Legends of Brussels

Legends of Brussels Legends of Brussels offers guided walking tours. We introduce Brussels to visitors through the legends and historical events that has marked the city.

Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Church is located just a few hundred meters away, on the south of the Grand-Place. It carries a r...
30/08/2026

Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Church is located just a few hundred meters away, on the south of the Grand-Place. It carries a rich history of Brussels, having gone through multiples changes during different centuries.

As it is a junction of the baroque façade of Saint-Anne Chapel with the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine church, it has multiple names.

The chapel of Saint-Anna was constructed in 1519 and got nearly destroyed completely after the bombardment of Brussels by the French, in 1695. Although it was supposed to get demolished to make the north-south connection railway line, its baroque façade was built against the Magdalena church instead, in the 1920s. Regarding the Chapel of Magdalena, it is a small gothic styled church, built on the foundations of an older sanctuary, dating back from the 15 century.

In the interior, one of its most distinct feature is its modernist stained-glass windows made in 1958 by M. Martens, M. Hizette, A. Blank and S. Steger.

Want to discover more about Brussels ? Check-out our other post on our series : Must-See Brussels ! To have a more in-depth dive in Brussels history, come and book a tour with us via the link in bio :)

In Belgium, we are known for our beers. Each year, around 1500 different types of beers are produced, using different fe...
26/08/2026

In Belgium, we are known for our beers. Each year, around 1500 different types of beers are produced, using different fermentation methods. From the monastery breweries brewing trappist beers since the Middle Ages to innovative and fun microbreweries producing craft beers, making and appreciating beer is a part of our living heritage. Beer is not only enjoyed as a beverage but it's also present in a lot of Belgian dishes. Whether it's alcoholic or non alcoholic, sweet or sour, or lager or dark, we have an option for everyone to enjoy ! Let's discover different types of beer, their brewing process and which beers to enjoy together !

First of all, there are four main ingredients in beers : malted barley, water, hops and yeast. In white beers or wheat beers like Hoegaarden, we use malted wheat instead of barley. Malted wheat gives an opaque and white-ish color to the beer. It makes a refreshing drink for the summer, especially if it's served with a slice of lemon !

Nearly 90% of beer is water and not just any type of water, depending on the minerals it contains, it makes the beers taste differently.

Hops is what gives the beer its taste, its bitterness.

Yeast determines the fermentation process and therefore the beer types.

Top-fermenting (warmer temperature) makes the beer preserves its flavor notes, giving us the Ales. Trappist beers like Orval and Westmalle, brewed by monks are a good exemple of ales.
Bottom-fermenting requires lower temperatures and takes more time to process. While we're waiting for them to finish their fermentation, we stock them. That's how we have laggers, originates from the German word laggeren which means to stock. In Belgium, we call them pils like Jupiler, Stella Artoise and Cristal.
Last type of fermentation is spontaneous fermenting which is a process happens only in Belgium as it relies on airborn yeasts. Lambic beers and sour beers are brewed in this way ! Lambics have an acidic taste and an oxidative note. When added fruits like peachs or cherries, we get krieks like Mort Subite and La Pêcheresse !

What's your favorite type of beer ? Share it with us in the comment section :) To learn more about Belgian beers, stayed

Halles Saint-Géry is a covered market hall and an exhibition space, located in the Saint-Géry area of Brussels Center wh...
14/08/2026

Halles Saint-Géry is a covered market hall and an exhibition space, located in the Saint-Géry area of Brussels Center which is known for its bars, cafés and restaurants.

According to legend, the heart of Brussels lied on Saint-Géry island where Saint-Géry church stood in the center of the islands, formed by the Senne river. The relics of Saint Gudula were held there before they were transferred in the 11th century which later became the Cathedral of Saint-Michael and Saint-Gudula.

Although the hall was frequented until after the Second World War, in 1977, it had to close down due to inactivity- traders were no longer interested. In 1987, the Brussels Region classified it as a protected monument because of its remarkable architecture.

Since 1999, the Halles Saint-Géry houses an information and an exhibition centre, as well as a covered food market.

