City of Brussels

{{Main|Neighbourhoods in Brussels|Pentagon (Brussels)}}

Historically, the City of Brussels was simply defined, being the area within the second walls of Brussels, the modern-day Small Ring (Brussels' inner ring road). As the city grew, so did the surrounding villages, eventually forming a contiguous city, though the local governments retained control of their respective areas.

File:Brussel.1610.a.jpg

At the country's independence in 1830, the new members of the Belgian upper class hoped to create a new prestigious residential area in the capital. An official plan for the Leopold Quarter was drawn up in 1838, marking the first major extension of the City of Brussels in its eastern part, following the transfer of a large area of the municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. The area was designed to emanate from Brussels Park (located in front of the Royal Palace), and was laid out on a grid in a traditional classical pattern centred around the {{lang|fr|Square Frère Orban|italic=no}}/{{lang|nl|Frère-Orbansquare|italic=no}}.

Shortly afterwards, in 1844, the Avenue Louise/Louizalaan was proposed as a monumental avenue bordered by chestnut trees that would allow easy access from Brussels' city centre to the popular recreational area of the Bois de la Cambre/Ter Kamerenbos.{{sfn|Mierop|1997|p=2, 6}}{{sfn|Douillet|Schaack|2005–2006|p=3}}{{Cite web |title=Avenue Louise – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural |url=https://monument.heritage.brussels/fr/0/Avenue_Louise/10502100 |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=monument.heritage.brussels |language=fr}} However, fierce resistance to the project was put up by the towns of Saint-Gilles and Ixelles—then, as now, separate municipalities (local authorities) from the City of Brussels—through whose territories the avenue was to run.{{sfn|Mierop|1997|p=3}} After years of fruitless negotiations, the City of Brussels finally annexed the narrow band of land needed for the avenue, in addition to the Bois de la Cambre itself, in April 1864.{{sfn|Mierop|1997|p=7}}{{sfn|Douillet|Schaack|2005–2006|p=8}} That decision accounts for the unusual shape of today's City of Brussels and for the separation of Ixelles into two separate areas.

To the east, in 1853, following the bankruptcy of Saint-Josse's municipal administration, the City of Brussels purchased half of this municipality. Nowadays, this is the Squares Quarter, the only part of the Brussels municipality to have the same postal code (1040) as the municipality of Etterbeek. Further east, in 1880, a former military exercise ground and the surrounding land, also located in Etterbeek, were attached to the City to create the Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark, an exhibition space commemorating the 50th anniversary of independence. A leisure park and museums were subsequently set up there.

Unlike most of the municipalities in Belgium, the ones now located in the Brussels-Capital Region were not merged with others during mergers occurring in 1964, 1970, and 1975.{{cite web|url=http://belgium.rootsweb.ancestry.com/bel/_places/bel_places.html|title=Municipalities (1795-now)|last=Picavet|first=Georges|date=29 April 2003|publisher=Georges Picavet|access-date=5 April 2009}} However, a few neighbouring municipalities have been merged into the City of Brussels, including Haren, Laeken and Neder-Over-Heembeek in 1921.{{cite web|url=http://belgium.rootsweb.ancestry.com/bel/2bru/index.html|title=Brussels Capital-Region|date=4 June 2005 |publisher=Georges Picavet |access-date=5 April 2009}} These comprise the northern bulge in the municipality. To the south-east is the above-mentioned strip of land along the Avenue Louise that was annexed from Saint-Gilles and Ixelles. Part of the {{Lang|fr|Université libre de Bruxelles|italic=no}} (ULB)'s Solbosch campus is also part of the City of Brussels, partially accounting for the bulge in the south-eastern end.

{{As of|2024|1|1}}, the City of Brussels' population was 196,828 inhabitants. The area is {{convert|33.09|km2|abbr=on}}, making the density {{convert|5949|PD/km2|abbr=on}}.

Taking into account the current municipality, including the former municipalities annexed in 1921 (Haren, Laeken and Neder-over-Heembeek) from 1831:

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• Sources: INS: 1806 to 1981 = census; 1990 and later = population on 1 January

The City of Brussels has a large immigrant population, with both the EU and non-European migrant communities outnumbering the native Belgians. Akin to neighbouring Ixelles, Etterbeek and Schaerbeek, the City of Brussels also has a large Muslim population, mainly of North African origin.

