Brussels  is the capital of Belgium, and the administrative heart of the European Union. Growing from a 10th century fortress town founded by Charlemagne's grandson into a city of over one million inhabitants. Brussels is also capital of the Brussels-Capital Region, of Flanders and of the French Community of Belgium.

From the deeply ornate buildings on the Grand'Place (Grote Markt), to the fish-and-crustacean overdose of St. Catherine's Square (Place St-Catherine / Sint-Katelijneplein), to the many bars on Place St-Géry (Sint-Goriks), to the trendy Rue Antoine Dansaert (Antoine Dansaertstraat), to the physically imposing Stock Exchange (Bourse / Beurs) - this is the best place to start exploring the city.