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Brussels, an international city and European capital
Brussels, whose history stretches back over a thousand years, is situated at a major crossroads of Western Europe
and is a key transit point between several European countries. It is a city where the Latin and Germanic cultures
merge, and has always been a meeting point for all the main currents of thought in the domains of intellectual inquiry
and science.
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Brussels is a cosmopolitan city where everyone soon feels at home. A modern city which remains proud of its past,
Brussels offers all the advantages of a capital city while at the same time maintaining its own specific character and
charm.
Thus, while Brussels is one of the capital cities of Europe with the lowest number of inhabitants per square
kilometer and the most green spaces, it has become an international city in every sense of the term: It is host to the
European Community, NATO, 1,000 international organisations and 2,000 international corporations, and only two other
cities in the world host more international conferences.
The city offers a rich mosaic of historical influences, including Burgundian, Spanish, French, Austrian, and Dutch,
as well as the creativity of its own citizens. Brussels is characterised by a rich mixture of architectural styles from
Roman through Gothic to Art Nouveau.
Even a casual stroll though Brussels allows the visitor to discover the architectural treasure trove offered by the
facades of its houses and even by some whole areas.
In addition to the historical centre between the Grand-Place and the Sablon, Brussels has many other areas which
merit discovery, such as the Cinquantenaire, the Parc Royal, the leafy streets of Saint-Gilles, Saint-Josse, and
Schaerbeek. Brussels also has a vigourous history of tertiary education, and houses numerous specialised institutions
of further and higher education.
Students from many different countries have always been attracted to Brussels to undertake their tertiary education
or to specialise further in one of the fields in which the city's educational institutions are famous.
Belgium has two main language communities: Dutch is spoken in the Flemish Region, in the north of the country, and
French is spoken in the Walloon Region, in the south. German is the main language in certain districts in the east. 80%
of Brussels' 950,000 inhabitants are French-speaking. English is also understood and spoken by many Belgians.
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