If you want to learn more about Brussels heritage and history, book a tour with us via the link in bio. Also, for more information, don't hesitate to check out Halles Saint-Géry website or socials !

Planning a trip to Brussels ? Wanting to explore more in the city but you don't know how ? Don't worry, we are here for ...
08/08/2026

Planning a trip to Brussels ? Wanting to explore more in the city but you don't know how ? Don't worry, we are here for you ! Here's your guide to public transportation in Brussels.

In Belgium, there are three regions : Flanders, Brussels and Wallonie. We are in Brussels capital region. Cities like Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent are in Flanders whereas cities like Waterloo, Dinant, Ardennes are in Wallonie.

In Brussels, transportation might seem confusing if you don't know which line from which operator to take. If you will only be staying in Brussels, to take the metro, bus and tram, you can buy tickets from STIB-MIVB.

If you want do day trips to see other cities you can either take the train operated by SNCB-NMBS or take the bus. To visit big cities like Antwerp and to get to the airport, you can take the train. If you want to go to a place in Flanders, you can take a De Lijn bus which connects Brussels to Flanders. In Wallonie, it's operated by TEC, connecting Brussels to Wallonie.

Now that we covered different operators, it's time to move onto which ticket to choose. Did you know that in Brussels, you can pay contactless by your card or your smartphone instead of buying a ticket from a ticket office ? For occasional use, it's very practical. One journey costs 2.40€ which includes each connection made within an hour. Keep in mind that per day, you can pay a maximum of 8.50€. Which means that after your 4th journey, the rest of your journeys are free of charge.

Once you are on board, you'll see two boxes. The red box is to validate a paper ticket, a MOBIB cars or a BRUPASS. The black one is to pay your journey by card.

Don't forget that you can't use the same ticket for multiple people.

If you'll be taking transports frequently, we recommend you to get a BRUPASS. You can get it online via the STIB-MIVB app or from ticket offices like BOOTIK, KIOSK or GO vending machines in person.

For more information about Brussels public transportation, don't hesitate to check out STIB-MIVB's web page (available in English as well). To learn more about Brussels, feel free to book a tour with us via the link in the bio.

The Saint Michael and Gudula Cathedral is the most important church in Belgium. It's here that Royal marriages or other ...
31/07/2026

The Saint Michael and Gudula Cathedral is the most important church in Belgium. It's here that Royal marriages or other important National ceremonies are held. Let's discover it together !

The construction starts in 1226 and it will take almost 3 centuries to be completed. It's mostly due to the big plague of the 14th century which decimated a third of the European population, causing huge delays to projects. The last part of the construction was the front facade with the two towers built in the 1470s by Jan van Ruysbroeck.

The twelve apostles, disciples of Jesus, are represented here in exception of Judas, replaced by Matthew the Evangile. You may know that the apostles all died as martyrs and here they are represented with the tool that caused their death in their hands.

The Siege of Truth, is considered to be a masterpiece of woodworking, made by Frans Verbruggen, a sculpture of the 17th century. It Adam and Eve escaping from the Garden of Eden and on top, Mary and the child killing the snake.

To learn more about Brussels's cultural and culinary history through a unique experience, book a tour with us via the link in bio.

The Grand Place is considered by many as one of the most beautiful squares in the world. Today, apart from its historica...
28/07/2026

The Grand Place is considered by many as one of the most beautiful squares in the world. Today, apart from its historical value, it still has a political and administrative importance as it's where the Brussels Town Hall is located. It also hosts many events in town such as concerts, festivals, the biannual flower carpet and folklore events.

The city hall is built in 2 parts, the left and right wing. The first construction started in 1402 and it will take 19 years for the architect Jacques van Thienen to build this in a Gothic architecture. In 1444 the city decided to destroy the 3 houses on the right to build the extension and the tower. Jan van Ruysbroeck is the famous architect of the second part and it will take him 11 years to finish it.

