tourist brussels statue break

A tourist broke a historic statue in Brussels one day after it was unveiled to the public following a 3-year restoration project that cost more than $18,000

• A video showed a tourist climbing on top of a statue and breaking off a piece. 
• Police later arrested the tourist at a fast food joint.
• The man who helped restore the statue said he felt sad the statue was broken so soon after it was unveiled to the public.

A tourist climbed onto a historic statue in Brussels, Belgium, on Sunday and accidentally broke a portion of it, Brussels police told Insider in a statement. The incident was first reported by the local newspaper Het Nieuwsblad .

In a video posted by Het Nieuwsblad, a man in a white shirt and a pair of black shorts was shown trying to get down from the statue. The man is from Ireland, police said in the statement.

Later in the video, a piece of the statue — which the man was shown holding — broke off and fell to the ground. The man was then shown walking away from the statue.

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The statue, which comprises a lion and a figure of a man with a torch in hand, is a part of the Brussels Stock Exchange building, the police said. The tourist had broken the statue just a day after it was shown to the public, following a three-year restoration project that cost 17,600 euros, or around $18,750, per Het Nieusblad.

Police later arrested the man at a fast food joint that was located near the statue, according to Het Niewsblad. The Brussels Stock Exchange said it expects the man to pay for the broken statue's restoration, per the report.

"The police arrived at the scene and found the tourist a bit further away. He was temporarily held in police custody and will face criminal charges," Brussels police told Insider, declining to reveal details about the man's identity.

Nel Vandevennet, who was part of the team that renovated the statue, said that the repairs are going to take a few weeks or even months. "We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it's very sad this happened," he told the Belgian broadcaster VRT .

"The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen," Vandevennet said. 

It's not the first time a tourist has misbehaved overseas. In October last year, an American tourist smashed two sculptures and hurled them into the ground during a visit to the Vatican Museum. In July, a tourist defaced part of the Colosseum in Rome and used a key to carve "Ivan+Haley 23" on a wall.  

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Tourist damages historic Brussels statue one day after £15,000 restoration revealed

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An Irish tourist has broken a historic statue in Belgium just one day after it was unveiled to the public following a £15,000 restoration.

The unnamed man was arrested after snapping off part of the hand bearing a torch on the monument in front of the newly reopened Brussels Stock Exchange, reports Belgian outlet VRT NWS .

The building, now home to the new Belgian Beer World experience, had reopened the day before, on Saturday 9 September, after undergoing major renovation work that cost £77m in total.

Video shared online shows the moment the holidaymaker, who appears to be drunk, clambered on the statue depicting a man holding a torch next to a lion.

The footage shows him then steadying himself as goes to jump back down, managing to break off the torch and a large part of the statue’s arm.

Police cameras captured the act of accidental vandalism, and the man was reportedly intercepted and arrested by law enforcement in a nearby fast food restaurant not long after.

The building is now keen to claim the thousands of pounds-worth of damage directly from the tourist.

Nel Vandevennet, who managed the restoration project, described the man as being “in a merry mood”.

“The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen,” he said.

“It is listed heritage and there will be follow-up from the monuments and landscapes agency of the Brussels region.

“We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months.

“The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions which were in a bad way.

“We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened.”

It is the latest in a long line of incidents of tourists behaving badly this summer.

A British tourist in Rome hit headlines when he carved his name into the Colosseum ; the same act was repeated not soon after by a teenage girl on holiday in the Italian capital .

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Drunken tourist climbs, breaks historic Brussels statue 1 day after reopening

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A historic statue outside the Brussels Stock Exchange was damaged on Sunday evening after a drunken Irish tourist climbed on it to take a picture.

A major three-year restoration project to revamp the 150-year-old building had just been completed the day before, Belgium media reported. The restoration work cost 90 million euros, or about C$130 million.

The statue that was damaged depicted a lion and a man holding a torch, one of two lion statues that guard the entrance to the stock exchange.

Video of the incident was shared widely on social media, showing the Irish tourist sitting on the back of the lion statue. As he tries to get off the lion’s back, he grabs the arm of the man holding the torch and appears to put all of his weight on it.

The torch then snaps off and the tourist walks away.

A young Irishman has been arrested in Brussels, Belgium, after he climbed on to a recently renovated statue outside the stock exchange on Sunday and caused part of it to fall off, according to local media. Report here: https://t.co/dyx9mL0EDO pic.twitter.com/nalE6cGMjc — The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) September 13, 2023

Police were notified about the incident and tracked the Irishman down to a nearby fast food restaurant.

Brussels police told Insider that the man was briefly detained and will face criminal charges. Police did not identify the tourist by name.

The statue will now have to be restored again. Management for the building are hoping to recover the cost of the repair from the tourist, to the tune of 17,600 euros, about C$25,000, Het Nieuwsblad reports.

“The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen,” said the project manager for the restoration, Nel Vandevennet. “It is listed heritage and there will be follow-up from the monuments and landscapes agency of the Brussels region.”

“We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months,” Vandevennet told VRT News .

“The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions which were in a bad way. We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened.”

The Brussels Stock Exchange was founded by decree of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801, though the building wasn’t erected until 1873, designed by architect Léon Suys.

In 2000, the stock exchange merged with the Paris and Amsterdam stock exchanges to form Euronext, a pan-European exchange. In 2015, the company moved out of the historic stock exchange building in Brussels.

Since then, the building has been used to house temporary exhibits until renovations began in 2020 to restore the building and re-open it as a museum about Belgian beer.

Belgian Beer World opened inside the stock exchange building on Saturday offering 400 different kinds of beer on the menu.

The day after the opening was when the drunken tourist damaged the statue. It’s unclear if he had visited Belgian Beer World.

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Irish tourist damages newly renovated statue in Belgium's capital Brussels

An Irish tourist has been filmed climbing on top of a lion statue outside the Brussels stock exchange and damaging it as he tried to dismount.

In the video shared by Belgian media outlet, Sudinfo, a part of the statue can be seen breaking off — it looks like the torch held by a sculpted man.

Police arrested the tourist shortly after the incident on Sunday night, according to local media reports.

