Brussels Business City Guide: introduction
The bilingual capital of Belgium and Europe is a true melting pot of culture, arts, politics and economics. Best known these days as the home base of eurocrats and NATO brass, Brussels’ long, rich history lives on in its many museums and exquisite historic architecture.

Many international companies continue to opt for Brussels as their European headquarters, keeping alive a long tradition of mercantilism. Between the pentagonal city centre and the peripheral ring road, large office buildings abound, housing governmental institutions, banks, insurance companies and head offices of enterprises with production plants elsewhere in the country.

Brussels business districts

The Centre
The old town lies within the boulevards of the city’s middle ring. At the heart of it all is the magnificent Grand Place, generally recognised as one of the most beautiful squares in the world. Explore the side streets to discover a warren of small shops and restaurants. Highlights are the City Hall, Guild Houses and Manneken Pis fountain.

The North
To the north of the centre is the Laeken district and Royal Palace. Further north lie older industrial areas around the canal and Heysel Park, constructed for the 1958 World’s Fair. Zaventem airport and NATO headquarters are situated to the northwest.

The South
On the south side of the city you’ll find the majestic Avenue Louise district and the residential Bois de la Chambre. Elsene, one of three communes in this area, is famous for its many beautiful houses. There are numerous four- and five-star hotels with splendid restaurants here, but the centre is more lively for after-business drinks and dinner.

The East
The various European offices are just outside the pentagon, east of the city centre around Rue de la Loi and Rue Belliard.

Brussels: 10 facts

1. King Albert II can sometimes be spotted cruising through the city on his BMW motorbike.
2. In summer, business people like to lunch at the white-sand beach alongside the Brussels-Schelde canal.
3. Belgium’s 117 breweries export more than 585 million litres of beer every year.
4. With 159 embassies and 2,500 diplomats, Brussels is the world’s second-largest diplomatic destination.
5. The name Brussels comes from the Celtic bruoc, referring to the marshes of the Zenne River.
6. Marx and Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto in Brussels in 1847–48.
7. Belgium's highway network is so well lit, it is rumoured that it can be seen from space.
8. With 316 inhabitants per km², Belgium is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
9. Belgians consume 8.3kg of chocolate per person per year.
10. Independent only since 1831, Belgium has been ruled by Rome, Burgundy, Spain, Austria, France, Holland and Germany.