500 Hidden Secrets of Brussels

INTRODUCTION

This is a guide for readers who want to discover the hidden side of Brussels. It lists the places the author would recommend to a friend, like a striking new art hotspot in a former 19th-century industrial building, a hip hotel with a secret rooftop pool and a hidden park that is no bigger than a back garden.

It doesn’t tell you everything there is to see; there are already guide books and websites that cover the familiar tourist places. The aim is to take the reader to the unexpected places that are different in some way from the normal tourist destinations, like the restaurant on the top floor of the national library or the metro station that is decorated with 140 characters from Tintin albums, or the war memorial dedicated to fallen pigeons.

This is also a guide to the people that have shaped Brussels, like the painter René Magritte, the comic book illustrator Hergé (the father of Tintin) and the architect Victor Horta, who designed houses that were unlike anything built before.

This is meant to be a gentle introduction to the other side of Brussels, the Brussels that not even the Belgians know. You do not have to do everything listed in the book, but you are urged at the very least to drink a Gueuze beer in one of the 5 best bars, eat at one of the 5 best fish restaurants, and visit one of the 5 best small museums.

If you do so, you will begin to understand one of the most interesting cities in Europe.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK?

This book contains 500 things you need to know about Brussels in 100 different categories. Some are places to visit. Others are random bits of information. The aim is to inspire, not to cover the city from A to Z. The places listed in the guide are given an address, a district and a number.

The district and number allow you to find the locations on the maps at the beginning of the book. These maps are intended to provide a rough guide to the location of a place, but you will need a more detailed map to navigate around the city. The Brussels tourist office publishes a very good map that can be picked up at the Brussels information office, Rue Royale 2.

Or the addresses can be located on a smartphone.

You need to bear in mind that cities change all the time. The chef who hits a high note one day may be uninspiring on the day you happen to visit. The bar considered one of the 5 best places for live music might be empty on the night you visit. This is why we thoroughly revise and update every new edition. Places that have closed down are replaced by new venues; places that have lost their edge are dropped from the guide; and exciting new addresses are added to the new edition. Sometimes we go even further and add a new list to the guide.

This is obviously a highly personal selection. You might not always agree with it. If you want to leave a comment, recommend a bar or reveal your favourite secret place, please visit the website the500hiddensecrets.com – you’ll also find free tips and the latest news about the series there – or follow @500hiddensecrets on Instagram or Facebook and leave a comment.

INTRODUCTION

This is a guide for readers who want to discover the hidden side of Brussels. It lists the places the author would recommend to a friend, like a striking new art hotspot in a former 19th-century industrial building, a hip hotel with a secret rooftop pool and a hidden park that is no bigger than a back garden.

It doesn’t tell you everything there is to see; there are already guide books and websites that cover the familiar tourist places. The aim is to take the reader to the unexpected places that are different in some way from the normal tourist destinations, like the restaurant on the top floor of the national library or the metro station that is decorated with 140 characters from Tintin albums, or the war memorial dedicated to fallen pigeons.

This is also a guide to the people that have shaped Brussels, like the painter René Magritte, the comic book illustrator Hergé (the father of Tintin) and the architect Victor Horta, who designed houses that were unlike anything built before.

This is meant to be a gentle introduction to the other side of Brussels, the Brussels that not even the Belgians know. You do not have to do everything listed in the book, but you are urged at the very least to drink a Gueuze beer in one of the 5 best bars, eat at one of the 5 best fish restaurants, and visit one of the 5 best small museums.

If you do so, you will begin to understand one of the most interesting cities in Europe.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK?

This book contains 500 things you need to know about Brussels in 100 different categories. Some are places to visit. Others are random bits of information. The aim is to inspire, not to cover the city from A to Z. The places listed in the guide are given an address, a district and a number.

The district and number allow you to find the locations on the maps at the beginning of the book. These maps are intended to provide a rough guide to the location of a place, but you will need a more detailed map to navigate around the city. The Brussels tourist office publishes a very good map that can be picked up at the Brussels information office, Rue Royale 2.