{{As of|2023}}, taking into account the nationality of birth of the parents, 55.84% of the City of Brussels's population is of non-European origin (predominantly Moroccan, Indian and Congolese), 27.21% is of European origin other than Belgian (mainly French, Romanian, Italian, Spanish, and Polish), while 16.94% is solely of native Belgian ancestry.{{Cite web |title=Origin {{!}} Statbel |url=https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/population/structure-population/origin#figures |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=statbel.fgov.be}} Among all major migrant groups from outside the EU, a majority of the permanent residents have acquired Belgian nationality.{{cite web |title=2.738.486 inwoners van vreemde afkomst in België op 01/01/2012 |trans-title=2,738,486 inhabitants of foreign origin in Belgium on 01/01/2012 |url=http://www.npdata.be/BuG/155-Vreemde-afkomst/Vreemde-afkomst.htm |access-date=12 March 2013 |website=Npdata.be |language=nl |archive-date=22 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022180710/http://www.npdata.be/BuG/155-Vreemde-afkomst/Vreemde-afkomst.htm |url-status=live}}

Migrant communities in the City of Brussels with over 1,000 people as of 1 January 2020:{{Cite web |title=Nationalités {{!}} IBSA |url=https://ibsa.brussels/themes/population/nationalites |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=ibsa.brussels}}

{{See also|List of mayors of the City of Brussels}}

As in every other Belgian municipality, the City of Brussels is headed by a mayor, who should not be confused with the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region or the Governor of Brussels-Capital. The current city council was elected in the October 2018 elections.{{Cite web|url=http://bru2018.brussels/fr/results/municipalities/6074/index.html|title=Résultats officiels des élections communales 2018|accessdate=17 July 2021|language=French}} The current mayor of the City of Brussels is Philippe Close, a member of PS, who is in coalition on the municipal council with Ecolo - Groen, DéFI and Forward.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtbf.be/info/belgique/detail_ps-ecolo-groen-et-sp-a-ouvrent-la-majorite-a-defi-a-la-ville-de-bruxelles?id=10051751|title=PS, Ecolo-Groen et sp.a ouvrent la majorité à Défi à la Ville de Bruxelles|language=French|date=20 October 2018|accessdate=17 July 2021}}

Brussels is ranked sixth in the index of cities which are becoming greener fastest as for the year 2022, even though in the past it had a reputation of a "traffic-choked city of high rises and concrete". The authorities released a plan composed of seven steps on how to make the city even more sustainable. Those include introducing "a use-based, circular and low-carbon economy" and making the city "proactive". The city should become a "10-minute city" meaning "making the facilities essential to urban life accessible to every inhabitant in less than 10 minutes". Green spaces should be expanded. The plan includes participation of the population in decision-making and high life level for all.{{cite news |last1=Ann Hughes |first1=Rebecca |title=10-minute city: How Brussels plans to become a pedestrian-friendly green hub |url=https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/12/22/10-minute-city-how-brussels-plans-to-become-a-pedestrian-friendly-green-hub |access-date=7 January 2024 |agency=Euronews |date=22 December 2023}}

{{Main list|List of museums in Brussels}}

There are many museums in and around Brussels' city centre. On the first Sunday of every month, free entry is granted to many of Brussels' museums.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of museums in the City of Brussels:

• Royal Museums of Art and History :
• Art & History Museum
• Horta-Lambeaux Pavilion
• Halle Gate
• Museums of the Far East
• Musical Instruments Museum
• Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium :
• Oldmasters Museum
• Magritte Museum
• Fin-de-Siècle Museum
• Wiertz Museum
• Meunier Museum
• Royal Museum of Modern Art
• Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History