The two lion statues and stairs in front of the Brussels stock exchange, known as the Bourse, had only just been renovated at a cost of 90 million euros ($148 million). 

The building reopened its doors after three years of restoration on Saturday — one day before the incident took place.

Nel Vandevennet, the manager of the renovation project, told VRT NWS that repairing the damage could take "a few weeks or even months".

"The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen," he said.

"It is listed heritage and there will be follow-up from the monuments and landscapes agency of the Brussels region.

"We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it's very sad this happened."

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Seemingly drunk tourist climbs statue, causes $19k in damages at iconic brussels building day after it reopened to public.

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An Irish tourist has broken a statue out the front of an iconic building in Brussels one day after it reopened to the public following a three-year $150 million restoration.

The man was allegedly intoxicated and was filmed trying to ride the lion statue, which also features a man with a torch, at the Brussels Stock Exchange in Belgium.

There are two of the statues located on either side of the entrance to the building and they were also restored as part of the project.

As the tourist tried to climb down, a part of the statue, believed to be the torch, broke off.

He was arrested by police at a nearby fast food restaurant and said he was unaware of the scale of the damage he had caused, according to local media.

The restoration of the statue is estimated to cost about $19,000 and the Brussels Stock Exchange plans to make the tourist pay, local newspaper  Nieuwsblad  reported.

Nel Vandevennet, project manager for the restoration, said the building and statues were heritage-listed.

“We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months,” he told news outlet  VRT NWS .

He continued: “The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions which were in a bad way.

“We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened.”

The building opened to the public on Saturday and the video of the tourist was filmed on Sunday night.

The reopened building plans to be a public place for exhibitions, performances, and other events.

There is a cafe and it is expected a restaurant will eventually be opened too.

It is also home to the Belgian Beer World museum, but it is unknown if the Irishman had visited.

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Tourist climbs Brussels statue, breaks it

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An Irish tourist was filmed climbing a recently-renovated statue outside the Brussels stock exchange, causing part of it to break off.

The man was arrested and the building's management has called for him to cover the cost of repairs.

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Tourist climbs onto newly restored historic statue in Brussels and breaks part of it

An Irish tourist may have to foot a staggering bill of around €17,600 (S$26,000) for breaking a portion of a recently restored statue in Brussels.

The incident occurred on Sunday and was first reported by local newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.

The man, identified as an Irish national, was allegedly intoxicated. He reportedly wanted to have a photo taken while sitting on the back of the statue, which features a lion and a man holding a torch.

In a video circulated online, the tourist is seen trying to get down from the statue.

He balances himself by holding on to the torch, which then breaks off.

He was later arrested at a fast food restaurant, reported Het Nieuwsblad.

The building’s management has reportedly called for the tourist to foot the cost of the repairs.

The damaged statue is one half of a pair of lion statues located outside the stock exchange building, known as The Bourse, in the Belgian capital.

Just a day before the incident, the building had been reopened to the public after a three-year restoration project that cost €90 million (S$131 million). The statues were part of the restoration.

Mr Nel Vandevennet, the project manager for the restoration, said the building and statues were heritage listed.

The repairs will cost a lot of money because “the work will have to be done by real craftsmen”, he told news outlet VRT NWS.

He noted that it would take at least a few weeks or even months to get the work done.

“We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened,” Mr Vandevennet said.

This is not the first time tourists have behaved badly.

In July, a tourist defaced part of Rome’s Colosseum when he used a key to carve out his and his girlfriend’s names on a wall.

Earlier in 2023, Indonesia’s Bali island banned tourists from riding motorcycles after a string of road accidents and even deaths.

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Irish tourist arrested in Brussels after allegedly damaging newly-restored statue

An Irish tourist has been arrested in Brussels after allegedly damaging a newly-restored statue of a lion worth over €17,000.

Police arrested the man at the Brussels Stock Exchange on Sunday night after he broke a piece of the statue when attempting to climb up to the lion, who is joined at its side by a man holding a torch.

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Appearing to try get a photo with the lion in a video of the incident, the tourist knocked off the man’s torch when trying to climb up from the back of the statue.

The man was soon arrested by police shortly after the incident in a nearby restaurant, where he was said to have pleaded he intended no harm.

The news arrives as a blow for the restored Stock Exchange building as the €90 million property only opened its doors to the public on the day before the incident after three years of anticipation.

Despite just being restored, the statue will now have to be reworked once more to get it back to its prestine condition for tourists to marvel at.

According to Het Nieuwsblad , a Flemish newspaper, the Stock Exhange will be looking for the man to pay for the repairs of the damage he caused.

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Drunk tourist damages newly renovated statue at Bourse in Brussels city centre

The Bourse in Brussels city centre recently reopened after a big renovation, but has already been damaged again by an intoxicated tourist on Sunday night.

The Bourse and the two lions on the stairs in front of it have only just been restored . On Saturday, the building finally opened its doors after three years of restoration, which cost €90 million. A day later, one of the lion statues has already been damaged.

A video shows an Irish tourist, clearly intoxicated, climbing on the back of the statue to have his photo taken, next to the statue of a man holding a torch. However, when trying to crawl off the statue, the torch breaks off.

Police were notified and the man was arrested shortly afterwards in a fast food restaurant nearby – unaware of the harm he had caused. The statue, which was also only recently restored, will now have to be repaired again.

The restoration of the lion cost €17,600, and the management of the Bourse reportedly wants to recover the costs from the Irishman, Het Nieuwsblad reports.

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Irish tourist will likely have to pay between €5,000-€7,000 for damaged Belgian statue

A BELGIAN ARCHITECT in charge of renovating the Brussels Stock Exchange has described her reaction to damage caused to a statue by an Irish tourist as “very, very sad”. 

Video posted to social media showed an Irish man climbing onto the statue on the newly renovated building. While trying to climb down from the top of the statue, the arm of an angel gave way under him and broke off. 

The man was later arrested by police in a fast food restaurant, according to reports in Belgian media. 

The statue of a lion held by an angel is one of two that flank the entrance to the historic building. The statue’s renovation originally cost €17,600. 