Or the addresses can be located on a smartphone.

You need to bear in mind that cities change all the time. The chef who hits a high note one day may be uninspiring on the day you happen to visit. The bar considered one of the 5 best places for live music might be empty on the night you visit. This is why we thoroughly revise and update every new edition. Places that have closed down are replaced by new venues; places that have lost their edge are dropped from the guide; and exciting new addresses are added to the new edition. Sometimes we go even further and add a new list to the guide.

This is obviously a highly personal selection. You might not always agree with it. If you want to leave a comment, recommend a bar or reveal your favourite secret place, please visit the website the500hiddensecrets.com – you’ll also find free tips and the latest news about the series there – or follow @500hiddensecrets on Instagram or Facebook and leave a comment.

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EAT — DRINK — SHOP — BUILDINGS — DISCOVER — CULTURE — CHILDREN — SLEEP — WEEKEND — PEOPLE — RANDOM

Map 1 CENTRAL BRUSSELS 395 182

437

Place de Brouckère 245

Ru

119

e du

e Ru

s

up

280

Bou

166

de

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laim

Ber

365

Ru

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Ro ya l

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4 459 446 284 331 346 347 348 349 350 351 366

EAT — DRINK — SHOP — BUILDINGS — DISCOVER — CULTURE — CHILDREN — SLEEP — WEEKEND — PEOPLE — RANDOM

Ru

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EAT — DRINK — SHOP — BUILDINGS — DISCOVER — CULTURE — CHILDREN — SLEEP — WEEKEND — PEOPLE — RANDOM

LES BRIGITTINES

LES BRIGITTINES

95 PLACES TO EAT GOOD FOOD 5 original

R E S T A U R A N T C O N C E P T S ———————— 20

The 5 best restaurants to

E A T L I K E A B E L G I A N —— 22

The 5 best restaurants for B R U S S E L S A T M O S P H E R E ——————————————— 24

The 5 best restaurants for

The 5

C O O L E S T P L A C E S T O E A T —————————— 38

The 5 best places for

S T R E E T F O O D ——————————— 40

The 5 best places for a The 5 best

C A K E S H O P S —————————————————— 45

F I S H F R O M T H E N O R T H S E A ———————————— 26

The 5 best places for a

The 5 best restaurants for

The 5 best shops for

M E D I T E R R A N E A N C O O K I N G ———————————— 28

The 5 most exotic The 5 best

A S I A N R E S T A U R A N T S —————— 30

J A P A N E S E R E S T A U R A N T S ——————— 32

The 5 best places for a

H E A L T H Y L U N C H ——————— 34

The 5 best places for lunch I N T H E E U R O P E A N Q U A R T E R ——————————— 36

H E A L T H Y S A N D W I C H ——— 43

S U N D A Y B R U N C H —————— 47

B E L G I A N C H O C O L A T E S ——— 50

The 5 best places for P R O P E R B E L G I A N F R I T E S —————————————— 52

The 5 best

F O O D S H O P S —————————————————— 54

The 5 best shops for

B E E R A N D W I N E ————————— 56

The 5 best L O C A L S P E C I A L I T I E S and where to find them—————————————————————— 58

95 PLACES TO EAT GOOD FOOD 5 original

R E S T A U R A N T C O N C E P T S ———————— 20

The 5 best restaurants to

E A T L I K E A B E L G I A N —— 22

The 5 best restaurants for B R U S S E L S A T M O S P H E R E ——————————————— 24

The 5 best restaurants for

The 5

C O O L E S T P L A C E S T O E A T —————————— 38

The 5 best places for

S T R E E T F O O D ——————————— 40

The 5 best places for a The 5 best

C A K E S H O P S —————————————————— 45

F I S H F R O M T H E N O R T H S E A ———————————— 26

The 5 best places for a

The 5 best restaurants for

The 5 best shops for

M E D I T E R R A N E A N C O O K I N G ———————————— 28

The 5 most exotic The 5 best

A S I A N R E S T A U R A N T S —————— 30

J A P A N E S E R E S T A U R A N T S ——————— 32

The 5 best places for a

H E A L T H Y L U N C H ——————— 34

The 5 best places for lunch I N T H E E U R O P E A N Q U A R T E R ——————————— 36

