Brussels and Bureaucracy: A Guide to the EU District and its Architecture

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Brussels and Bureaucracy: A Guide to the EU District and its Architecture

(16 reviews)
Brussels audio tour: Brussels and Bureaucracy: A Guide to the EU District and its Architecture
This is a 1.8mi walking tour
It takes an average of 45 mins to complete.
Brussels
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$9.99
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About the Tour

Bureaucracy doesn’t have to be boring. Brussels is often labeled as the “Capitol of Europe”, as it hosts the European Union Council and, alongside Strasbourg, the EU Parliament. On this walking tour, you’ll discover the beating heart of the EU, the offices’s foundations, some clandestine meeting spots, and the history behind the architecture.

The tour starts at the beautiful and majestic Cinquantenaire Park where you’ll learn how Belgium started off with big imperial ambitions and soon transformed into the main city of a multinational experiment in democracy. You’ll walk through the iconic Triumphal Arches and hear all about their creation and the neighboring museums around this grand area.

You’ll continue towards the EU Quarters and find out about its eclectic story, from its overpriced parks to secret river chambers, vast office fortresses and Leopold-era science communities. After we pass the House of European History, known for its comprehensive exhibits on the history of the European Union, you’ll make your way towards the European Parliament Complex. Here, you’ll delve into its many functions and sub-divisions, a fitting end to this comprehensive tour about the EU in Brussels.

On this 45-minute walking tour, you’ll have a chance to:

  • Dive into the various architectures of the diverse neighborhood and get a “window” into the EU culture
  • Pass the Berlaymont, the headquarters of the European Commission, built in 1969 on the site of a former convent and designed in the shape of St. Andrew’s cross
  • Find some of the best museums to get a full understanding of the European Union
  • Learn the lives behind many famous names of streets and monuments, including Robert Schuman and Altiero Spinelli
  • Eat some tasty waffles and drink some coffee while eavesdropping on international intrigue
  • Hear how an art house turned into one of Brussels’ top religious monuments

At the end of this Brussels walking tour, you’ll get a new appreciation of bureaucratic Brussels and its claim to being the capital of the European Union. This tour is highly recommended for any newcomers and visitors who will be working with the Commission, Council, or Parliament and need a quick understanding of the lay of the land and background, or for those traveling through Brussels and are still mystified by the layout and history.

Tour Producer

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Shawn Basey

5 tours

I left the middle of flat farmland in the US to spend my time conducting a rigid search of Europe. I have thus spent the last couple of decades exploring the globe and the last five years professionally guiding travelers through the complex, layered histories of Brussels, Prague, and now, the vibrant city of Tbilisi. My journey has taken me across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, but my true passion lies in the deep-dive research that truly gives someone a sense of place.

As an author and historian at heart, I don’t just walk you through the streets; I invite you into the living chapters of a city’s history. I am constantly hunting for the deep historical insights and weird, local anecdotes that escape the standard guidebooks—Hussites flinging poop in a siege anyone?—the kind of secrets only the residents share behind closed doors.

In our time together, we won’t just hit the major landmarks. We will explore the winding alleys of the Old Town and the German and art nouveau gems of Chugureti, connecting the dots between the ancient past and the modern present. Join me for an immersive walking tour where history isn't just a list of dates—it’s a narrative we experience together. Let's discover the stories that make these streets truly come alive.

Preview Location

Location 4

Triumphal Arch

Just look at those arches! Keep walking slowly towards them as I talk, we'll pass under the right one. They were finished in 1905. The centerpiece, which is the charioteer on top, is called “Brabant Raising the National Flag” by Jules Lagae and Thomas Vincotte. Brabant is the ... Read More
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Major Landmarks

  • Square de la Bouteille

  • Parc du Cinquantenaire

  • Triumphal Arch

  • Autoworld

  • Art & History Museum

  • Monument aux pionniers belges au Congo

  • Horta-Lambeaux Pavilion

  • Sculpture l’éte Jean Canneel 1950

  • The Monument to General Thys

  • Monument to the victims of terrorist attacks.

  • European External Action Service (EEAS)

  • Berlaymont

  • Justus Lipsius Building

  • Lex Building

  • European Commission Charlemagne building (CHAR)

  • Vallée de Maelbeek Garden

  • The Future is Europe Mural

  • Chapel for Europe

  • Place Jean Rey Plein

  • House of European History

  • Escalier Solvay

  • Lycée Emile Jacqmain

  • Library Solvay

  • Royal Belgian institute of Natural Sciences

  • European Parliament

  • Espace Léopold

  • Parlamentarium

  • Bâtiment Paul Henri Spaak

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.
  1. Start location
    N3, 1040 Etterbeek, Belgium
  2. Total distance
    3km
  3. Final location
    Rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Bruxelles, Belgium
  4. Distance back to start location
    2km

Directions to Starting Point

On the metro? Exit Merode station and take the Yser Avenue Exit. Use the crosswalk to cross the street and stop before the gate of the park. You're there!
By foot or bicycle? Head to the small plaza outside the gates of the park on the Merode side.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

If you want to really dive deep into the European Union history, there are several museums along the route to check out, and they're all free.

First there's Experience Europe, which talks about the inner workings of the Commission. Then there's House of European History, giving a background of all the member countries. And the Parliament, where you can learn about the members and functions in the Parliamentarium or see where the action all happens in the hemicycle. We'll pass them all, so you can easily integrate them with this tour. Find more here or book your tours (required for Parliamentarium and hemicycle): https://visiting.europarl.europa.eu/en

Other museums on route that are great to see: the Military Museum, the Auto Museum, and the Art History Museum (all in the Cinquantenaire).

Also, some great restaurants:
To Meli – Great Greek pastries, near Schuman Roundabout
Bon – On Loi, excellent bakeries and smoothies
Woodpecker – Next to To Meli, perfect if you want to try Brussels waffles with a twist
Grand Central – Great happy hour and burger place
Place du Luxembourg – Happening area Tuesday nights for students; lined with bars and restaurants (try Ginette's for their burgers!)

Best time of day

From dawn to dusk. Night time in the parks can feel intimidating as they're not well lit. But it is a safe area and rarely gets too crowded unless a festival is ongoing.

Precautions

For the next year, Schuman Roundabout and some of the connecting streets are being renovated to be pedestrian. You might have to take a detour or two, just follow the arrows.

As it's Brussels, you should always carry an umbrella or a raincoat, as it can rain even on the sunniest of days. There are plenty of cafes along the way, so don't worry about having to eat before or after!

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