcelona 1000 Brussels • Fax: +39 02 87 63 96 • Tel.: +34 (0)93 272 26 01 • Tel.: +32 (0)2 513 89 40 • Email: [email protected] • Email: [email protected] • Fax: +32 (0)2 513 83 20 • Website: www.belgio.it • Website: www.belgica-turismo.be • Email: tourism@brusselsinterna- tional.be • Website: Japan UK www.brusselsinternational.be Belgian Tourist Office Belgian Tourist Office - • Tel: +81 (0)3 32 37 71 01 Brussels & Wallonia Tourist Information • Fax: +81 (0)3 32 37 84 00 • Tel: +32 (0)2 504 03 90 • Email: [email protected] • 217 Marsh Wall - London E14 9FJ • Fax: +32 (0)2 513 04 75 • Website: www.belgium-travel.jp • Tel: +44 (0)20 7531 0390 • Email: [email protected] • Fax: +44 (0)20 7531 0393 • www.belgium-tourism.be • Email: [email protected] • Website: Poland www.belgiumtheplaceto.be Germany Urzad Promocji Turystyki USA Belgien Tourismus Walonia-Bruksela Wallonie-Brüssel • Warsow Belgian Tourist Office • Cäcilienstraße 46 - D-50667 Köln • Tel.: +48 (0)22 583 70 06 ou 01 • New-York • Tel.: +49/(0) 221/277 59 0 • Email: [email protected] • Tel: +1(0)212/758.8130 • [email protected] • Fax: +1(0)212/355.7675 • Website: • Email: [email protected] www.belgien-tourismus.de • Website: www.visitbelgium.com

A realization of the “Office de Promotion du Tourisme”, Foundation of public utility – Product Department in collaboration with the team of City Marketing of Bruxelles International. Coordination : Laurence Dogné (OPT) with the collaboration of Annick Muyldermans (BITC) and of Mauricette Bohen (OPT). Cover photos : J. De Brie, JL Flémal, Xavier Claes, Jeanmart - OPT, La Marque Jaune, Edgar-P. Jacobs, Olivier van de Kerchove, Hôtel Hannon Brunfaut – Olivier van de Kerchove The information in this brochure was compiled with great care. The editor cannot be held responsible of eventual changes taking place between the moment the information was collected and the printing of the brochure. Accountable editor: V. Jacobs.

Design and pre-impression : Lielens & Partners – Printed in Belgium by HOORENS Printing (01/2006). © M. Hulst Van