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Home » Europe » My Kids favorite European City – BRUSSELS
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My Kids favorite European City – BRUSSELS

BonBon November 25, 2015 21 Comments

In the past days the news flash on our Amazon Echo has been talking about Brussels. The city is at the highest terror alert after the attacks in Paris. People were advised to stay away from train/bus stations, airports and not to gather around public places. Metro service and underground streetcar services have been interrupted. Last Saturday, the city was nearly empty since stores, bars and cafes closed down after 6 p.m.

The Grand-Place is the central square of the City of Brussels
The Grand-Place is the central square of the City of Brussels

This is the Grand Place in Brussels on a typical night. Can you imagine what’s it was like last weekend?

Lately, we have been bombarded with awful news around the world; Paris attack is just one of them… a long list for terrorist attacks happened this year. It is unimaginable for people who happened to be in those areas and it is heart breaking to hear their stories.

As a traveler and someone who encourages family travel, I had to pause and wonder as to what this means to people who love to travel. Would these incidents change their perspective towards travel? Is it still safe to travel or is their such a thing as safe anymore? I honestly can’t answer these questions for you but if you ask me, I’d say that my family will continue to travel the world. My hopes and plans for my children haven’t changed a bit. I still wanted them to explore the world – to learn, to have fun and discover the unknown.

Let no fear change the way you live!

On a lighter side, I have been wanting to share our trip to Brussels in spring this year. We love this city especially my kids:) When you asked them now what they like about Brussels, they’ll both answer, “waffles, chocolates and the pee-pee boy”. They will be screaming the pee-pee boy. hahaha

And here are my family at the Atomium, symbol of Brussels and Belgium.

Multi generation traveling family.
Multigenerational family travel

Here are some of the few things we did during our visit:

Grand Place – one of the beautiful historical old squares in the world. It is Grand indeed!!! I wish I could get a shot of the whole square but it just seemed impossible from where I stood:)

Early morning stroll before it gets too crowded
Early morning stroll before it gets too crowded
Kids having a blast after eating waffles:)
Sugar High! Kids having a blast after eating waffles 🙂
Definitely a MUST-SEE!!! This place turns magical at night:)
Definitely a MUST-SEE!!! This place turns magical at night:)
Meeting an old friend is always a great idea:) Ending our day with a Belgian Beer...
Meeting an old friend is always a great idea:) Ending our day with a Belgian Beer, Kriek…

Tip: Illumination is every hour from 5 to 11 pm from Monday to Thursday and every 30 minutes from 5 to 10:30 pm from Friday to Sunday

Garden of Mont des Arts – it’s my favorite place in the city. It has amazing view and there are fine restaurants around the area.

SUch an amazing sight!!!
Breathtaking!!!
Old city of Brussels
The Old city of Brussels

Brussels Park – a gorgeous park in the middle of Brussels; encircled by the royal palace, the Rue Ducale, the palace of the Nation and the Rue Royale.

Greenery within the heart of the city
Greenery within the heart of the city
Kids playground in the middle of the park.
Kids playground in the middle of the park
Royal Palace, shot is from the Park.
Royal Palace, shot is from the Park.

Atomium –  symbol of Brussels and Belgium. It is a unique piece of architecture and is today the most popular attraction in the Capital of Europe.

Atomium - symbol of Belgium
Atomium, shaped on the model of an elementary iron crystal enlarged 165 billion time. How cool is that!!!

Tip: If you decide to go to the top then you better go early morning to avoid a long que. At night, 2970 lights offer a fairy dimension to the 102m high building. The panoramic restaurant is daily open until 11pm.

My little travel buddies
My Loves. My travel buddies.

Mini Europe – a must see especially if you are traveling with kids. We had fun looking at each miniature and read the history about it.

Mini-Europe allows visitors a chance to see perfect replicas of the best monuments and sites of Europe.
Mini-Europe allows visitors a chance to see perfect replicas of the best monuments and sites of Europe.
This is Grand Place in miniature:) Every 2 years, the Grand-Place of Brussels is covered with a carpet of flowers. These flowers are begonias
This is Grand Place in miniature:) Every other summer, Grand-Place of Brussels is covered with a carpet of flowers. 
Learning new things is always part of the trip:)
Learning new things is always part of the trip:)

During this trip, we didn’t do any tours even though we only stayed for 3 days. However, we made used of our time going to nearby attractions. We rented an apartment across La Monnaie De Munt Opera House and just 2-3 blocks from Grand Place and from there we got to see so many things.

Things you can do around Grand Place:

1. Have some waffles, coffee or any Belgian pastries you wanted to try at Aroma Coffee Lounge.

YES, this is NOT your ordinary waffles:) Sooooo yummy!!!
YES, this is NOT your ordinary waffles:) Sooooo yummy!!!

Tip: Get here before 10am and you will get to relax and enjoy Grand Place without too much crowd.

2. Check out the ever-famous small statue of a naked little boy, peeing into his fountain. THE Manneken-Pis, finally!!!

20150430_114409
Silly Nicholas 🙂

My kids were giggling while watching. It may not be as spectacular as we expected it to be BUT to our kids it is the best sight ever. Lol

Of course, we gotta have a picture with the "pee-pee boy"
Of course, we gotta have a picture of the “pee-pee boy”

Tip: To see the original restored version of Manneken-Pis, along with his collection of costumes from around the world, head over to Museum of City of Brussels at Grand Place.