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme today, Nel Van De Vannet, architect and CEO of the brussels Stock Exchange Renovation Project, said that “it is a symbolically important building for Brussels and the Belgians.”

“After three years of renovation, this weekend there was a grand opening,” she said.

She explained that the building is a gathering point where residents of the city gather in times of celebration and mourning, as it was in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks that took place in the city in 2016. 

“So we saw after two days of opening, a happy Irish tourist breaking off the hand of one of the angels that holds the lion, we were very, very sad and upset.

“It will take probably two months again before we can see the whole lion with the hand intact again,” she explained. 

Asked how much the repair is likely to cost, Van De Vannet speculated that it would be between 5,000 and 7,000 euros, adding that since the Irish man is now in police custody, he is likely to  be footing the bill. 

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VIDEO: 'Merry' Irish tourist damages historic lion statue outside Belgian Beer World

One of the two newly restored lions outside the Brussels Stock Exchange building was damaged by an Irish tourist on Sunday evening. The visitor climbed on top of the lion and damaged a sculpture in the process. Police have issued a charge sheet.

"On Sunday evening, an Irish tourist in a merry mood wanted to climb onto the lion in front of the Brussels Stock Exchange building," explains project manager Nel Vandevennet of the renovated stock exchange building that now houses Belgian Beer World. "In the process, the man broke off a newly restored sculpture 'The hand with a torch'."

The merry Irishman’s climb was filmed by a police camera allowing officers to intercept the visitor. "The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen," says Vandevennet. "It is listed heritage and there will be follow-up from the monuments and landscapes agency of the Brussels region."

"We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months. The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions which were in a bad way. We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened," concludes Nel Vandevennet.

Belgian Beer World at BourseBeurs

The newly renovated stock exchange building that accommodates the new Belgian Beer World experience only reopened on Saturday.  The centre is devoted to Belgian beer culture and includes a beer terrace that can also be visited outside museum hours.

It is not known whether our Irish visitor found inspiration at Belgian Beer World or enjoyed the offerings of the beer terrace or whether other pubs in the vicinity enjoyed his custom.

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Brussels statue allegedly damaged by young Irishman during night-time climb

Incident occurred just a day after celebration to mark €90m restoration of historic building in belgian capital.

A young Irishman has been arrested in Brussels after he climbed on a newly-renovated statue outside the Bourse on Sunday and caused part of break.

A young Irishman has been arrested in Brussels, Belgium after he climbed on to a recently renovated statue outside the stock exchange on Sunday and caused part of it to fall off, according to local media.

The damage to the statue came just a day after the official reopening of the city’s historic bourse building following a €90 million restoration project, which included work on the now damaged statue. The bourse management wants the young man, who reports allege was intoxicated, to pay for the repairs.

Video posted online shows the young man, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, clambering carefully and slowly over the statue, which depicts a naked man holding a torch while standing beside a lion.

While trying to negotiate his night-time climb, the man leans on the torch, causing it and some of the lower arm of the statue to break off. According to local reports, police were alerted and man was arrested some time later in a fast-food restaurant, reportedly unaware of the damage he had caused.

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The restoration of the lion cost €17,600 and the management of the bourse wants to recover the costs of the repairs from the person who damaged it, according Het Nieuwsblad .

The bourse building in central Brussels includes a beer museum and a co-working space. Its restoration was a major undertaking, with the conclusion of the project marked by special events on Saturday.

As part of the celebration, visitors were encouraged to drink Belgian beer, which has been listed by Unesco as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Colm Keena is an Irish Times journalist. He was previously legal-affairs correspondent and public-affairs correspondent

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Irish tourist arrested after allegedly damaging Brussels statue

An irish tourist who, according to local reports, was "clearly intoxicated" was filmed climbing and damaging a recently restored statute at the brussels stock exchange.

An Irish tourist has been arrested after allegedly climbing onto a recently renovated statue in Brussels and causing thousands of Euro worth of damage. 

Video of the incident shows a man climbing slowly onto the statue located outside the stock exchange in Brussels. The statue was renovated as part of a €90 million restoration project at the historic building, known as the Place de la Bourse. 

The man can be seen leaning on the torch, causing it and parts of the arm holding it to fall off, prompting gasps from onlookers.

A young Irishman has been arrested in Brussels, Belgium, after he climbed on to a recently renovated statue outside the stock exchange on Sunday and caused part of it to fall off, according to local media. Report here: https://t.co/dyx9mL0EDO pic.twitter.com/nalE6cGMjc — The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) September 13, 2023

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Local media outlets report that the tourist was "clearly intoxicated" while trying to get his photograph taken on top of the statue on Sunday night, just one day after the building reopened. 

An Irish tourist was arrested in a nearby fast-food restaurant sometime after the incident, according to local media. He was reportedly unaware that he had caused any damage to the statue. 

"An Irish tourist climbed onto one of the statues at the Brussels Stock Exchange building," a Brussels Police spokeswoman said, according to Newstalk.

"Police arrived at the scene [and] a police report was drawn up against the tourist.

"When he wanted to get back down, he broke a piece of the statue." 

Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reports that the restoration of the statue cost €17,600. 

Management at the Bourse building wants to recover the cost of necessary repairs from the person who damaged the statue, Het Nieuwsblad added. 

The historic Bourse building includes a beer museum and a co-working space and recently underwent a massive restoration project. The newly renovated building opened on Saturday with a number of special events, with visitors encouraged to drink Belgian beer as part of the celebration. 

Nel Van De Vannet, architect and CEO of the Brussels Stock Exchange Renovation Project, told RTÉ Morning Ireland on Thursday morning that the site is "symbolically important" and often used as a gathering place for both happy and sad times.

The incident has made her and her team "very, very sad and upset."

"For us, it's a bit of a sad moment to see now after these three years of restoration where we know the sculpture and time it took to restore it is now broken off after two days of opening," she said.

She added: "It will take probably two months again before we can see the whole lion with the hand intact again. 

"Again, it's a long process."

