Brussels in a Weekend: Top 7 Things to See or Do

Grab a Belgian waffle!

1. First thing to do when you arrive in Brussels: eat a waffle. You’ll notice that there are traveling waffle vans with fresh dough, a delicious crunch, and lines no matter what time of day. In Belgium, the waffle is more than a snack; it is a symbol of their food culture and can be combined in many different ways for any mealtime throughout the day or night. Keep an eye out for a good van or stand and snag one of these delights as soon as you can!

Wander through a local market

2. If you can come on a weekend, you are likely to catch one of the famous markets in the neighborhoods on this vibrant city. My favorite for affordable, antique finds takes place at the Place du Grand Sablon. These antiques have to be at least 30 years old and are on sale on Saturdays between 9 am and 5 pm and Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm. If you’re looking for crafts and art, swing by the Place du Jeu de Balle at the Agora Roundabout on a Thursday between 10 am and 8 pm, or Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm.

Visit the church in Place Royale

3. Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg is a lovely neoclassical church you can pop into while you’re admiring the views over the entire city from the Place Royale. There used to be a medieval abbey here, but urban planning got the best of it; this architectural wonder was designed and begun in 1775-6 by the renowned Gilles-Barnabé Guimard and Jean-Benoit-Vincent Barré. The best part is catching an organ or choir concert here to fully enjoy the acoustics. Plan on swinging by in the afternoon, though, as it usually doesn’t open until 12 or 1 during the week.

Savor a rooftop café

4. Take the party to rooftop literally with one of Brussels’ many rooftop bars and cafes. My fave? Tour the fantastic MIM (Musical Instruments Museum) and end on the top floor terrace with a stunning view across the realm of Belgiums capital. You can find this museum in a cluster with other great places to visit at the Place Royale (Koningsplein) such as the Magritte Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts just around the corner.

Wave to the Manneken Pis

5. If you’ve ever stumbled upon pictures of Brussels, you’ve likely seen a shot of this little statue peeing either naked or in various costumes. Lovingly referred to by Belgians as Manneken Pis, so easily embodying the rebellious spirit of the city. Supposedly, his wardrobe contains more than 900 different costumes, each one a unique experience. At least this means that your photos will be different from your friends’ when you come home from your adventure. This guy is small and can be hard to miss, so be intentional about your visit to his peeing sir.

Explore the iconic Atomium

6. Atomium is an absolute must visit if you’re in the area, even if you need to jet to the edge of town with the metro to get there. Created as the focal point for the World Fair in 1958, this massive creation seems like a sculpture, but you can actually tour the entire structure because the spheres are open to the public. There is a really fascinating exhibition about the fair itself on two levels, but the other exhibitions offer space to traveling topics of design, art, architecture, culture and science. If you’re up for another stunning view, pop into the Panorama for 360 degree views and an overpriced, but delicious, cocktail.

Shop in awe of the Grand Place

7. Known for the annual flower festival, Brussels (and other Belgium cities) often showcases its love for flowers in a very colorful way. The Grand Place (Grote Markt) is surrounded by stunning facades, gold trim, and proud buildings flanked with cafés. One of the most impressive in this lot is that of the Hotel de Ville or Town Hall (Stadhuis) as it overlooks the square. Swing by here from the 12th to 15th of August in 2016 to see this famous Flower Carpet. Otherwise swing by to see the flower stalls throughout the daytime if you're lucky to catch a market day!

Bon voyage! Questions or ideas? Catch me on Instagram or Twitter @Bethany_wanders

"Flying By." July, 2015; Leaving Antwerp, Belgium

They always say that life flies by when you’re young, when you’re having fun, when you’re not paying attention; so the idioms carry on. What might surprise this third person plural entity to which we give so much power over our behavior, is that time also flies by when you put your nose to the ground and work tirelessly toward a goal that is so very close to heart.

All four family members
gathered for the first family
photo since the divorce.

After five intensive years of my Bachelor career to earn two degrees -one B.Sc. and one B.A.- working two jobs simultaneously to pay for them, studying abroad for three semesters, and taking two summers of extra classes, I thought I had clearly understood the definition of exhausting yet rewarding ambition. I was wrong. There was still that itch for something greater, something which I had not yet uncovered, that I had to do. I had countless meetings with advisors and respected professors at the University of Northern Colorado as well as career mentors with whom I had associated along the way; this led to a clearer idea of the field to which I felt called: international, cross-cultural, innovative, and strategic management implementation. The problem was, none of these professionals nor myself had the faintest idea of what this actually could mean, but we had a tracing of a path that might lead to this Bermuda triangle into which I would quickly yet not quietly disappear. Rather than desperately job-seeking in the trenches alongside all my fellow colleagues following our basic qualification of a diploma, that path etched out the idea of a graduate degree. Abroad. I knew that if I wanted a career to stretch across the borders of the United States of America and the united countries of Europe, then I would need to stretch my accredited education as well. The perks of that include a new adventure and a slightly more affordable tuition bill. Tireless hours of searching and applications led to a full calendar of interviews and deadlines during a pressured final semester at UNC, but it was all worth it when the Antwerp Management School said yes. AMS was my top choice in European universities for its location in Western Europe, AACSB and European accreditation so that I could repatriate when and if need be, and a clearly outlined leadership development track. It was in Belgium, which was a land in which I had not yet in my life set foot. Not only that, but I accepted and moved there (after painstakingly following toilsome visa documentation procedures) without knowing a single soul within the Belgian borders.

How’s that for a sense of adventure?

The Ferris Wheel at Antwerp Central
Station made for an astounding welcome.

So here I am, 10 months after I began lectures at AMS. I just completed the most difficult year of my life financially, academically, relationally, and mentally. The laudable news is, this challenge has shaped me in ways I am still struggling to comprehend. I have two new, incredible best friends from Belgium who invest fully in my life and future. I have an outstanding long-distance relationship that we have managed to build to extraordinary heights over the last four years. I have visited so many new places and deepened my understanding of the French and Germans languages, as well as added some basic understanding of Flemish. Not only that,

Antwerp's MAAS area made a great place
to picnic and bike-ride with my new friends.

 but after applying thoroughly for 35 positions, I was invited to join the team of an inconceivably amazing firm which just so happens to be my dream job, a dream which shaped itself over the last several years. Needless to say, my life flew by this year. It wasn’t because I was too young, because I was having too much fun, or because I wasn’t paying attention. It was a combination of being young and ambitious, having a life-changing experience, and working to the constant best of my abilities in order to achieve unbelievable heights in my personal life story and my career.

Voted Vice President of the Student Council,
I was honored to share the graduation speech.

Idiomatic expression or not, what comes next will be one for the history books.