Lower town

In the lower town you can visit the following sights:

• Walk inside the Sint-Nicholas church, dedicated to Sint-Nicholas, the patron saint of merchants. It is one of the oldest churches in Brussels (in 1152 there is a first mention) and the last one that is still surrounded by houses. The current entrance portal dates only from the 1950s – the church used to have a belfry. Like many other buildings in the lower town, St. Nicholas’ church was damaged in the French bombardment of 1695.

• The Jacques Brel Museum (Oud Korenhuis 11) is definitely worth a visit. Jacques Romain Georges Brel (1929 -1978) was a Belgian singer, composer and lyricist. In the early sixties he developed into an international star. After leaving the stage in 1967, he was active for some time as a film actor and director. Brel, who lived in Brussels, considered himself to be a French-speaking Fleming. Some of his songs: Ne me quitte pas, Le plat Pays, Marieke, Amsterdam, …  http://www.jacquesbrel.be/

• The Brussels Stock Exchange Theatre (rue Ort 20-28) is a theatre for theatre and concerts, and free events located in the center of Brussels. In 1885 the building was established as a shop, café and banquet hall as Brasserie flamande by owner Walckiers. It is here that Brussels’ world citizens meet – a reputation as an avant-garde pioneer. – http://www.beursschouwburg.be/en

• For shopping lovers: the Antoine Dansaertstraat. This street is the most important street in the hip Dansaert district. It is the hotspot for fashionistas, who can indulge themselves here in the many boutiques. The street is known for its fashion houses, stylists, designers and jewellers. L’archiduc, an artdeco café in the beginning of the Dansaertstraat is a cultural hut depot where many jazz performances take place.

• The Fish Market, the Sint-Katelijneplein and the connecting Oude Graanmarkt are three bustling squares in the trendy Dansaert district with many cozy (fish) restaurants and cafes. On Sint-Katelijneplein you will find the 19th century Sint-Katelijnekerk. This church was only built after the docks of Sint-Katelijne had been filled in, there used to be a harbour here.

• The Markten is the community centre, the cultural centre of the Brussels pentagon. The centre is housed in the former buildings of the Cristallerie Val-Saint-Lambert. Especially in the summer, “De Markten” has a nice time on the shady, cosy terrace under the trees. You will find a lot of reading material and brochures about all kinds of cultural matters in Brussels. – http://www.demarkten.be/en/english

• Enjoy a drink in the Falstaff – De Falsaff is an Art-Nouveau brasserie from the 19th century – In October 2000 this establishment was definitively classified by the Royal Commission for Monuments and Sites. – https://lefalstaff.be/en

To the oppertown