When asked who will pay for the damage, Van De Vannet said: "Well, police intercepted him so I think it will be on his account but maybe I can do an appeal for a peaceful mediation and a payment for restoration."

She said the bill would be between €5,000 and €7,000.

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Moment tourist climbs up restored statue in Brussels and 'BREAKS sculpture'

Footage of the incident shared online shows a man climbing on the statue but when he attempts to dismount it he loses his footing slightly and snaps a piece of the sculpture off

• 09:13, 15 Sep 2023
• Updated 14:39, 15 Sep 2023

An Irish tourist on holiday in Belgium has been arrested after they allegedly caused a whopping £14,500 (€17,000) worth of damage to a recently restored statue in Brussels.

The statue stood outside the stock exchange building in the Belgian capital, known as The Bourse, however, just one day after it reopened one of the stunning lion statues has already been damaged.

Footage of the incident shared online shows a man climbing on the statue but when he attempts to dismount it he loses his footing slightly and snaps a piece of the sculpture off, Buzz.ie reports, said the Irish Mirror .

A short time later the man was arrested in a fast food restaurant by police. The tourist must now reportedly cover the cost of the restoration of the lion, a staggering €17,600.

"On Sunday evening, an Irish tourist in a merry mood wanted to climb onto the lion in front of the Brussels Stock Exchange building," project manager Nel Vandevennet of the renovated stock exchange building said, via VRT. In the process, the man broke off a newly restored sculpture 'The hand with a torch'."

"The repairs are going to cost a lot of money because the work will have to be done by real craftsmen. It is listed heritage and there will be follow-up from the monuments and landscapes agency of the Brussels region.

"We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months. The whole building has only just been restored to its former glory, including the two lions which were in a bad way. We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened."

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Irish Hooligan Breaks Arm Off 100-Year-Old Brussels Statue During Crazy Night Out

A n Irish tourist nabbed one heck of a souvenir during his recent trip to the historic Brussels Stock Exchange in Belgium — the severed arm of a more than 100-year-old statue split off during a wild night on the town.

After scaling the statue depicting a lion and a man, which sits outside of the Bourse, the visitor apparently struggled to get back onto the ground. As he attempted to scale down the structure, he briefly lost his grip, accidentally snapping off what appeared to be a hand holding a torch as he tumbled to the ground.

The tourist may have initially made a break for it after breaking the statue, however, local authorities ultimately caught up with him at a nearby fast food joint where they arrested him. He claimed he didn’t realize the extent of damage he had caused while dismounting the lion.

Though it’s unclear whether the age-old rule of “you break it you buy it” rule applies here, the tourist, whose identity has yet to be made public, should absolutely hope it does not.

One day before the incident, the building reopened to the public after a three-year, roughly $150 million renovation. While how much of this eye-watering sum was spent on restoring the statues specifically is unknown, it will cost approximately $19,000 to repair the work to its pre-crazy night-out state, per local news outlet Nieuwsblad .

“We would like to carry out the repairs quickly, but it will surely take a few weeks or even months,” Nel Vandevennet, who oversaw the building’s restoration told VRT NWS , another local news source, before reiterating how “the whole building has only just been restored to its former glory.”

“We thought the sculptures would enjoy greater respect. We just think it’s very sad this happened,” he concluded.

So take it from this monument-mangling hooligan: Save a fortune, ride literally anything but a historic statue. 

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Irish tourist breaks Brussels statue a day after building reopens following €90m restoration

BY: Gerard Donaghy September 13, 2023

AN IRISH tourist reportedly broke a statue at a famous Brussels landmark, just one day after the building had reopened following a four-year-long restoration costing €90m.

The Bourse, the former home of the Brussels Stock Exchange, reopened last Saturday, September 9 as 'a cultural and tourist hotspot', according to the City of Brussels website .

However, it took just 24 hours for one hapless tourist to damage a statue at the 150-year-old building.

The Flemish newspaper Nieuwsblad reports that a 'clearly intoxicated' Irish tourist wanting a photo tried to climb one of the two lion statues that flank the steps leading to the entrance of the Bourse.

The statues, by sculpture Jean Joseph Jaquet, both feature a man holding a torch standing beside each lion and are said to represent the rise and fall of the stock markets.

In a video capturing the incident, the tourist appears to try and dismount the lion, putting his weight on the arm of the statue of the man as he tries to lower himself onto the plinth.

However, the arm holding the torch then breaks off and falls to the ground, much to the shock of the young man.

According to Nieuwsblad , the tourist was arrested shortly afterwards at a nearby fast-food restaurant.

It adds that the owners of the building will seek compensation for the damage, with the restoration of the lion alone costing €17,600.

Beer museum

Ahead of its reopening on Saturday, the EU — which allocated €18m to the restoration project — hoped the historic building would become a meeting place for locals and tourists.

"Constructed between 1868 and 1873 by the visionary architect Léon-Pierre Suys, La Bourse was intended to embellish an expanding capital city," read a statement from the EU .

"Few Brussels residents have explored its halls and corridors, as La Bourse gradually closed itself off.

"With this reopening, the City has transformed it into a new meeting place for the people."

The last permanent tenants of the building left in 2015, after which it was used for occasional exhibitions.

Following its renovation, the site now houses Belgian Beer World, an interactive museum narrating the history of brewing in Belgium and featuring more than 100 Belgian brewers.

See More: Belgium, Brussels

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A couple’s break in Brussels

06 May 2024

Planning on surprising your other half with a romantic break in Brussels?

The Belgian capital will make your fall in love with its enchanting monuments, its paved streets, its bucolic walks, its authentic, romantic restaurants... You don't have to worry about a thing, we've put together an itinerary that will have you all aflutter throughout your trip. 

Day 1 – The heart of the city and its gems

First stop: the stunning  Grand-Place . It's one of our pride and joys, and rightly so! It's often called "the most beautiful square in the world". Victor Hugo even said "The Town Hall of Brussels is a gem, a dazzling poet's fantasy that fell from the head of an architect. And the square surrounding it is a marvel...". What more can you say? Take the time to admire the gilding of the eclectic buildings and why not take the opportunity to visit the Museum of the City of Brussels, located in the King's House?

