My secret Brussels

Hidden Brussels

an uncommon guide to a unique city

Explore the city almost no one knows

You found me. Welcome to Brussels. Let me just explain in a few words what's going on here.


I write about Brussels, the city where I've lived for 33 brief summers and 33 long winters. Why Brussels and not, let's say, Copenhagen or Lisbon? Many reasons. Location for example. Nowhere is better if you are someone who likes to spend time in Paris and Amsterdam and maybe also London.  


Food is another reason. Especially comfort food. And beer of course.


But it goes deeper than that. I think Brussels is a fascinating city. Because of the architecture. The cosmopolitan culture. And the people who come here from all over the world. 


I like to explore the city. Especially the unique places. And then I like to tell you about the places I have discovered so you can take a look. I'm not an influencer. But maybe I can be an informer. 


I like to track down the small and independent breweries that have opened up in unique locations


So what are the places I like? Let's say it starts with coffee bars where you can drop in for a great coffee like Cafe Flora in Saint-Gilles, or My Little Cup in the government district, or Woodpecker out in the woods. Here are a few of my favourite coffee spots.


I also like tracking down the small and independent breweries that have opened up all over the city. Sometimes in unique locations like Café Surréaliste in downtown Brussels. Here are some to check out.


And then I want to persuade you to explore some of the exceptional places in the city like the Mémé university quarter next to Alma metro station, or the amazing street of forgotten Art Nouveau houses in Saint-Gilles. You can check out more of my favourite hidden and forgotten places here.  


So that's the plan. I hope the site will persuade you to explore the city, from the secret alleys in old Brussels to the last bus stop on bus line 95.


And if you have any comments, or tips for other travellers, drop me a line here.

_________________________

Let me be your guide

Here are a few of the guides I have brought out over the years, from guidebooks to audio walks.


DISCOVER BELGIUM:


TENTH ANNIVERSARY: THE 500 HIDDEN SECRETS OF BRUSSELS


The classic guide to Brussels first published in 2013. Now in its tenth edition. Order from the publisher here


WALK THE CITY:


NEW: HIDDEN BRUSSELS: A LOCAL'S GUIDE TO SECRET PLACES AND UNTOLD STORIES


Join me on a 90-minute audio ramble through the streets of Brussels, taking in 70 sights and stories, including a buried renaissance palace, a Surreamist café and a 500-year-old joke. You can listen to the first three stops for free. Then you need to dig out a few euro to get the whole tour. Get the walk here


HIDDEN GHENT WALKING TOUR: A GUIDE TO THE AUTHENTIC FLEMISH CITY NO ONE KNOWS


My second VoiceMap audio tour takes you to hidden spots in Ghent that almost no one knows. Check it out here 


HIDDEN ANTWERP WALKING TOUR: HALF A CENTURY OF HISTORY, ART AND FASHION


My third VoiceMap audio tour takes you in search of Antwerp's secret squares, quirky street art and fabulous fries. Listen to the first three stops for free here


SECRET ALLEYS AND LOST ARCADES: A BRUSSELS WALKING GUIDE


This downloadable walking tour takes you down quiet lanes and into hidden arcades. Buy it from the publisher here


ART NOUVEAU HOUSES: A BRUSSELS WALKING GUIDE


Discover astonishing art nouveau treasures with this one-hour downloadable tour. Get it from the publisher here

Latest Posts

A WALK ALONG THE WESTERN FRONT

Beyond Ypres. The landscape of World War One


BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO

I love you Brussels. I hate you Brussels


BREXIT

Could Brussels become the new London?


DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET

My hidden restaurants revealed


A SMALL TOWN IN BELGIUM

Aarschot - where nothing ever happens


ROMANTIC RENDEZ-VOUS

The secret love hotel


BRUSSELS DOWNTOWN WALK

Where to go now all the cars have gone


LOVE BITES

The 7 most romantic things to do in Brussels


STREET ART UNCOVERED

The secret art that no one ever sees


NO, WE CAN

No one understands Belgium. Not even the Belgians

______________________________

The 500 Hidden Secrets of Brussels


"this little gem is an instant Brussels bestseller"

Waterstones bookshop

Brussels

The 500 Hidden Secrets

of Brussels


reviews:


"best Brussels guidebook"

anothertravelguide.com


"the descriptions are short and snappy and give you just enough information to tease you  into discovering them for yourself"

Julian Hale

The Brussels Tribune


"Really love your book. I always knew Brussels was a great city and no way boring. We enjoyed our stay in Sweet which your book rightly recommends. Sofie the owner was sweet."

