Brussels

Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country and is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, but is separate from the Flemish Region and the Walloon Region.

For decades, Brussels has served as the de facto capital of the European Community (and now the European Union), and with good cause. International politicians and daring visitors alike use the city's Gothic and Baroque-style squares, which are nestled amid historic lanes. Genuine Belgian cuisine provides rich comfort food, and daily dosages of chocolate and beer are well worth the money. Brussels is cosmopolitan in a manner that few other cities are — it genuinely is multilingual (French, German and Dutch). The city's ethnic influences have resulted in a boom of museums, markets, restaurants, and shops, making it far more than simply a tranquil alternative to livelier neighbors like Paris or Amsterdam.