Brussels

This Forum is the main messageboard to discuss all things Claret and Blue and beyond
Post Reply
Asbury Park
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:04 pm
Been Liked: 3 times
Has Liked: 5 times

Brussels

Post by Asbury Park » Fri Oct 04, 2019 12:53 pm

I'm headed off to Brussels next week for 4 nights and looking for recommendations on what sights to see, and places that do good Belgian beer! Cheers.

arise_sir_charge
Posts: 3233
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:36 am
Been Liked: 1768 times
Has Liked: 41 times

Re: Brussels

Post by arise_sir_charge » Fri Oct 04, 2019 1:00 pm

I don't think you'll have much time for beer and sight seeing, Boris.
These 5 users liked this post: Asbury Park Bosscat Clarets4me tiger76 HunterST_BFC

Blackrod
Posts: 5114
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 12:41 pm
Been Liked: 1348 times
Has Liked: 608 times

Re: Brussels

Post by Blackrod » Fri Oct 04, 2019 1:53 pm

If you like history then The Royal Palace. Apparently the EU area is not that interesting by all accounts.

brexit
Posts: 1481
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:20 am
Been Liked: 234 times
Has Liked: 58 times
Location: on the gravy train in strasbourg

Re: Brussels

Post by brexit » Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:19 pm

When forced to go to Brussels I live in the Delirum bar
https://www.deliriumvillage.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and when very refreshed wander into the Royal Puppet theatre for a kip

tarkys_ears
Posts: 4237
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2018 11:30 pm
Been Liked: 1016 times
Has Liked: 1484 times

Re: Brussels

Post by tarkys_ears » Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:46 pm

1) "Good" belgian beer is largely a myth.

2) Brussels is the most boring city in Europe.

Bosscat
Posts: 25361
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2018 9:51 am
Been Liked: 8426 times
Has Liked: 18095 times

Re: Brussels

Post by Bosscat » Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:56 pm

Asbury Park wrote:I'm headed off to Brussels next week for 4 nights and looking for recommendations on what sights to see, and places that do good Belgian beer! Cheers.
Go to Bruges instead or even Antwerp ... much nicer than Brussells :D :D :D
Ignore Tarky's Ears about the Ale though (cos there are some fantastic Belgian Brews) my favourite being Kwak

Mmmmmmmm Beer droooolll droooolll

tarkys_ears
Posts: 4237
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2018 11:30 pm
Been Liked: 1016 times
Has Liked: 1484 times

Re: Brussels

Post by tarkys_ears » Fri Oct 04, 2019 3:04 pm

No just douchebags go "oh its belgian, must be great" and "oh look this one is 13%, how clever am i ordering it"

Go somewhere else and stick to the Stella.

longsidepies
Posts: 176
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:29 am
Been Liked: 105 times
Has Liked: 8650 times

Re: Brussels

Post by longsidepies » Fri Oct 04, 2019 3:24 pm

Brussels is great for a short trip! It's small and can be walked around dead easily. Yes the beer is strong, just don't guzzle and drink too much of it. The Grand Place (Grote Markt) is a beautiful square and, if you like architecture, will be blown away by it. There is an African flea market (Marolles Flea Market) selling all kinds of tat (European and African) if that's your kind of thing. To break up your trip, hop on the train and visit Ghent which is another beautiful city. You'll have a great time, wish I was going!!

Im_not_Robbie_Blake
Posts: 1854
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 1:33 pm
Been Liked: 381 times
Has Liked: 232 times
Location: Skipton

Re: Brussels

Post by Im_not_Robbie_Blake » Fri Oct 04, 2019 3:29 pm

Don't bother going to see Mannekin Pis. It's a complete waste of anyone's time!