Gary Mayne

Ireland


10th fully

revised edition

in bookshops now

order a copy here:

Walking tours in

Hidden Brussels


walking tours in Brussels based on the bestselling guide


you said:


"I was touched by the city that you showed us. I have lived here for a year and I have always felt that there is more to Brussels than I could describe, show or touch. Even though I have read hundreds of books about Brussels. I loved the gorgeous photo exhibition, and the abandoned old fountain lined with rubbish made me cry. Brussels is a magnificent old city, but it's a pity it's not visible on a daily basis. Like the narrow street near the Rue de Flandres that isn't even on Google maps. Every citizen should be obliged to try to see Brussels through your eyes."

Joanna Slocka


find out more about urban walks here


order my Brussels art nouveau walks here

__________________

more comments:


I wanted to thank you again for the tour yesterday! It was exactly what we were looking for and you showed us so many things we would have never found! Thank you for playing along with my rambunctious group of friends, and I hope you continue to do these tours--I will definitely be promoting your site to anyone who plans on visiting Brussels in the future!

Laura Saad

Teacher


I just wanted to say a big thank you for the talk and walking tour yesterday evening which everyone thoroughly enjoyed! It really is one of our most popular events at Le Méridien. Looking forward to whenever the next one will be!

Sophie Clarke

Starwood Hotels


I just wanted to thank you for the nice talk and walk yesterday evening. I've been in Brussels for more than seven years and still hadn't noticed some of the spots you showed and explained to us.

Valeria

Brussels


We wanted to thank you for the great walk we had with our group of students on 14 January 2014. It was a hit: our students absolutely loved it! Even though the weather was quite rough, this was the first group that we've had that was collectively enthusiastic right until the end, regardless of the cold.

Pauline Le Floc'h

International Students Abroad


What a treasure trove of knowledge and a delightfully witty one at that! Derek has a delightfully cool approach to the whole tour of street art. And I discovered that Brussels is definitely NOT flat OR boring. He gave his commentary in English. My daughter was too jet-lagged to come along but when I showed her a few pictures and told her about it, she was as turned on by Brussels as me. Now we notice the quirky features of Brussels in a way we would never have done on our own.

Maggie Morgan

Melbourne


I want to thank you for the excellent tour that you did last Saturday. My wife and I learned a lot and we will try our best to be a part of your upcoming trips. We will also be purchasing your book as well as telling our friends about the hidden secrets that we are sure that many of them do not know about.

Klaus Ken Shipley


Thank you for the great tour through Brussels yesterday. It was very interesting. I am flicking through your book that I bought yesterday. What a gem.

Ramona Butler


Thank you so much for your time and enthusiasm and for showing me how much I yet have to discover in this city. I especially liked the banana murals, the mediaeval street, the designers' stores and the hospital square with the white buildings. It helped me imagine how Brussels looked at the time Joseph Conrad referred to it as the whited sepulchre.

Joanna Luczac


I was touched by the city that you showed us. I have lived here for a year and I have always felt that there is more to Brussels than I could describe, show or touch. Even though I have read hundreds of books about Brussels. I loved the gorgeous photo exhibition, and the abandoned old fountain lined with rubbish made me cry. Brussels is a magnificent old city, but it's a pity it's not visble on a daily basis. Like the narrow street near the Rue de Flandres that isn't even on Google maps. Every citizen should be obliged to try to see Brussels through your eyes.   

Joanna Slocka


The walk on Saturday was illuminating and your book is on my list of things to buy. I adore getting to know about my surroundings and our peregrinations were ideal for that.

Nick Hogg


You were fabulous. After 15 months here, I've fallen into a bit of a Brussels funk. Your book and the walk were just what I needed to remind me of the quirkiness and absurdity that makes Brussels such a unique place. After the walk, a friend and I enjoyed drinks as you suggested at the Dominican. It was a perfect Saturday afternoon.   

Brandee Butler

 

Your narration is fantastic, it could entertain and enlighten me for hours. In fact, one of my group said, "I'd like to take him out to dinner and just let him talk."     

Pam Rubin


Just a quick note to say a huge thank you for everything today. Luke and I thoroughly enjoyed your enthusiasm for your adopted, beloved city. Your expertise was of real benefit, particularly when so much history related to the Congo and Leopold has been erased or forgotten (deliberately or otherwise). If any friends head to Brussels I will certainly encourage them to get in contact with you.

Jonathan Monk

_____________________

unsplash