Brussels

Brussels has been the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium since the country became independent in 1830. It is home to the headquarters of the European Union and NATO and to the World Customs Organization, so international companies, associations, cultural institutions, embassies and the global press gather here. The result is a major economic, scientific and cultural centre with a cosmopolitan feel, reinforced by immigrants from the former Belgian colony of Congo and by the descendants of guest workers from Morocco and Turkey.

Architecture lovers should start at the Grand Place (Grote Markt), with its Gothic town hall and baroque facades. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful squares in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Other highlights include the Cinquantenaire park and its triumphal arch, the Stock Exchange, the Palace of Justice and the many well-preserved art nouveau buildings across the city, most famously those by Victor Horta. The Comic Museum, celebrating Brussels as the capital of Belgian comics (Tintin, the Smurfs, Lucky Luke, Marsupilami), fittingly sits in a former Horta-designed art nouveau department store.

Belgium was among the most conservative countries in Europe towards gay people until the mid-1990s, then became one of the most progressive on gay rights within just a few years. The first Gay Pride march in Brussels took place more than 25 years after the Stonewall riots in New York. Today gays and lesbians in Belgium enjoy better legal protection and greater self-confidence than in many other countries, which gives the capital a relaxed and open atmosphere for LGBTQ+ visitors.