Original restored version of Manneken-Pis
Original restored version of Manneken-Pis
Filipino, Portuguese and American pee-pee boy:)
Filipino, Portuguese and American pee-pee boy:)

I guess I should say we got lucky to see him wearing all our national costumes (the Filipino for me, the Portuguese for my hubby and the American for my kids) since the museum rotates the displays though the 800+ costumes in his wardrobe . However, I am not quite sure what Philippine costume he is wearing… I don’t think it is our “barong tagalog”, national dress of the Philippines. Oh well…

Tip: It might be fun too to check out the Jeanneke-Pis, a peeing girl statue and the Zinneke Pis, peeing dog. 

3. Check out Everard t’Serclaes, it’s the 14th century Brussels hero and tradition says that if you touch or rub the statue, it brings you luck.

My boy trying to get lucky:)
My boy trying to get lucky:)

4. Try some of the best Belgian chocolates like Neuhaus chocolates. Lucky for us, a good old friend based in Brussels gave us some of these tasty goodies to treat on. Yummy!

NaeusHaus since 1857
 The window of NeuHaus Chocolatier

5. The famous comic series, The Adventure of Tintin, by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. You can see Tintin inspired murals all over the city. So cool…

one of the Tintin murals around Brussels
One of the Tintin murals around Brussels

Tip: There are a lot of fun Tintin guided tours to take if you are a big fan:)

Anyhow, Brussels is definitely my kids favorite city so far:) My girl, Arianna has been asking me already when we can go back so she can show the Manneken-Pis to her American Girl doll. What a Life!!! We are blessed, indeed!!!

Thank you for reading and buzz me anytime if you need my help for your upcoming travel plans. Brussels or anywhere in the world.

Happy and safe travels.

xoxo



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BonBon

Call me BonBon!!! I am here to help you with your family travel plans and to inspire you to get out of your comfort zone. GO and explore the world. Travel. Learn. Evolve.

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21 Comments

  1. GoGo Budget Travel Reply
    June 25, 2017 at 11:42 pm

    How can one not love europe when it’s such an amazing place. i love how Brussles is lit up at night with the rainbow colour!

  2. Hannah Reply
    March 5, 2017 at 7:37 am

    I skipped through Brussels to go to Bruges but after reading this I think I need to go back. Especially to see it all lit up at night- wow!

  3. the-worldwide Reply
    January 18, 2016 at 5:15 am

    Wow! This city is so colorful. I love the photographs.

  4. Melody Reply
    December 19, 2015 at 5:18 pm

    Looks like a beautiful and amazing family trip. I love how you’ve captured your son’s curiosity!

    Blingaholic88

    • BonBon Reply
      December 20, 2015 at 12:21 pm

      Thank you for dropping by:) We had amazing time and we travel for the kids to see and understand the world. Hopefully, one day they’ll give back:)

  5. Sabine Reply
    December 17, 2015 at 4:22 am

    A few years ago I read in a spanish magazine that Brussels was selected as the most boring city in the world. So it is good to read that you and your kids loved Brussels (makes me proud being a Belgian 🙂 ).
    I also love the wall painting of Tintin 🙂

    • BonBon Reply
      December 20, 2015 at 12:26 pm

      Ooooh… I don’t know what they are talking about coz Brussels is definitely NOT a boring city AT ALL:) hihi We had fun especially the kids:)

  6. Priya Reply
    December 16, 2015 at 11:44 pm

    Great post, loved looking at the Atomium and mini Europe! We stopped there once just for the Belgian waffles on the way to Amsterdam! The best waffle we have ever had!!

    • BonBon Reply
      December 20, 2015 at 12:27 pm

      Hi, thanks for reading:) Yeah!!! BEST WAFFLES EVER… yummy…

  7. Ginger Marie Reply
    December 14, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    Such a beautiful place and delicious looking food! Thanks so much for sharing that part of the world.

    • BonBon Reply
      December 20, 2015 at 12:30 pm

      My pleasure:) Thanks for reading… xoxo

  8. Megan Weaver Reply
    December 2, 2015 at 1:22 pm

    This city looks beautiful! I would love to visit there one day!

    • BonBon Reply
      December 2, 2015 at 4:01 pm

      Thanks for dropping by:) Yeah, you should visit one of these days:) xoxo

  9. Monica Reply
    November 29, 2015 at 11:32 am

    I’ve been to Brussels and I quite enjoyed it but I’m still surprised someone would call it ‘their favourite city in Europe’ – well, I guess we all have our likes and dislikes 😉

    • BonBon Reply
      November 29, 2015 at 11:39 am

      Yup… we definitely have our likes and dislikes:) And ESPECIALLY it’s coming from KIDS perspective… they only think about the sweets and of course their times laughing at the manneken-pis. I’m sure you’ll get it if you have kids;) Happy travels and thanks for dropping by… xoxo

  10. Svet Dimitrov Reply
    November 25, 2015 at 1:31 pm

    Wow, great story and photos – especially of the grand Place (grote Markt). Can you imagine I lived for almost a year in Brussels, but never got to visit the Atomium or Mini Europe?

    It looks amazing!

    • BonBon Reply
      November 25, 2015 at 2:45 pm

      Thanks for reading!!! Wait… a year in Brussels and never been to Atomium and Mini europe? hahaha Seriously, you need to go back hehehe But maybe not soon:(

      • Svet Dimitrov Reply
        November 25, 2015 at 3:06 pm

        It was a pleasure to read. Well, yeah. I was there for studying my Master’s degree and I was super busy reading all the time..

        • BonBon Reply
          November 25, 2015 at 8:59 pm

          hahaha… reading for a year:) Intense!!! Kidding… Hope you’ll get to go back one day:)

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Call me BonBon... I am a mom of 2 beautiful toddlers. My family loves to discover new things near and far... So, I am here to inspire your whole family to travel, to get out of your comfort zone and to explore this wonderful world. And, I am here to help you get started:) Stay in touch!!!

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