H E A L T H Y S A N D W I C H ——— 43

S U N D A Y B R U N C H —————— 47

B E L G I A N C H O C O L A T E S ——— 50

The 5 best places for P R O P E R B E L G I A N F R I T E S —————————————— 52

The 5 best

F O O D S H O P S —————————————————— 54

The 5 best shops for

B E E R A N D W I N E ————————— 56

The 5 best L O C A L S P E C I A L I T I E S and where to find them—————————————————————— 58

5 original RESTAURANT CONCEPTS

1

BARGE Boulevard d’Ypres 33 Dansaert Quarter ➁ +32 (0)2 425 73 60 bargerestaurant.be

2

COOK & BOOK Place du Temps Libre 1 WoluweSaint-Lambert +32 (0)2 761 26 00 cookandbook.com

20

Local foodies agree that Barbara and Grégoire have created a downtown Brussels restaurant that is almost perfect.

The couple have taken over a former cafe in a forgotten neighbourhood and transformed it into a cool urban spot with exposed brick and sober furniture.

People come here for the relaxed setting and the downtown buzz. But they are equally charmed by Grégoire’s creative cooking based on organic produce from local farms, along with Barbara’s offbeat wine list.

Here is a place where you can eat lunch in one of nine beautiful bookshops. Each bookshop/restaurant has a different theme and decor: a Fiat 500 sits in the cookbook section, an Airstream is parked in the middle of the travel books, and novels hang from the ceiling in the literature shop. It’s quite confusing, but it somehow works, a bit like Belgium.

3

WOLF FOOD MARKET Rue du Fossé aux Loups 50 Central Brussels ➀ wolf.brussels

4

ALBERT AT: ROYAL LIBRARY Mont des Arts 28 Central Brussels ➀ +32 (0)2 519 57 23 albert.brussels

5

LE CHALET ROBINSON AT: BOIS DE LA CAMBRE Sentier de l’Embarcadère 1 Southern Brussels +32 (0)2 372 92 92 chaletrobinson.be

This vast food hall opened in 2019 in an architectural landmark formerly occupied by a savings bank. Designed by interior architect Lionel Jadot in a quirky eclectic style, Wolf gets its name from the street Fossé aux Loups, literally Wolves’ Ditch.

The complex brings together 19 food stands run by small local restaurants, along with two bars, a micro brewery and a chocolate maker.

A new lunch restaurant with a stunning city view opened in 2021 in the former canteen of the National Library. Designed by architect firm Agmen, the fifth-floor restaurant blends the building’s sober 1950s modernism with contemporary touches. The acclaimed chef Filip Fransen creates innovative dishes inspired by Belgian and French cooking, and the rooftop terrace makes this a special spot for a summer lunch, drinks and music.

Built in 1877 on an island in the woods, the Chalet Robinson burned down in 1896 and again in 1991. It reopened in the summer of 2009 in a style close to the original. The island location, reached by an old ferry, makes it one of the most romantic spots in Brussels. The menu offers traditional Belgian tavern food like meatballs in tomato sauce, Limousin steaks and pancakes. Service can be slow on a busy day.

21

5 original RESTAURANT CONCEPTS

1

BARGE Boulevard d’Ypres 33 Dansaert Quarter ➁ +32 (0)2 425 73 60 bargerestaurant.be

2

COOK & BOOK Place du Temps Libre 1 WoluweSaint-Lambert +32 (0)2 761 26 00 cookandbook.com

20

Local foodies agree that Barbara and Grégoire have created a downtown Brussels restaurant that is almost perfect.

The couple have taken over a former cafe in a forgotten neighbourhood and transformed it into a cool urban spot with exposed brick and sober furniture.

People come here for the relaxed setting and the downtown buzz. But they are equally charmed by Grégoire’s creative cooking based on organic produce from local farms, along with Barbara’s offbeat wine list.