Vino blanco
Posts: 5345
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 2:42 pm
Been Liked: 1898 times
Has Liked: 1965 times

Re: Brussels

Post by Vino blanco » Fri Oct 04, 2019 3:36 pm

One of my most least favourite cities in Europe, as someone has said above, try and get to Brugges, much more interesting and more to do.

claretnproud
Posts: 643
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 12:20 am
Been Liked: 261 times
Has Liked: 21 times

Re: Brussels

Post by claretnproud » Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:22 pm

Vino blanco wrote:One of my most least favourite cities in Europe, as someone has said above, try and get to Brugges, much more interesting and more to do.
Most least :o :o :o

summitclaret
Posts: 3891
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:39 pm
Been Liked: 826 times
Has Liked: 1307 times
Location: burnley

Re: Brussels

Post by summitclaret » Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:53 pm

If you had waited a few weeks you could have got a bargin as they would gave been about 75 empty rooms for brits.

evensteadiereddie
Posts: 9585
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:45 pm
Been Liked: 3146 times
Has Liked: 10202 times
Location: Staffordshire

Re: Brussels

Post by evensteadiereddie » Fri Oct 04, 2019 6:00 pm

tarkys_ears wrote:1) "Good" belgian beer is largely a myth.

2) Brussels is the most boring city in Europe.
Don't know about Brussels but your first point is absolute shite.
This user liked this post: Bosscat

timshorts
Posts: 2534
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:52 pm
Been Liked: 410 times
Has Liked: 307 times

Re: Brussels

Post by timshorts » Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:01 pm

Stella?? I'd rather stay sober. It has nothing going for it taste wise. There are some decent Belgian beers about. I suppose the thing about the Belgians is that they started producing quality beers to your average plebs long before us. Nowadays, even in the UK you can find all sorts in a decent supermarket without having to import it.

That said, I agree that Brussels maybe isn't the best choice for a stayaway, and wholly agree with Bosscat and Longsidepies recommendation of Antwerpen/Gent. Bruges is a little bit touristy, but fine if you haven't seen it before. If you want to do "EU", then I'd pick Strasbourg. Admittedly, it's in France, but it is a beautiful city.

Delerium ought to be selling their Christmas product in a few weeks I'd have thought. That's well tasty.

timshorts
Posts: 2534
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:52 pm
Been Liked: 410 times
Has Liked: 307 times

Re: Brussels

Post by timshorts » Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:01 pm

claretnproud wrote:Most least :o :o :o
"Brugges" :o :o :o

Aclaret
Posts: 4113
Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2018 3:16 pm
Been Liked: 1299 times
Has Liked: 1391 times

Re: Brussels

Post by Aclaret » Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:08 pm

Keep off the Sprouts.

Local cricketer
Posts: 2347
Joined: Mon May 13, 2019 5:46 pm
Been Liked: 412 times
Has Liked: 87 times

Re: Brussels

Post by Local cricketer » Fri Oct 04, 2019 7:09 pm

Watch out for blokes wearing rucksacks with wires hanging out

claret2018
Posts: 2043
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2018 4:49 pm
Been Liked: 801 times
Has Liked: 26 times

Re: Brussels

Post by claret2018 » Sat Oct 05, 2019 8:44 am

There’s not a huge amount to see in Brussels. Antwerp is only half an hour on the train, and is far better

thatdberight
Posts: 3748
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:49 am
Been Liked: 927 times
Has Liked: 716 times

Re: Brussels

Post by thatdberight » Sat Oct 05, 2019 10:05 am

I suppose you might find a day's amusement in Brussels. At least the easy train links to Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges easily fill the other three days.
This user liked this post: Bosscat

Tricky Trevor
Posts: 8322
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2019 10:06 pm
Been Liked: 2439 times
Has Liked: 1978 times

Re: Brussels

Post by Tricky Trevor » Sat Oct 05, 2019 10:13 am

The Atomium was a good visit when we had a morning there. Otherwise not much else.

Only spent an hour in Bruges the canals stunk of stagnant water and we couldn’t bear it. I also got ripped off in a bar so won’t be going back.

diamondpocket
Posts: 1367
Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2016 11:18 pm
Been Liked: 254 times
Has Liked: 215 times

Re: Brussels

Post by diamondpocket » Sat Oct 05, 2019 10:39 am

don't listen to them. I had a great time in Brussels over the christmas period a few years ago.

Bars I remember we went to that were traditional and lively: Mort Subite and Falstaff
Also, the one opposite Mannekin Pis is funny and good beers, Poechenellekelder. Plus, Delirium had the largest number of beers on tap I'd ever seen with thousands of beers on the menu in general. I guess there are 100's more worth checking out.