If you visit cities like Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, London, you need to know about the guilds. They were the unions representing and organizing the professions. In Brussels we count 48 different professions like the butchers, the brewers, the bakers, the taylors... Each guild is decorated with the symbols representing the profession it was hosting. In the picture, we find the house of bakers on top of which there are six statues. Each one represents a Roman God providing necessary elements to bake bread. Which ones do you see, share it with us in the comments ! The architect also refers to Saint-Aubert, saint protector of the bakers.

La Maison des Brasseurs, is the house of the brewers. At the time, brewing was more like a religious activity. It was mainly brewed by monks in the past. Still nowadays, you can find beer brewed by monks that are called trappist beers. There are ten Trappist beers in the world, five of those are in Belgium.

The Kingshouse is not the place where the King was living as the King lived up-town, but it's the place where you had to pay your taxes. Since you were paying back then your taxes to the King, they called this house the Kingshouse. It was rebuilt in 1876 by the architect Jamaer, in a mix of different architectural styles. He then dedicated this to the city and it became the historical museum of Brussels.

If you want to discover more about Brussels, book a tour with us via the link in

Planning a trip to Belgium ? Doing a Euro Summer with friends ? Check out our tips of things to know before travelling t...
23/07/2026

Planning a trip to Belgium ? Doing a Euro Summer with friends ? Check out our tips of things to know before travelling to Brussels ! We are here so that you can be well-prepared for your stay and are more than happy to see you in Brussels !

Tip nº1 : Check the weather and pack accordingly

Brussels's weather conditions are unpredictable. It rains quite a lot so depending on the season, you may need to take an umbrella or a raincoat with you.

The humidity may make winters feel colder so it's important to pack a few extra layers of clothing. It can also make summers feel hotter so having a water bottle on you is necessary to stay hydrated.

Tip n°2 : Wear Comfortable Shoes

Brussels is best explored by walking. But keep in mind that most streets are cobblestoned and the city is quite hilly. Make sure to take a pair of comfortable shoes !

Tip n°3 : Cash and Currency

Cash points can be limited in Brussels, and currency exchange offices often offer poor rates. Whenever possible, withdraw cash directly from ATMs. Brussels uses euros (€), so consider withdrawing euros before you arrive or using the cash points available at train stations or the airport upon your arrival.

Tip n°4 : Payment by Card

American Express isn't widely accepted in Belgium, so be sure to have a VISA or Mastercard on hand for most purchases.

Tip n°5 : Choosing Where to Stay

It's best to stay in the city center, close to the Grand Place and Central Station.
Some neighborhoods, like Midi and North (near the train stations), can be less practical, so prioritize central areas for a more enjoyable stay.

Tip n°6 : About the Airports

Be prepared for longer-than-usual passport control lines at Brussels International Airport.

If you're heading to the city center from there, the train is your best option : it's faster (about 18 min.) and much cheaper (11.6€) compared to a taxi. You can buy your train tickets at train stations or online via the app SNCB.

From Brussels-South Airport (also known as Charleroi Airport), the fastest way of getting to the city center is by airport shuttles. As this airport is far away from the city, the bus ride is nearly an hour long. You can get your bus tick

The suffix -ke in the local dialect is to make things small, that's why Manneken-Pis literally translates to "Little Man...
13/07/2026

The suffix -ke in the local dialect is to make things small, that's why Manneken-Pis literally translates to "Little Man Peeing". Constructed as a decor on a fountain in 1695, he is now an icon representing the city of Brussels.

He first became a sign of resistance during the bombardment of Brussels by the French Army. While the majority of the city got destroyed, the little man stood still.

In 1747, when Brussels was occupied by the French, soldiers would often steal the statue which created a diplomatic crisis between Brussels and Paris. To avoid any other tensions, the King of France offered Manneken-Pis a costume to make peace with the people of Brussels.

Since then, it has became a tradition to gift him costumes. Nowadays, he has a wardrobe of more than 1140 costumes, getting dressed up for special occasions.

Did you know that he even has an official dresser and a museum dedicated to his wardrobe ?

Jeanneke-Pis can be considered as the younger sister of Manneken-Pis. Just like him, she's also made out of bronze located on a fountain supported by a basin.