Here is a place where you can eat lunch in one of nine beautiful bookshops. Each bookshop/restaurant has a different theme and decor: a Fiat 500 sits in the cookbook section, an Airstream is parked in the middle of the travel books, and novels hang from the ceiling in the literature shop. It’s quite confusing, but it somehow works, a bit like Belgium.

3

WOLF FOOD MARKET Rue du Fossé aux Loups 50 Central Brussels ➀ wolf.brussels

4

ALBERT AT: ROYAL LIBRARY Mont des Arts 28 Central Brussels ➀ +32 (0)2 519 57 23 albert.brussels

5

LE CHALET ROBINSON AT: BOIS DE LA CAMBRE Sentier de l’Embarcadère 1 Southern Brussels +32 (0)2 372 92 92 chaletrobinson.be

This vast food hall opened in 2019 in an architectural landmark formerly occupied by a savings bank. Designed by interior architect Lionel Jadot in a quirky eclectic style, Wolf gets its name from the street Fossé aux Loups, literally Wolves’ Ditch.

The complex brings together 19 food stands run by small local restaurants, along with two bars, a micro brewery and a chocolate maker.

A new lunch restaurant with a stunning city view opened in 2021 in the former canteen of the National Library. Designed by architect firm Agmen, the fifth-floor restaurant blends the building’s sober 1950s modernism with contemporary touches. The acclaimed chef Filip Fransen creates innovative dishes inspired by Belgian and French cooking, and the rooftop terrace makes this a special spot for a summer lunch, drinks and music.

Built in 1877 on an island in the woods, the Chalet Robinson burned down in 1896 and again in 1991. It reopened in the summer of 2009 in a style close to the original. The island location, reached by an old ferry, makes it one of the most romantic spots in Brussels. The menu offers traditional Belgian tavern food like meatballs in tomato sauce, Limousin steaks and pancakes. Service can be slow on a busy day.

21

60 PLACES FOR A DRINK

The 5 best bars to drink The 5

C O O L E S T B A R S ——————————————————— 64

The 5 bars with the

L O N G E S T B E E R L I S T S ————— 66

The 5 best bars for

J A Z Z & B L U E S ———————————— 68

The 5 most

S T U N N I N G B A R S —————————————— 70

The 5 best

W I N E B A R S ———————————————————— 72

The 5 best bars

T O H E A R N E W B A N D S ——————— 74

The 5 best

C O F F E E B A R S ————————————————— 76

The 5 most

R O M A N T I C C A F E S ————————————— 78

The 5 best terraces for The 5 best

S I T T I N G I N T H E S U N ——— 80

C O C K T A I L B A R S ——————————————— 82

The 5 most original LE FABIOLA

L I K E A L O C A L ————————— 62

S M A L L B R E W E R I E S ——————— 84

60 PLACES FOR A DRINK

The 5 best bars to drink The 5

C O O L E S T B A R S ——————————————————— 64

The 5 bars with the

L O N G E S T B E E R L I S T S ————— 66

The 5 best bars for

J A Z Z & B L U E S ———————————— 68

The 5 most

S T U N N I N G B A R S —————————————— 70

The 5 best

W I N E B A R S ———————————————————— 72

The 5 best bars

T O H E A R N E W B A N D S ——————— 74

The 5 best

C O F F E E B A R S ————————————————— 76

The 5 most

R O M A N T I C C A F E S ————————————— 78

The 5 best terraces for The 5 best

S I T T I N G I N T H E S U N ——— 80

C O C K T A I L B A R S ——————————————— 82

The 5 most original LE FABIOLA

L I K E A L O C A L ————————— 62

S M A L L B R E W E R I E S ——————— 84

The 5 best bars to drink LIKE A LOCAL

96

BRASSERIE DE L’UNION Parvis de Saint-Gilles 55 Saint-Gilles ➅

97

À LA MORT SUBITE Rue Montagne-auxHerbes Potagères 7 Central Brussels ➀ +32 (0)2 513 13 18 alamortsubite.com

62

This friendly corner cafe is a popular meeting place for artists, students and socialist politicians. It has kept its authentic Belgian bar interior including wood panelled walls, ancient furniture and even the little metal sign pointing to the urinoir. Football fans come here to watch the local team Union Saint-Gilloise on a flat screen TV perched precariously on a wooden beer crate. The terrace on the cobbled square quickly fills up at the first hint of sun.