The neighbourhood around the Grand-Place is dotted with treats: the  Manneken-Pis  dressed in his latest, seasonal outfit; the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries  and the enchanting gourmet shops that line the neighbouring alleys. In the majestic, magnificently renovated Bourse building, the interactive exhibition Belgian Beer World teaches you all about the history of Belgian beer. End your visit with a moment of relaxation on the sublime Beerlab roof terrace.

Feel like getting some shopping done before lunch? Take a stroll down rue Antoine Dansaert and take advantage of its Belgian and vintage shops, as well as some of the big French brands that have set up shop in Brussels. Starting to get peckish? Perfect, you're right next to place Sainte-Catherine, which is full of trendy restaurants:  Noordzee , Le Vismet , Nona , Vertige , Kline , Nightshop , Beiruti Brussels , Toukoul , La Belle Maraîchère ,...

Take it easy in the afternoon and visit one of our museums. The historic centre is full of them and there is something for everyone:  comics ,  musical instruments ,  fine arts ,  Magritte ... Unless you prefer to spice up your stay in Brussels with a visit to the Museum of Erotics and Mythology ... If you would rather stroll through vintage shops or antique shops, the Marolles district is the place for you!

End the day on a romantic note and enjoy a breathtaking view of the city as the sun sets. Our top spots are place Poelaert, the Mont des Arts and Rooftop 58 .

Grand-Place

Often considered the most beautiful square in the world, the Grand-Place of Brussels' reputation precedes it! Today, it still has a political and administrative function as it houses the City of Brussels Town Hall, which remains the workplace of the mayor and most of their aldermen. As a prestigious venue, it hosts many festive events - concerts, fairs, folklore events, the Christmas tree and nativity scene, sound and light shows, the flower carpet in the summer, etc. - or symbolic events, such as the celebration of sportsmen and women after fine performances. Its story began as a market square in the 12th century. Gradually, the square was filled with houses and halls, then primarily made of wood. The splendid Gothic town hall was built in the 15th century in three phases; the same 15th century saw the installation of trade guilds in the houses that border the Grand-Place. Even more so than at present, the square was the nerve centre of Brussels life: economically, as already mentioned, with intense sales activity (several halls devoted to the sale of bread - the present King's House or Broodhuis in Dutch -, meat, linen, etc.), culturally (theatrical performances), judicially (with executions taking place on the square) and, of course, local politics. It was bombarded by Louis XIV's troops in 1695 and was subsequently almost entirely rebuilt. It underwent further major renovations and modifications during the following centuries, especially in the 19th century, which gave it its current appearance. The Grand-Place of Brussels has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

Museum of the City of Brussels

Two majestic buildings that stand opposite each other on Brussels' Grand Place have a long-standing rivalry: on one side you have Brussels' City Hall, and on the other the Broodhuis (Bread House), a UNESCO World Heritage Site which houses the Brussels City Museum. The rivalry between these two buildings is no coincidence. In the 15th century, the Duke of Brabant replaced the 13th century wooden bread market building with a prestigious building that would be a symbol of his power and face off against the imposing building on the other side of the Grand Place that symbolised the city's independence. The building owes its French name of Maison du Roi (King's House) to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who once ruled over a large part of the globe and once owned the Bread House. After being destroyed in the 16th century, it was rebuilt in the Gothic Revival style in the 19th century by city architect Victor Jamaer. But it's not all about the Broodhuis' history and facade. Inside the Brussels City Museum gives a comprehensive overview of Brussels' history, with particular attention given to the arts, crafts,urbanism and architecture . The original Manneken Pis is also housed here for security reasons, but as for his wardrobe, which is a thousand times larger than even the most passionate fashionista's, you can marvel at that in its dedicated museum on Rue du Chêne - Eikstraat. Combined ticket giving access to the Brussels City Museum -Maison du Roi and the Garderobe MannekenPis.

Manneken-Pis

You're no doubt familiar with the Manneken-Pis, the bronze statuette that attracts crowds with cameras just a stone's throw from the Grand-Place. But how did this statue come into being? Originally, the statuette was a simple decoration adorning one of the many fountains that supplied the city with water in the Middle Ages. Although other statues had previously borne its name, the famous little boy relieving himself, who everyone knows today, is the work of Jérôme Duquesnoy l'Ancien, who made it in 1619. He has gone from being a public fountain to a legendary figure. In addition to his purely material appearance, Manneken-Pis has, on various occasions, taken on the symbolic roles of protector of the city and spokesman for the people of Brussels, personifying them in a way that is often mischievous and irreverent. Today, he embodies the rebellious yet modest spirit that reigns in Brussels. Over the years, it has become customary to dress the statue up for special occasions. Fitted out with numerous costumes and decorations, sometimes gifts from important political figures, his wardrobe includes more than 1,000 pieces, which can be admired at the GardeRobe MannekenPis, a museum opened in 2017. The oldest was donated by the Elector of Bavaria in 1698. Sadly, Manneken-Pis has been subjected to numerous acts of vandalism. The original statuette, stolen and damaged on several occasions, now rests safely in the Brussels City Museum (housed in the King's House on the Grand-Place).

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

Initiated by the architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer, the spectacular Galeries Royales project took shape in the 1830's. The works, begun in 1846, were almost completed in time for the official opening on 20 June 1847. The gallery included shops, auditoriums, cafés, restaurants and apartments. The place to be seen for the fashionable, right away, the Royal Galleries of Saint Hubert drew a wide audience, attracted by its luxury brands, elegant cafés and cultural spaces. These included the Théâtre du Vaudeville, the Cinéma des Galeries and the Taverne du Passage, called the Café des Arts until 1892 and the meeting place for painters and writers of the time. The colony of French refugees, like Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Edgar Quinet and others, would also gather there. The Surrealist painters and artists from the Cobra group were regulars at the venue. A commemorative plaque recalls the first showing of the Lumière brothers’ motion picture camera on 1 March 1896, in the former dispatch room of the La Chronique daily newspaper (above Pâtisserie Meert, Galerie du Roi).