It was designed in 1985 by artist and restaurant owner Denis-Adrien Debouvrie. It was constructed in 1987 for multiple reasons.

His establishments were located in a neglected dead-end alleyway and he wanted to attract more customers so he decided to put a different twist on a Brussels icon : Manneken-Pis. The idea behind this modern sculpture was also aimed to restore equality between men and women.

She's believed to promise fidelity to couples throwing coins into her fountain. That's because the alleyway where she is located is called Fidelity.

The newest sculpture is Zinneke-Pis, created in 1999 by artist Tom Frantzen who uses zwanze a lot in his work. Zwanze is a type of self-deprecating humor, associated to Belgian culture, especially to Brussels. The name Zinneke dates back to the 16th century when stray dogs were adopted to combat the proliferation of rats in the city. Sadly, they were drowned in the river Senne/Zinne where the name for the sculpture comes from.

New in Brussels ? Planning a trip to Brussels ? Want to learn more about Belgian history and gastronomy ? Book a tour with

The Royal Galeries is the oldest covered shopping street of Europe. Built in 1847, by the architecte Cluysenaer, the gal...
08/07/2026

The Royal Galeries is the oldest covered shopping street of Europe. Built in 1847, by the architecte Cluysenaer, the galeries have inspired many others in the world such as in Milano, Sydney and Moscow. In a country where it rains a lot, it offered a longer shopping experience to those who can afford it at the time.

The Royal Galeries is the oldest covered shopping street of Europe. Built in 1847, by the architecte Cluysenaer, the galeries have inspired many others in the world such as in Milano, Sydney and Moscow. In a country where it rains a lot, it offered a longer shopping experience to those who can afford it at the time.

Ten years after the opening of the galeries, Jean Neuhaus founded his pharmacy where he sold drugs covered with a thin layer of chocolate to hide its taste. Over the time, his clients kept coming back not for the medicine but for the chocolates. That's how he became the first chocolate-maker.

Here, we find the world's first woman chocolate-maker's shop called Mary. Back then, she had a tea house where King would come after a long day of work to rest a little. He would take one of Mary's praline chocolates on the side of his tea. As he's such a fan of her pralines, he encourages her to open her chocolate shop but later learns that she tried but couldn't because of the backlash from all men suppliers. Soon the queen hears her story and decides to name her the Official Supplier of the Royal Family.

Belgium is known for its sweet tooth and for its delicacies : chocolates, cuberdons, cookies ... In the galeries, a two century old cookie house is situated : The Dandoy House. Among their specialties we find speculoos, pain à la grecque and of course Brussels waffle with powdered sugar on top.

If you want to learn more and most importantly to taste the Belgian history, book a walking historical and gastronomical tour with us !

The Royal Galeries is the oldest covered shopping street of Europe. Built in 1847, by the architecte Cluysenaer, the gal...
08/07/2026

The Royal Galeries is the oldest covered shopping street of Europe. Built in 1847, by the architecte Cluysenaer, the galeries have inspired many others in the world such as in Milano, Sydney and Moscow. In a country where it rains a lot, it offered a longer shopping experience to those who can afford it at the time.

Ten years after the opening of the galeries, Jean Neuhaus founded his pharmacy where he sold drugs covered with a thin layer of chocolate to hide its taste. Over the time, his clients kept coming back not for the medicine but for the chocolates. That's how he became the first chocolate-maker.

Here, we find the world's first woman chocolate-maker's shop called Mary. Back then, she had a tea house where King would come after a long day of work to rest a little. He would take one of Mary's praline chocolates on the side of his tea. As he's such a fan of her pralines, he encourages her to open her chocolate shop but later learns that she tried but couldn't because of the backlash from all men suppliers. Soon the queen hears her story and decides to name her the Official Supplier of the Royal Family.

Belgium is known for its sweet tooth and for its delicacies : chocolates, cuberdons, cookies ... In the galeries, a two century old cookie house is situated : The Dandoy House. Among their specialties we find speculoos, pain à la grecque and of course Brussels waffle with powdered sugar on top.

If you want to learn more about Brussels, book a walking historical and gastronomical tour with us !

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Brussels
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