This spectacular cafe designed in 1910

by Paul Hamesse welcomes you with huge mirrors, marble columns and faded photographs of Jacques Brel. The waitresses are quite tart, the beer even more so. Mort Subite is hardly a hidden secret, yet it still has an authentic Brussels atmosphere.

98

À L’IMAIGE NOSTRE-DAME Impasse des Cadeaux 3 (off Rue du Marché aux Herbes 8) Central Brussels ➀ +32 (0)497 91 54 15

99

AU LABOUREUR Rue de Flandre 108 Dansaert Quarter ➁ +32 (0)2 512 13 82

100 BRASSERIE

VERSCHUEREN Parvis de Saint-Gilles 11-13 Saint-Gilles ➅ +32 (0)2 539 40 68

This bar at the end of a narrow white­ washed passage feels more like a country inn. It opened in 1884 in a house that dates from the late 17th century. The bar consists of several snug rooms filled with antiques where locals chat or play a traditional Flemish pub game that involves tossing coins at a frog.

This old cafe has retained the relaxed charm of old Brussels even if the neigh­ bourhood is now very hip. The interior is decorated with antique beer signs, round mirrors and an old telephone booth.

Here is a place where locals come to play cards or read Le Soir with perhaps a caged canary sitting on the table. The terrace is a favourite spot to hang out on a summer evening drinking a glass of Papegaei beer from Diksmuide.

Founded back in 1888 by Louis Verschueren, this cafe used to brew its own beers. It’s a friendly local spot with a mix of older locals, students and young professionals. The cafe has a gorgeous interior dating from the 1930s with a tiled floor, plain wood furniture and an old football scoreboard. This is the perfect spot for a bowl of homemade soup and an authentic local beer.

63

The 5 best bars to drink LIKE A LOCAL

96

BRASSERIE DE L’UNION Parvis de Saint-Gilles 55 Saint-Gilles ➅

97

À LA MORT SUBITE Rue Montagne-auxHerbes Potagères 7 Central Brussels ➀ +32 (0)2 513 13 18 alamortsubite.com

62

This friendly corner cafe is a popular meeting place for artists, students and socialist politicians. It has kept its authentic Belgian bar interior including wood panelled walls, ancient furniture and even the little metal sign pointing to the urinoir. Football fans come here to watch the local team Union Saint-Gilloise on a flat screen TV perched precariously on a wooden beer crate. The terrace on the cobbled square quickly fills up at the first hint of sun.

This spectacular cafe designed in 1910

by Paul Hamesse welcomes you with huge mirrors, marble columns and faded photographs of Jacques Brel. The waitresses are quite tart, the beer even more so. Mort Subite is hardly a hidden secret, yet it still has an authentic Brussels atmosphere.

98

À L’IMAIGE NOSTRE-DAME Impasse des Cadeaux 3 (off Rue du Marché aux Herbes 8) Central Brussels ➀ +32 (0)497 91 54 15

99

AU LABOUREUR Rue de Flandre 108 Dansaert Quarter ➁ +32 (0)2 512 13 82

100 BRASSERIE

VERSCHUEREN Parvis de Saint-Gilles 11-13 Saint-Gilles ➅ +32 (0)2 539 40 68

This bar at the end of a narrow white­ washed passage feels more like a country inn. It opened in 1884 in a house that dates from the late 17th century. The bar consists of several snug rooms filled with antiques where locals chat or play a traditional Flemish pub game that involves tossing coins at a frog.

This old cafe has retained the relaxed charm of old Brussels even if the neigh­ bourhood is now very hip. The interior is decorated with antique beer signs, round mirrors and an old telephone booth.

