Must See Attractions in Brussels, Belgium
The Grand Palace, Mini Europe, and the Statue of the Pissing Boy
Dec 9, 2008
To some, Brussels is a quick stopover on the way to Paris or Amsterdam. However, there are many museums and attractions to see while in Brussels, depending on how much time is available to explore the city. Mentioned below are a few of the must see attractions and if staying longer, there are still plenty of other museums to explore.
The Grand Place
The Grand Place is in the center of Brussels and is considered one of the most stunning town squares in all of Europe. It’s the main square in Brussels and was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. On Sundays, there is an open market and seen here throughout the year are concerts, festivals, and musicals. Surrounding the Grand Place are many narrow streets filled with restaurants, shopping, bars, and impressive architecture.
Statue of the Pissing Boy – Manneken Pis
The bronze statue of Manneken Pis, or “little man piss”, is a famous landmark in Brussels. He can be found on the corner of Stoofstraat/Rue de L'Etuve & Eikstraat/R. There are many stories of his origin and none of the stories can be clearly verified, so most believe whichever story sounds most appealing. One story involves Brussels being under attack with the explosive charges placed by the city walls. The legend is that the little boy, Juliaanske, urinated on the fuse of the explosives and saved the city. Although, he is usually naked, many times throughout the year he is dressed in various costumes.
Mini Europe
It is possible to see most of Europe in just a few short hours by visiting Mini Europe (1 Avenue du Football) In this theme park, there are more than 300 miniature replicas of Europe including Big Ben, the Acropolis, the Eiffel Tower, and Brussels own, Grand Palace. Some of the models are interactive including the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the fall of the Berlin wall.
This is an educational experience for families and a fun way to see Europe’s monuments and get a taste of European history.
The entrance fee is € 9,40 for children under 12 and € 12,40 for adults.
The Atonium
Right near Mini Europe is the Atonium (Atomium Square), a huge model of an iron molecule built in 1958 for the International Exhibition of Brussels. The building/sculpture is 335 feet (102 meters) tall, an imposing structure that dominates the view in what is known as Heysel plateau.
Visitors can tour the Atonium for a small fee and visit 5 of the 9 spheres. The upper sphere can be reached by an elevator and has a restaurant and remarkable panoramic views. The rest of the spheres can only be reached by steep stairs or an escalator, so no wheelchairs allowed. These other four spheres include exhibitions, a bar with snacks, and a sphere for children’s field trips.
The entrance fees are free for children less than 6, disabled persons, and bus drivers. For children 6 - 11 years, the fee is € 2 and adults are € 9. There is also a discount for teachers, students, and seniors.
Other attractions
Other sites to see include:
- Comic Strip Museum (Zandstraat / Rue des Sables, 20)
- Autoworld Museum and Museum of Art and History (Both in Parc du Cinquantenaire)
- The Brewery Museum (Grote Markt 10, Grand Palace)
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts (Rue de la Régence 3)
- Musical Instrument Museum (Rue Montagne de la Cour 2)
