The ‘Hidden Gems of Brussels’ is a guide to Brussels that no one knows. It takes you to undiscovered art museums, forgotten squares and secret shops.The aim is to take the reader to the unexpected places that are different in some way from the normal tourist destinations like the cafeteria on the top floor of the national library, or the metro station that is decorated with 140 characters from Tintin albums, or the art cinema that seats just 20 people.
You do not have to do everything listed in the book, but if you do, you will begin to discover a city that no one else knows.
Let’s Check Out Some of The Hidden Secrets of Brussels:
BRUT
Brut is a unique plant store of Brussel.Four local creatives opened this plant store in the Marolles. The interior is a beautiful urban jungle dedicated to rare cacti, ancient ferns and other green curiosities to perk up an urban apartment. You can also pick up vintage furniture, terrariums and handmade macramé hangers.
GROENENDAAL WOODS
The forest trails near Groenendael station are dotted with new signs explaining the Japanese art of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. The aim is to encourage stressed urban residents to discover the healing properties of ancient forests. A 12-minute train ride followed by a ten-minute walk and you are deep inside ancient beech woods where UNESCO-protected areas of primeval forest have barely changed since the Ice Age.
DIEWEG
Founded in 1866, the forgotten cemetery on Dieweg is one of the most romantic spots in Brussels. Abandoned in 1958, its weathered stone tombs are covered in ivy and moss. Some people come here to wander among the dilapidated gothic chapels, crumbling stone angels and sad faded photographs of the dead. Others are drawn by the rare species of moss and wild flowers in this untouched urban wilderness. The Belgian illustrator Hergé, who created Tintin, was the last person buried here.
PETITE RUE MALIBRAN
The quiet Petite Rue Malibran is one of a handful of old lanes that have miraculously survived in Brussels. Originally named Rue des Pucelles, it’s the last remnant of a 15th-century country lane. Barely changed since the 18th century, it remains an almost rural corner of whitewashed cottages covered in wisteria and a little park.
CHEMIN DES SILEX
You still come across ancient cobbled roads in unexpected places, like the Chemin des Silex in southern Brussels. This narrow lane runs through a deep cut that winds through the old Tournai-Solvay estate. It finally emerges at a little cluster of whitewashed houses including the former café A la Petite Laiterie de la Forêt de Soignes that still has the old name painted on the façade although they stopped serving milk a long time ago.
NEIGHBOURHOOD BEERS
Three local beer fans have come up with the innovative idea of brewing small batches of Bières de Quartiers, or Neighbourhood Beers. Inspired by local Brussels history, the beers include a Trois Tilleuls blond ale from Watermael-Boitsfort, a Saint-Boniface white beer and a Stockel saison. The beers are created in small craft breweries and sold in local bars and beer shops.
GRAIN
This local bakery opened its doors in 2019 in a spot just off the Place du Châtelain. The interior has been given a contemporary hip look with bare brick walls, wooden shelves and a marble counter. The team make sourdough loaves the traditional way using flour bought from startup organic flour mill Flietermolen. They also sell cinnamon buns fresh from the oven along with good coffee.
LE TYPOGRAPHE
The beautiful Ixelles printing shop Le Typographe now has a small branch in the centre of town. Located among the design stores on Rue des Chartreux, the shop is the perfect spot to stock up on stylish notebooks, pens, stamps and writing paper. But you still have to go to their Ixelles workshop to order personalised business cards or wedding invitations.
MONUMENT TO THE FORESTRY WORKERS
Deep in the woods south of Brussels, a quiet forest trail leads to a massive stone dolmen surrounded by a circle of 11 standing stones. It looks as if it might date from the same period as England’s Stonehenge, but it was built in 1920, exactly one hundred years ago, in memory of Belgian forestry workers who died fighting in the First World War. The massive stones for this unusual war memorial were brought from a Neolithic quarry in the hills above Wéris village in the Ardennes.
FOOD TRUCK TRAIL
As well as hosting the largest food truck festival in Europe, Brussels has developed a food truck route spread over 20 locations. A sign at each location lists the food truck schedule for the week. Popular spots include Square Frère Orban in the European Quarter, Porte de Namur and Place Jean Rey next to the Leopold Park. So now you know where to find your favourite coffee or gourmet burger.
HELDEN MARTIN GIANT BREWERY
Helden Martin iconic design has design a brewery and restaurants it has the interiors of the mad giant beer that plays with the scale referencing oversize metal toys.
Keep exploring the choicest city of Belgium Brussels. Also, read about the places to explore in Antwerp.