Here is a place where locals come to play cards or read Le Soir with perhaps a caged canary sitting on the table. The terrace is a favourite spot to hang out on a summer evening drinking a glass of Papegaei beer from Diksmuide.

Founded back in 1888 by Louis Verschueren, this cafe used to brew its own beers. It’s a friendly local spot with a mix of older locals, students and young professionals. The cafe has a gorgeous interior dating from the 1930s with a tiled floor, plain wood furniture and an old football scoreboard. This is the perfect spot for a bowl of homemade soup and an authentic local beer.

63

AGAVE

AGAVE

70 PLACES TO SHOP

The 5 most inspiring The 5 hippest

B R U S S E L S D E S I G N E R S ——— 90

The 5 best

S T R E E T M A R K E T S ————————————— 111

C O N C E P T S T O R E S ———————————— 92

The 5 best

F L O W E R S H O P S ——————————————— 114

The 5 most original shops for BELGIAN FASHION

————————————————————

94

The 5 best

V I N T A G E S H O P S ——————————————— 96

The 5 most

U N U S U A L S H O P S —————————————— 99

The 5 best

B O O K S H O P S —————————————————— 101

The 5 best

INDEPENDENT

R E C O R D S T O R E S ————————————————————— 103

The 5 best shops for

U N U S U A L G I F T S ———————— 105

The 5 best

B I K E S H O P S —————————————————— 107

The 5 best

NEWSAGENTS

open on Sunday—————— 109

The 5 best places for G R A P H I C A R T and P A P E R ———————————————————————————— 116 The 5 best

D E S I G N S H O P S ——————————————— 118

70 PLACES TO SHOP

The 5 most inspiring The 5 hippest

B R U S S E L S D E S I G N E R S ——— 90

The 5 best

S T R E E T M A R K E T S ————————————— 111

C O N C E P T S T O R E S ———————————— 92

The 5 best

F L O W E R S H O P S ——————————————— 114

The 5 most original shops for BELGIAN FASHION

————————————————————

94

The 5 best

V I N T A G E S H O P S ——————————————— 96

The 5 most

U N U S U A L S H O P S —————————————— 99

The 5 best

B O O K S H O P S —————————————————— 101

The 5 best

INDEPENDENT

R E C O R D S T O R E S ————————————————————— 103

The 5 best shops for

U N U S U A L G I F T S ———————— 105

The 5 best

B I K E S H O P S —————————————————— 107

The 5 best

NEWSAGENTS

open on Sunday—————— 109

The 5 best places for G R A P H I C A R T and P A P E R ———————————————————————————— 116 The 5 best

D E S I G N S H O P S ——————————————— 118

The 5 most inspiring BRUSSELS DESIGNERS

156 L’AUBERGE

ESPAGNOLE Chaussée de Wavre 331 European Quarter ➃

157 NATAN Avenue Louise 158 Louise Quarter ➄ +32 (0)2 647 10 01 natan.be

90

158 CONNI KAMINSKI Rue du Marché au Charbon 102 Central Brussels ➀ +32 (0)485 99 24 36 connikaminski.com

159 NINA MEERT A pop-up store in the European Quarter where young entrepreneurs from across Europe can try out new concepts for a season. Launched by the local council a few years back, the store near Place Jourdan has hosted a steady stream of young people with fresh retail ideas.

Several entrepreneurs have gone on from here to open their own store, including plant shop Urban Gardener in Ixelles.

Edouard Vermeulen launched his fashion house in 1983 in a beautiful white town house on Avenue Louise. He creates beautiful clothes in vivid colours for wealthy Belgian and European women.

His clients include Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. He has also designed a chocolate box for Neuhaus.

Place Saint-Boniface 1 Ixelles ➄ +32 (0)2 514 22 63 ninameert.be

German-born fashion designer Conni Kaminski opened her store in the heart of Brussels in 2008. She creates cheerful, asymmetrical clothes in a small atelier at the back of the store. Kaminski’s styles fit neatly with the relaxed bike-friendly lifestyle that is taking off in Brussels.

