Rooftops in Belgium: the capital of Europe from above
A kingdom at the crossroads of Europe
A Western European country bordered by France, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and the North Sea, Belgium has around 11.8 million inhabitants over just over 30,000 km². A federal constitutional monarchy, its capital is Brussels and its currency the euro. It has three official languages, Dutch, French and German, and the country is made up of three regions: Flanders in the north, Wallonia in the south and the Brussels-Capital Region in the centre. Born of the revolution of 1830, the kingdom is one of the founding members of the European Community, and Brussels today hosts most of the institutions of the European Union as well as NATO headquarters.
The country is renowned for its cities of art, such as Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, for its belfries and grand squares, but also for its treats: fries, waffles, chocolate and above all beer, whose culture is inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. It is also the homeland of Tintin and the Smurfs, and comics reign supreme.
Why head up to the rooftops
In Belgium, Brussels is where rooftops are most numerous. Long uninterested in heights, the capital has seen elevated terraces multiply in recent years: on the roof of the former Stock Exchange, atop a City administrative building, on the Royal Library, at the top of hotel towers in the Northern Quarter and even in the upper sphere of the Atomium. From these vantage points, you can pick out the Gothic spire of the Town Hall, the dome of the Palace of Justice, the Koekelberg Basilica and the Atomium.
Brussels, the first stop
A capital with many faces
Brussels is home to most of the country's rooftops: lively terraces around the Stock Exchange and the Grand-Place, cocktail bars atop hotels in the centre, restaurants on the 25th, 29th and 30th floors of towers, a terrace in the European Quarter and even a cafeteria on the roof of a former flour mill by the canal.
Very different atmospheres
Some venues focus on Belgian beers on tap, others on cocktails, on Mexican, Iberian or Japanese cuisine, or on Michelin-starred dining. Prices are generally reasonable for a European capital, and several terraces work without reservations, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Practical tips
Season, currency and booking
The climate is oceanic and rain is never far away: open-air terraces are at their liveliest from April to September, and several venues only open them when the weather allows, while the glass-walled rooms stay open all year round. Prices are shown in euros and bank cards are widely accepted. At sunset, the best tables go fast: book when you can, and plan on smart dress at the most upscale restaurants.
Photo: Ank Kumar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
