Brussels, BelgiumKeys to Making the Best Memories

By: Jake KelleyKatherine MyersWilliam PellAllene PinderKelsey Zellner

Getting Around❖ It is highly recommended to bring a phrasebook

➢ Younger generation dutch speaking Belgians use English➢ French speaking Belgians rarely do

❖ Though Belgians are generally helpful to strangers, they are somewhat shy and Introverted

❖ The Emergency number in Belgium is 112, for the Police or Fire Department

❖ Brussels is bilingual

Be Cautious of Restaurant Traps❖ Served below average quality for a high price.

➢ Avoid the “Rue Des Bouchers/Beenhouwersstraat” and “Rue de la Fourche” - both are streets in the old town

❖ Tap water is drinkable, though they do not serve it in restaurants➢ For about 2 Euros per bottle you will get mineral or hot spring

water❖ Giving tips shows that you enjoyed the meal

➢ Is not required➢ A tip of €.50 to €2.50 is considered generous

❖ Avoid buying chocolate, or most things, from shops located near major attractions like the Grand Square or Royal Palace➢ Taste testing

Keep In Mind❖ Don’t ask about:

➢ Income➢ Political Views➢ Religion

❖ Don’t associate the country with the European Union➢ Belgians may find it offensive➢ Similar to referring to the United States as a ‘UN’ country just

because we have a headquarters❖ Keep opinions and biases to yourself❖ Don’t assume and label any person French or Dutch

➢ Many in Brussels do not like to be associated with their neighbors

❖ DON’T build upon the American stereotype (Loud, obnoxious, etc.)

Watch Out For

❖ Pickpockets➢ More common in Europe➢ Target smartphones more than wallets➢ Carry wallets & phones in front pockets➢ Known for targeting unsuspecting tourists➢ Often work in groups, one person will distract you and another

will steal your possessions

Getting Crazy❖ We’re talking about the do’s and don’ts of going out and having

fun➢ Keep our home country rules in mind and you should be fine

❖ Do:➢ Have self-control

❖ Don’t:➢ Cause a disturbance➢ Become excessively drunk➢ Vandalize

Foods to Eat

Gastronomy is the study of food and culture, specifically focused on cuisine❏ Waterzool: Classic stew made of fish or chicken❏ Paling in’t groen: Traditional Flemish dish made of

eels with herbs and vegetables❏ La Carbonade Flamade: Boiled beef with garlic,

onions, and various spices, often served with noodles or fries

❏ Boudin Blanc: Blood sausages served with white rice ❏ Choesels: Offal cooked with lambic beer❏ Cheeses: More than 150 types, ranging from hard to

soft

Beer❖ Beer arrived in Europe around 5000 BC across the “Beer Belt” ❖ Lambic, Gueze, Kriek, Rasberry Beer, Champagne Beer, etc. ❖ Heavy taxes on French wine gave beer greater preference❖ Beer became one of the most popular drinks by the Middle Ages❖ Famous pubs include: Poechenellekelder, Mort Subite, Delirium

Chocolate❖ Spanish explorers returned with cacao seeds and a dark, frothy drink❖ Belgium was ruled by Spain – lead to introduction of chocolate❖ Henri Escher, mayor of Zurich, introduced the drink to Switzerland❖ Best known chocolatier: Leonidas ❖ Wittmaer is the chocolatier for the Court of Belgium

Gastronomy of Brussels, Belgium

Gastronomy Cont’d Waffles

❖ Borrowed from the Francic language meaning “honeycomb of bee”❖ Initially sold as unleavened crisp cakes baked in a wafer iron❖ Liege

➢ Derived from brioche dough, and made with pearl sugar➢ Invented around the 18th Century➢ Most popular waffle due to the World’s Fair of 1958, held in Brussels

❖ Brussels➢ Florian Dacher coined the term Brussels waffle➢ Invented in the Flemish region of Belgium➢ Big, rectangular and light➢ Get them from Dandoy near Grand Place Square

Fries❖ Invented in the region of Meuse (not France) in 1680❖ Called frites in Brussels❖ Made with Belgian Bintje potatoes, cooked twice, served in a paper cone with

mayonnaise❖ Maison Antoine is said to make the best

Gastronomy Cont’d Speculoos Cookie

❖ Slightly different forms in Belgium and Germany❖ Traditionally baked on the eve of St. Nicolas on Dec. 6 ❖ Name was derived from Latin word speculator❖ The most famous Speculoos cookies are from Belgium

Mussels❖ Originally consumed by the poor❖ National dish of Belgium, in season from September to February❖ Most popularly served as Moules Frites – Mussels and Fries❖ Often referred to as the Mussels in Brussels❖ Volle Gras & Chez Leon well-known for mussels

Places to Go

Grand Place❖ Built in the 15th century❖ Comparative to the Eiffel

Tower or Statue of Liberty❖ Gives views of gilded

buildings and gothic towers including the Town Hall and the City Museum.

1000 Brussels, Belgium+32 2 279 22 11

❖ “Became an image and symbol of the Brussels folklore, the joy of the inhabitants and their capacity of self-mockery”

❖ The emblem of the rebellious spirit of Brussels

❖ Wears over 900 suits❖ Once played a role in the

distribution of drinking water since in the 15th century

❖ Survived the bombardment of Brussels in 1695

Mannekin-Pis1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

+32 479 27 29 29

Cantillon Brewery❖ Founded in 1900 by the Van

Roy-Cantillon family❖ BEERS

➢ Lambic➢ Gueuze➢ Faro➢ Kriek

❖ Original machines❖ Barrels full of beer❖ Cellars for storage

Brasserie CantillonRue Gheude 56

1070 Anderlecht, Belgium+32 2 521 49 28

Cantillon Brewery (cont.)“You will experience a

unique moment amid the lambic fumes which

escape from the barrels in which the beer matures

for three years.”

Brasserie CantillonRue Gheude 56

1070 Anderlecht, Belgium+32 2 521 49 28

€7 - glass of lambic beer includedM-F 9am-5pm

Atomium“A seminal totem in the Brussels

skyline; neither tower, nor pyramid, a little bit cubic, a little bit spherical, half-way between sculpture and architecture, a

relic of the past with a determinedly futuristic look...the Atomium is, at once, an object, a place, a space, a Utopia and the

only symbol of its kind in the world, which eludes any kind of

classification.”

Avenue de l’Atomium1020 Bruxelles, Belgium

+32 2 475 47 757 Days a Week 10am-6pm

€8 with student ID

Atomium (cont.)❖ built for the World’s Fair in

1958 (a.k.a. Expo 58) - the last world’s fair

❖ 102 meters high ❖ nine interconnected spheres❖ designed by André

Waterkeyn❖ the symbol of the city of

Brussels and of Belgium❖ Panorama: allows distant

views of all sides of the city

Avenue de l’Atomium1020 Bruxelles, Belgium

+32 2 475 47 75

Avenue de l’Atomium1020 Bruxelles, Belgium

+32 2 475 47 757 Days a Week 10am-6pm

€8 with student ID

ConclusionTips❖ Bring a phrasebook❖ Avoid shopping near major

tourist attractions❖ Don’t assume they are

French or Dutch❖ Watch out for pickpockets❖ Don’t get too crazy

Food❖ Beer❖ Chocolate❖ Waffles❖ Fries❖ Mussels

Attractions❖ Grand Place❖ Mannekin-Pis❖ Cantillon Brewery❖ Atomium