Eat lots of mussels and chips, chocolate and ice cream, baked spuds and waffles.

A great place to indulge and pig out on holiday.

Have a look if Anderlecht are playing. There's also the famous Heysel stadium, last chance to see as it's getting knocked down apparently.

Tourist things: the comic strip museum is cool (TIN TIN the most famous Belgian); saw a cool International Musical Instruments museum; the main square is stunning as are the others around it. The chocolate museum was OK, a little small, nothing special but there were some free tastings. Out in the suburbs there are some stunning examples of Art Deco style architecture and houses but can't remember the names of the districts.

Also, Antwerp is nice. Maybe go and see Defour for a brew.
These 2 users liked this post: longsidepies DidsburyClaret

Bin Ont Turf
Posts: 10948
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:38 am
Been Liked: 5154 times
Has Liked: 795 times
Location: On top of a pink elephant riding to the Democratic Republic of Congo

Re: Brussels

Post by Bin Ont Turf » Sat Oct 05, 2019 11:38 am

If you want to see a load of North Africans and Turks but don't want to go to North Africa or Turkey, then this is the place to go.

Bosscat
Posts: 25361
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2018 9:51 am
Been Liked: 8426 times
Has Liked: 18095 times

Re: Brussels

Post by Bosscat » Sat Oct 05, 2019 11:48 am

Bin Ont Turf wrote:If you want to see a load of North Africans and Turks but don't want to go to North Africa or Turkey, then this is the place to go.
You should pop over to this thread m8 ;)
http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... 8#p1113013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

aggi
Posts: 8762
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:31 am
Been Liked: 2109 times

Re: Brussels

Post by aggi » Sat Oct 05, 2019 11:57 am

tarkys_ears wrote:No just douchebags go "oh its belgian, must be great" and "oh look this one is 13%, how clever am i ordering it"

Go somewhere else and stick to the Stella.
I can't work out if this is on purpose or not.

Swizzlestick
Posts: 3978
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 9:40 pm
Been Liked: 1503 times
Has Liked: 578 times

Re: Brussels

Post by Swizzlestick » Sat Oct 05, 2019 12:36 pm

Bin Ont Turf wrote:If you want to see a load of North Africans and Turks but don't want to go to North Africa or Turkey, then this is the place to go.
As long as there’s nobody like you there, he should have a great time.

SammyBoy
Posts: 1452
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 11:41 pm
Been Liked: 469 times
Has Liked: 434 times
Location: Sector 7G

Re: Brussels

Post by SammyBoy » Sat Oct 05, 2019 12:58 pm

I didn’t like Brussels at all to be honest, couldn’t really put my finger on why exactly it just didn’t really grab me.

Burnleyareback2
Posts: 2664
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:07 pm
Been Liked: 772 times
Has Liked: 1426 times
Location: Mostly Europe

Re: Brussels

Post by Burnleyareback2 » Sat Oct 05, 2019 1:03 pm

SammyBoy wrote:I didn’t like Brussels at all to be honest, couldn’t really put my finger on why exactly it just didn’t really grab me.
I work there every month, I know what you mean. I put it down to a lack of identity. You look one way it feels like France, another and it’s Dutch, behind you feels like Germany - it just has a feeling of no mans land.

basil6345789
Posts: 2703
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:22 pm
Been Liked: 481 times
Has Liked: 2289 times

Re: Brussels

Post by basil6345789 » Sat Oct 05, 2019 4:15 pm

Crap place, very little to see - maybe The Manikin **** but that's all.

DidsburyClaret
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2016 3:56 pm
Been Liked: 4 times
Has Liked: 48 times

Re: Brussels

Post by DidsburyClaret » Sat Oct 05, 2019 7:26 pm

Lovely place if you just take a breath and relax. The tourist spots aren't something to spend a load of time on. Enjoy the place, the people and some inspired architecture and town planning (sexy talk, i know!).

atellierenville.com is a wonderful little cafe/studio shop that turns into a bar at night. In the same neighbourhood are tonnes of great independent shops full of friendly locals.
This user liked this post: longsidepies

Post Reply