Belgian Beer World experience

Belgium, the land of beer? That's for sure! Belgium boasts more brands of beer than any other country in the world. And another unique feature: Belgian beer culture has UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status. Belgian beer quite simply holds an extraordinary mix of influences, creativity and... Belgitude. Discover what makes Belgian beer so special at Belgian Beer World, more than a beer museum, an interactive experience!

Museums & tourist attractions

Comics Art Museum - CBBD

The Center’s prestigious great hall, light pit, mezzanines, auditorium and side rooms are available for hire throughout the year for dinners, cocktail parties, press conferences etc. Guests at these events may visit the center’s exhibitions free of charge. With absolute respect for the general public of the Center, cocktail parties, gala dinners, seminars, press conferences and high-level meetings can be held in the same venue, either outside opening times if located in areas normally open to the public such as the light pit or the famous entrance hall with its emblematic street lamp, or during opening hours if they are held in side rooms not open to the public. Every year the BCSC hosts over 120 events: press conferences, seminars, business meeting and presentations, weddings and private parties… These can take up to 1,200 persons standing.

Historical venues

MIM - Musical Instruments Museum (MRAH)

As soon as it opened at the end of the 19th century, the luxurious Old England department store earned an excellent reputation for its highly distinctive building. The entrance to the building is a jewel of the Art Nouveau style, while the rest is in perfect harmony with the neoclassical ensemble on the Place Royale, and just around the corner from the Grand-Place and Central Station, no less! With a wealth of some 9.000 instruments, some 1.200 of which are on permanent exhibit, the museum's reputation is mainly built on its extraordinary collections. Once inside, you'll embark on a true tour of the musical world. After your visit, the instruments and their history will no longer hold any secrets: from the viola da gamba from the Court of Brussels to the 20th century theremin, and even including the African kora! The mim is nothing other than a place to experience music. A visitor's guidance system allows you to explore the thematic tours to the tune of the melodious sound of the instruments presented. A program packed with concerts, demonstrations and workshops for the young and the not so young makes the mim experience even better. The mim has its own concert hall, specialized library, museum shop, workshop for restauration and conservation of musical instruments and is crowned by a restaurant with panoramic view over Brussels.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium assemble six different museums: the Oldmasters Museum, Modern Museum, Meunier Museum, Wiertz Museum, Magritte Museum and the Fin-de-Siècle Museum.

Musée Magritte Museum

The Musée Magritte Museum, located in the heart of Brussels, brings together the world's largest collection of the renowned surrealist artist René Magritte: 230 works and archives are displayed. The multidisciplinary space houses paintings, gouaches, drawings, sculptures, and painted objects, as well as advertising posters, musical scores, photographs and films. The Museum also has the most important collection from the artist’s "vache" period. The selection of works exhibited in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium is constantly expanding with a changing selection of external loans. With the support of Belgian and foreign museums as well as private collectors, works are being made available that have previously never been exhibited. The visitor can thus discover many treasures that are still in private possession. The Musée Magritte Museum has already received 8 nominations and prizes. Every year more than 300,000 visitors come here for all over the world to discover the life and the works of René Magritte.

Place Poelaert

Between the popular Marolles district and the elegant Louise neighbourhood lies the place Poelaert. This is the place to go for a superb panoramic view of the lower part of the city. On the horizon are architectural heritage gems such as the Basilica of Koekelberg and the Atomium. Sunset in particular is a great time to enjoy the seemingly endless sky. Not afraid of heights? Since 2019, the giant Ferris wheel 'The View' has taken up residence here and you can admire the Belgian capital from a height of no less than one hundred metres! Afterwards, take the free glass lift and dive into the Marolles for more urban fun. Place Poelaert, with its 750m² surface area, is also the largest square in the capital. It was named after Joseph Poelaert, the architect of the Palace of Justice, which is the monumental courthouse you see on this square, a mastodon from the 19th century. The scaffolding surrounding the courthouse has become part of the public's collective memory.

The Mont des Arts Garden

The Mont des Arts garden is located below place Royale and provides a green transition between the upper and lower parts of the city, between the Royal Quarter and the Grand-Place in the city's historical centre. Originally built for the 1910 Universal Exhibition, it was adapted in the 1950s to form part of the vast urban complex of the Mont des Arts. The Mont des Arts "complex" includes the KBR (formerly the Royal Library); a shopping and office gallery on the other side of the street appropriately named the "Mont des Arts"; the Square congress centre, with its glass cube and statue of Albert I; gardens and esplanades and finally an underground car park... The current garden was restored in 2001. Don't miss the sound of the carillon, located in the lower part of the covered passageway, which brings joy to tourists and Brussels residents alike! Facilities: - Benches - Fountains - A skatepark Disabled access: Only via the entrance on rue du Mont des Arts; other access is via flights of stairs.

KBR (Royal Library of Belgium) is the national scientific library. It collects all Belgian publications and preserves, manages and studies an extensive cultural and historical heritage. It provides the public with access to information, facilitates research and offers a broad cultural experience.

Day 2 – Romantic Art Nouveau walks

Day two of your adventure in Brussels. Put on some good walking shoes, because today you're heading to the city's green areas. Have a quick breakfast at place Flagey  and shower your better half in romance first thing in the morning, with a walk around the Ixelles ponds and the park of La Cambre Abbey.

Head up to avenue Louise and hop on tram 8 or 93 towards Bailli! Walk through the  Châtelain district , known for its trendy shops and restaurants, here Art Nouveau reigns supreme. The  Horta Museum  is a must. Here you can discover the artist's house and marvel at his genius! Then take a walk around the area in search of Ciamberlani House, Solvay House or Otlet House. 

Has all that walking whetted your appetite? You're in luck, because you're in a foodie neighbourhood:  Mendo , La General , Odette en Ville , Sao Thai Cuisine , Old Boy , Seino , Ricciocapriccio , Nyyo  and  Chatelaine du Liban ! Before you move on, take a break in Faider Park, hidden behind the door of number 86 rue Faider.

