Passionate about Brussels |
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About Brussels Walks |
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Brussels Walks is a spin-off of Klare Lijn, an organisation that started developing guided tours in Brussels in the magical year 2000.
In 2007, we implemented Brussels Walks for English spoken tours. Both in Brussels, as in other cities in Belgium.
For our tours, we can rely on a core of 17 fully qualified guides. People who are all passionate about Brussels.
So make sure that, prior to coming to Belgium and/or Brussels, you drop up a line. We're quite sure we can really contribute to making you love our cities even more!... Enjoy Brussels !
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Brussels for beginners
Here's a walk for people who've never visited our city before - or for those who would like to see the highlights in the city centre again. We combine, in this three-hour walk, the best of both worlds : uptown and downtown Brussels.
The area around the city park, the former nobility area, our 13th century gothic cathedral, the unique 19th century royal galleries, the Grand'Place with its wonderful town hall (Unesco World Heritage) and baroque houses, the narrow streets of the old town contrasting with the concept of the 1860's ... And, if you really want to see it, one of the most famous fountains in the world : Manneken Pis. |
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Downtown Brussels
The first to settle on the banks of the Senne river were merchants, travelling between German cities and Ghent and Bruges. No wonder the area turned into a market ! We owe the beauty of our Grand’Place to … a shelling by French artillery. French soldiers were the first to kidnap the ‘eldest citizen of the city’, our Manneken Pis. After the Belgian independence, the luxurious Royal Galleries were built – a first in Europe ! And, yes, you will get to go for a drink in one of the alleys – perhaps even in the pub that holds the world record of beers in store … |
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Top of the hill Brussels
As the river flooded too often, worldly leaders and clergy preferred to settle high on the hills of Brussels. Not only was it dryer, people would literally have had to look up to see their princes.
Today still, this is where power resides : no less than three parliaments, the royal palace, Royal square (called place des Armes in Thackeray’s Vanity Fair), the posh Sablon area where two adventurous people started a market in … antiques in the 1960’s. Through Egmont park with a statue of Peter Pan, which once served for target practice, we reach the magnomalous Palace of Justice, from where the panorama is really breathtaking ! |
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A Brussels Pub Crawl
Belgium is famous for its chocolates and beer. Join us for a taste of our famous liquids : monk beers, fruit beers, scotch, beers of spontaneous fermentation and, theoretically, many more.
Join a 'Zytologist' from Brussels Walks for a guided walk. Let us take you by the hand (Belgian beers are quite strong) and lead you through the streets of Brussels, from cosy corners to trendy places … A tour you may not remember in the morning. |
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The capital of Europe
Brussels. Our city’s name is mentioned in newspapers and news bulletins all over the globe, every day again. Apart from being the seat of Nato headquarters, the European Commission occupy the Berlaymont building, and after a week of ‘official’ gathering in Strasbourg, the European parliament settles in Brussels again for the remainder of the month.
Who are those people of ‘Brussels’ taking impopular decisions ? What buildings serve which purpose ? And what are the settings ? Join a Brussels Walks guide, and find out !
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Art Nouveau
Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Modern Style. Towards the end of the 19th century a new artistic and architectural language was invented. People like Victor Horta excelled in creating buildings that met with every possible form of comfort. ‘Sgraffiti’ livened up housefronts and brought some colour into fairly dull streets. No other art form was able to express the ‘joie de vivre’ of that period to such an extent.
Upon request, a visit to Horta’s own house, now museum, can be arranged (only in the morning). |
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The Dark Side of Brussels : Chocolate
The first traces of the use of cocoa appear from the Mayan civilisation in the seventh century. In 1528, Cortes goes back to Spain with cocoa beans and the equipment needed for preparing chocolate. Although at first jealously guarded by the Grand Court of Spain, chocolate makes its way into the Spanish Netherlands (present day Belgium). Here, the Swiss will be introduced to the ‘liquid gold’.
After having been a condiment for the happy few, chocolate will become accessible to everyone as from the end of the 19th century. And just under 100 years ago, the ‘praline’ or Belgian chocolate is invented.
Follow a Brussels Walks guide on his/her quest for excellence …
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Underground Art
Is Magritte the only Belgian (modern) artist you ever heard of ? Time you got introduced to some more artists then !
The Brussels' underground has over sixty stations in which a work of art, mostly of Belgian artists, was incorporated. (Non) figurative, naive, fragile or robust, sculptures, paintings, comics or other, and even an installation by the only sculptor who's work can be found on the moon. Here's a great excuse to take the tube ! Book a Brussels Walks guide and find out why people love coming to work by taking an underground train or tram ! |
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