Brussels designer Nina Meert sells romantic clothes in an elegant art nouveau shop. She grew up in Paris, but moved to Brussels in the 1970s. She creates unique dresses and wedding gowns using beautiful fabrics. Her clothes are sold in Harrods and worn by French film stars such as Isabelle Adjani and Isabelle Huppert.

160 VALÉRIE BERCKMANS Brussels designer Valérie Berckmans Rue Van Artevelde 8 Dansaert Quarter ➄ +32 (0)2 502 94 00 valerieberckmans.be

creates ethical clothes for urban women in a small cellar below her shop. She uses organic materials and vintage stock to put together collections with a touch of French chic. Her store also stocks shoes and accessories by Belgian and French designers.

91

The 5 most inspiring BRUSSELS DESIGNERS

156 L’AUBERGE

ESPAGNOLE Chaussée de Wavre 331 European Quarter ➃

157 NATAN Avenue Louise 158 Louise Quarter ➄ +32 (0)2 647 10 01 natan.be

90

158 CONNI KAMINSKI Rue du Marché au Charbon 102 Central Brussels ➀ +32 (0)485 99 24 36 connikaminski.com

159 NINA MEERT A pop-up store in the European Quarter where young entrepreneurs from across Europe can try out new concepts for a season. Launched by the local council a few years back, the store near Place Jourdan has hosted a steady stream of young people with fresh retail ideas.

Several entrepreneurs have gone on from here to open their own store, including plant shop Urban Gardener in Ixelles.

Edouard Vermeulen launched his fashion house in 1983 in a beautiful white town house on Avenue Louise. He creates beautiful clothes in vivid colours for wealthy Belgian and European women.

His clients include Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. He has also designed a chocolate box for Neuhaus.

Place Saint-Boniface 1 Ixelles ➄ +32 (0)2 514 22 63 ninameert.be

German-born fashion designer Conni Kaminski opened her store in the heart of Brussels in 2008. She creates cheerful, asymmetrical clothes in a small atelier at the back of the store. Kaminski’s styles fit neatly with the relaxed bike-friendly lifestyle that is taking off in Brussels.

Brussels designer Nina Meert sells romantic clothes in an elegant art nouveau shop. She grew up in Paris, but moved to Brussels in the 1970s. She creates unique dresses and wedding gowns using beautiful fabrics. Her clothes are sold in Harrods and worn by French film stars such as Isabelle Adjani and Isabelle Huppert.

160 VALÉRIE BERCKMANS Brussels designer Valérie Berckmans Rue Van Artevelde 8 Dansaert Quarter ➄ +32 (0)2 502 94 00 valerieberckmans.be

creates ethical clothes for urban women in a small cellar below her shop. She uses organic materials and vintage stock to put together collections with a touch of French chic. Her store also stocks shoes and accessories by Belgian and French designers.

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COLOPHON E D I T I N G and COM P OS I N G — Derek Blyth GRA PH I C D ES I G N — Joke Gossé and doublebill.design PH OTO G R A P HY — Joram Van Holen A DDI T I O N A L P HOTOG R AP HY — p. 93: Urban Therapy —

pp. 41, 48, 51, 60, 72, 86-87, 115, 126, 129, 130, 132, 133, 151, 173, 186, 198, 234: Silvie Bonne — silviebonne.be COVE R I M AG E — Cinema Nova (secret 448)

The addresses in this book have been selected after thorough independent research by the author, in collaboration with Luster Publishing. The selection is solely based on personal evaluation of the business by the author. Nothing in this book was published in exchange for payment or benefits of any kind.

D/2021/12.005/16 I S B N 978 94 6058 3032 N U R 512, 510

© 2012 Luster Publishing, Antwerp Tenth edition, November 2021 – Twelfth reprint, November 2021 lusterweb.com – THE500HID D E NS EC RE TS.CO M info@lusterweb.com Printed in Italy by Printer Trento.

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