In the afternoon, a change of style and scenery, with a trip to a gem of Art Deco architecture:  Villa Empain - Boghossian Foundation . Today, this perfectly renovated villa, is a centre of art and dialogue between the cultures of the East and the West. Take a seat by the incredible outdoor swimming pool, it's ideal for a romantic pause. Do you love architecture and gardens? Take a trip to the van Buuren Museum & Gardens . Built by David and Alice van Buuren, a couple with a passion for art, this Art Deco house is set in magnificent, landscaped gardens. Labyrinths, orchards and heart-shaped flowerbeds form a truly unique ensemble. 

End the day with a bit of fresh air in Brussels' green lung, the Bois de la Cambre, with its paths, lake and flora and fauna… Treat yourself to a healthy dose of romance and round off the evening with dinner for two at  Chalet Robinson . Perched on an island in the centre of a lake, this restaurant can only be reached by boat. It's one of a kind!

Located on the edge of the Flagey square and next to the Ixelles ponds, this building – formerly the headquarters of the national radio and television institution – has now more than ever become a crossroad where artistic disciplines can meet and exchange ideas. Culture lovers of all ages are welcome in this beautiful Art Deco building, to take part in various events which range from concerts of jazz, world, classical and contemporary music, to film events and video projects. Each year, Flagey has the honor of receiving some of the world’s most prominent artists, yet it still insists on offering opportunities to younger (Belgian) talents. Thanks to the structural support of the different Belgian communities, and because of the exceptional acoustic qualities of the concert studios, the diversity of programming and events such as the Flagey Piano Days and the Brussels Jazz Festival, Flagey is today one of the leading culture houses on the national as well as the international scene.

Étangs d'Ixelles

An extension of the gardens of La Cambre Abbey, the Ixelles ponds are a pleasant place to stroll in an architecturally rich neighbourhood. It has mansions of varying styles: Art Nouveau and Art Deco, neo-classical, Flemish Renaissance and Gothic. Continue your walk in the other green spaces close to the ponds: the gardens of La Cambre Abbey, the Bois de la Cambre and Tenbosch Park. There's so much to see and do around the ponds, starting with the magnificent Solvay House, a former mansion that is now a museum. You can also visit the CIVA, the Meunier Museum and the Children's Museum. If you love a good game, head to Escape Hunt and Escape Rush. For a gourmet break, you can stop at Café Belga, Monella, Racines, humus x hortense and My Tannour.

The Gardens of La Cambre Abbey

La Cambre Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery that was founded in 1201 by a Benedictine woman. Marvel at the buildings that once made up the site, including the Gothic church, the cloister, and the chapel of Saint Boniface. The gardens are located near place Flagey, between the Ixelles ponds and the Bois de la Cambre. They were created in the French style at the beginning of the 18th century and have become the setting for La Cambre graduate and postgraduate school for the arts. A stone’s throw away, the Bois de la Cambre, one of the Brussels-Capital Region’s biggest parcs is a gateway to the Sonian Forest. Nearby you’ll find gastronomic restaurants like the Villas in the Sky, Emily and Lorraine. For a spot of culture, visit Villa Empain, the Art Deco former residence of Baron Louis Empain, designed in the early 1930s by Michel Polak. Today, it houses the Boghossian Foundation, a centre of art and dialogue between the cultures of East and West. The Foundation offers temporary exhibitions and visits of its interior and gardens.

Museum Horta

The Horta Museum is housed in the house and studio of the architect Victor Horta (1861-1947). Both buildings were built from 1898 to 1901 and are typical of the height of Art Nouveau. The interior of the house has been largely preserved: mosaics, stained-glass windows, furniture, wall paintings form a harmonious whole that shows subtlety down to the smallest detail. The museum is also a centre for research on Victor Horta and Art Nouveau. The architect's personal archive, a collection of plans of his buildings and the library are accessible to the public by appointment. Reservation of a time slot online is mandatory. Last access at 16:45.

Solvay House

Architect: Victor Horta - 1895/1898 This luxury townhouse was built by Victor Horta in 1894 for the son of captain of industry Ernest Solvay. The architect was given “carte blanche” and designed the interior and the furniture down to the smallest detail. On the façade, two symmetric bow windows surmounted by balconies are seen to protrude across two floors. Indoors it is a visual extravaganza, with the sheer range of red-orange hues on offer only acting to underpin the atmosphere of luxury and comfort. A must-see building. Please note : Children under 12 years of age are not admitted to the guided tours.

Boghossian Foundation - Villa Empain

Opening of Villa Empain to the public according to several themes of organised activities and events (exhibitions, concerts, conferences, etc.) from 2010. La Fondation Boghossian has its international office in Villa Empain, on which restoration work began in 2008. With the Stoclet building, constructed by the Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann in 1911, Villa Empain is undoubtedly one of the finest masterpieces of Art Deco architecture in Brussels. In 1930, Baron Louis Empain, then aged 21 years, had this 2,500-metre-square mansion built on the prestigious Avenue des Nations, which was later renamed Avenue Franklin Roosevelt. He entrusted the building of this fine house to the Swiss architect Michel Polak, assisted by his colleague Alfred Hoch. The plan designed for Baron Empain on a 55-acre plot included a monumental villa with four façades in polished granite, a garden surrounding a swimming pool ornamented with a pergola, and a caretaker's lodge. The modern and luxurious nature of this structure soon aroused enthusiasm and curiosity. It is true that the variety and quality of the materials used (marble, polished granite, bronze, wrought iron, stained-glass windows and precious woods), the sophistication of the details and the coherence of the whole thing with simple but imposing lines immediately contributed to its patrimonial value.

Cultural centres

The Bois de la Cambre

The Bois de la Cambre, one of the largest parks in the Brussels-Capital Region, owes its name to La Cambre Abbey. It's laid out in an English style and resembles a forest, with walks, pony rides, jogging and playgrounds. Nestled in the heart of the Bois de la Cambre, Chalet Robinson welcomes you in its restaurant and offers boats and pedalos or a game of pétanque. Located on Robinson Island, the origin of the name is unknown but, according to legend, a group of walkers who were lost in the Bois de la Cambre saw a captain appear on the water in his boat, and he took them to this green island. The Le Flore bar offers tapas made with fresh seasonal produce, while the Woodpecker is ideal for a snack. The nearby Villa Lorraine, Villa in the Sky and Villa Emily are fine, gourmet restaurants. Looking to go out in a club? Head to Les Jeux d'Hiver, one of the most famous in Brussels. Just a short distance away is the Villa Empain, an Art Deco jewel which today houses the Centre for Art and Dialogue between Eastern and Western Cultures. DROHME Park leisure park at the former Boitsfort hippodrome lies on the southernmost edge of the Bois de la Cambre.

Le Chalet Robinson

An event on a mythical island? In the heart of Brussels hides an unusual place on a legendary island : Le Chalet Robinson. Want to find yourself in the leafy setting of the Bois de la Cambre, far from the agitation of the city ? Want to discover this Chalet with old-world charm where you will feel at home? Walking dinner, seminar, dinner sitting… All your desires are possible. Don’t wait any more! See you in unknown land!

Day 3 – Time to head North! (but don’t worry, you won’t need extra layers)

It’s your last day, so set your sights on climbing to the top of the  Atomium ! Soak in a spectacular panoramic view of Brussels. Did you know that the structure represents an elementary iron crystal magnified 165 billion times? Or that at night it is illuminated by 2,970 LED bulbs? Impress your other half with these intriguing little anecdotes!

If the weather isn't playing ball, take the opportunity to visit the Brussels Design Museum , which lies just a few steps away. But if the sun is shining, take a walk through Laeken Park, which is home to the Royal Domain, or any of the surrounding parks in the north of Brussels (Osseghem, Jardins du Fleuriste, Sobieski, Colonial, etc.).

Take metro 6 and get off at Simonis (Léopold III) to see the  Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg , before a well-deserved lunch break. It's the 5th largest church in the world and an Art Deco masterpiece. Fancy a nice gastronomic restaurant? We recommend  San Daniele  and  Wine in the City  which are located near the basilica. Looking for a more relaxed atmosphere? Drop by the Food Market at Tour & Taxi's  Gare Maritime .

Spend your afternoon in the area's museums. Are you a video game fan? Then the  Pixel Museum  is a MUST! Alternatively, follow the canal to the  MIMA , the museum of urban art and culture 2.0.

Halfway between sculpture and architecture, the Atomium was designed and built for the Brussels World's Fair (1958), for which it was the flagship building and emblem. Representing an iron unit cell (9 iron atoms) magnified 165 billion times, the monument with its unique silhouette has, over time, grown to become the symbol of Brussels and Belgium. On the inside the Atomium offers, not just the most beautiful view of Brussels, but also an entirely astounding and surreal ride through its interior spaces and volumes which alone makes a visit worth it. The Atomium ticket automatically includes the entrance to the Design Museum Brussels (150m away).

Laeken Park

As its name suggests, Laeken Park is located in the northern Brussels district of Laeken. It's part of the Royal Estate, together with the Osseghem and Sobieski parks, and the Colonial Garden and the Florist's Gardens. They form a large, landscaped estate within walking distance of the Atomium. This French-style park has paths, winding walkways, lawns and copses. An avenue of magnolias leads you to the flamboyant neo-Gothic Dynasty monument. It houses a statue of King Leopold I, a spire similar to that of the City of Brussels Town Hall and nine arches topped by nine pinnacles, referring to the number of provinces in the country at the time. Discover also the chapel and the fountain of Saint Anne and the former United States pavilion of the 1958 Universal Exhibition. Take a stroll through the green areas surrounding Laeken Park and visit the Atomium, Mini-Europe, the Planetarium and the Design Museum Brussels. The Japanese Tower and the Museums of the Far East are just a stone's throw away.

Basilica of Koekelberg ( Panorama )

This is the fifth largest church in the world and the largest Art Deco edifice ever built. It houses the Musée des S Òurs Noires (museum of the black sisters) (open Wednesday 2 p.m.- 4 p.m. and by appointment) and the Musée d'Art moderne religieux (museum of religious modern art) (open Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays 2 p.m.- 4 p.m. and by appointment). Warning : the panorama is open in winter (from the end of October to the end of March) from 10 am to 4 pm. The rest of the time, it is accessible from 9am to 5.30pm.

Pixel Museum Brussels

Pixel Museum is the museum of video games, connected entertainment and video game art in Brussels! Discover the history of video games, play and replay the classics of the last forty years, and try out the latest novelties and independent games! Discovery workshops on video game creation and events are regularly organised. Playing is learning how to cooperate, how to lose and how to be tenacious!

MIMA-Millenium Iconoclast Museum of Art

In 2016 opened the MIMA (Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art) contemporary art museum in the center of Brussels, on the territory of Molenbeek called “Hell Hole” by Trump. The institution is distinguished by its independent business model based on crowfunding and ticketing, as well as its exhibitions that highlight a young generation that transgresses the artistic genres and goals a new audience to the museum. The MIMA explores a history of culture 2.0. and its most significant art.

Fancy a romantic dinner?

Brussels is the capital of romance. Here, every day is Valentine's Day. Finding a place to have a romantic meal is easy. Here are a few suggestions for a cosy and unforgettable dinner for two.

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Brussels: Drunk tourist climbs and breaks historic statue, causing $19,000 damage!

Times of India TIMESOFINDIA.COM / TRAVEL NEWS , BRUSSELS / Created : Sep 18, 2023, 19:30 IST

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Merely a day following its reopening to the public at Brussels Stock Exchange in Belgium, as part of a €90 million restoration project, an unfortunate incident unfolded. Video footage depicts an individual methodically ascending t … Read more

Merely a day following its reopening to the public at Brussels Stock Exchange in Belgium, as part of a €90 million restoration project, an unfortunate incident unfolded. Video footage depicts an individual methodically ascending the statue, which depicted a lion held by an angel, only for a section to break off as he descended. Read less

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Merely a day following its reopening to the public at Brussels Stock Exchange in Belgium, as part of a €90 million restoration project, an unfortunate incident unfolded. Video footage depicts an indiv...