Brussels is well known for its food. Brussels sprouts were named after the city.{{Cite web|title=Real Food Encyclopedia {{!}} Brussels Sprouts|url=https://foodprint.org/real-food/brussels-sprouts/|access-date=9 February 2021|website=FoodPrint|language=en-US}} Like most of Belgium, moules-frites, waffles (gaufres), chocolate, French fries, and beer are common there.{{Cite web|last=2venturists|date=10 June 2018|title=What to Eat in Brussels Belgium|url=https://www.venturists.net/what-to-eat-in-brussels-belgium/|access-date=8 February 2021|website=Venturists|language=en-US}} It is home to one 2-starred and four 1-starred Michelin restaurants.{{Cite web|title=Brussels 2 Stars MICHELIN MICHELIN Restaurants – the MICHELIN Guide Belgium|url=https://guide.michelin.com/en/be/bruxelles-capitale/bruxelles/restaurants/2-stars-michelin/1-star-michelin|access-date=8 February 2021|website=MICHELIN Guide|language=en-US}}

Among the recipients of the honorary citizenship of the City of Brussels are:{{Cite web |title=Ereburgers |url=https://opendata.brussel.be/explore/dataset/ereburgers2/table/?flg=en&sort=-date |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=opendata.brussel.be |language=nl}}

{{Main|Symbols of Brussels}}

{{Infobox COA wide|image=File:Greater coat of arms of the City of Brussels.svg|motto=|symbolism=Saint Michael is the patron saint of the city.Netherlandish sculpture 1450-1550 by Paul Williamson 2002 {{ISBN|0-8109-6602-6}} page 42 See: Saint Michael slaying the Devil|badge=|badgeimage=|banner=|bannerimage=|other_elements=|orders=|compartment=A mount vert|imagesize=|supporters=Two lions rampant Or armed and langued Gules each holding a banner: dexter, the arms of the Duchy of Brabant, also those of Belgium, sinister, the arms of the city|escutcheon=Gules Saint Michael Or, slaying the Devil Sable|helm=|torse=|crest=|coronet=A Belgian Count's coronet|year_adopted=|notes=|previous_versions=See below}}

{{Portal|Belgium}}

• Transport in Brussels
• Timeline of Brussels
• Bourgeois of Brussels
• Seven Noble Houses of Brussels
• Guilds of Brussels

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Demey|first=Thierry|others=S. Strange (trans.)|title=Brussels, capital of Europe|location=Brussels|publisher=Badeaux|year=2007|isbn=978-2-9600414-6-0}}
• {{cite book|last1=Douillet|first1=Isabelle|last2=Schaack|first2=Cécile|title=L'avenue Louise et les rues adjacentes|series=Inventaire du Patrimoine architectural, Bruxelles-Extensions Sud|location=Brussels|language=fr|publisher=P. Crahay|year=2005–2006|url=https://monument.heritage.brussels/files/streets/10516085/documents/louise_bruxelles-extensions_sud.pdf}}
• {{cite book|last=Eggericx|first=Laure|title=Les Boulevards du Centre|series=Bruxelles, ville d'Art et d'Histoire|volume=20|location=Brussels|language=fr|publisher=Centre d'information, de Documentation et d'Etude du Patrimoine|year=1997|url=http://patrimoine.brussels/liens/publications-numeriques/versions-pdf/bvah/les-boulevards-du-centre}}
• {{cite book|last=Mierop|first=Caroline|title=L'avenue Louise|series=Bruxelles, ville d'Art et d'Histoire|volume=19|location=Brussels|language=fr|publisher=Centre d'information, de Documentation et d'Etude du Patrimoine|year=1997|url=https://patrimoine.brussels/liens/publications-numeriques/versions-pdf/bvah/lavenue-louise}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.brussels.be/ Official website] {{in lang|fr|nl|en}}
• [https://visit.brussels/ Official tourism website] {{in lang|fr|nl|en|de|es|it|pt}}
• [https://www.brussels.be/4664 Webcam Grand-Place Brussels]
• [https://www.ilotsacre.be/site/en/default_en.htm Interactive map]

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Brussels

|N = Grimbergen (VBR), Vilvoorde (VBR)

|NE = Machelen (VBR)

|E = Zaventem (VBR)
Evere
Schaerbeek
Saint-Josse-ten-Noode
Etterbeek

|SE = Watermael-Boitsfort

|S = Saint-Gilles, Uccle, Ixelles

|SW =

|W = Jette
Sint-Jans-Molenbeek
Anderlecht

|NW = Wemmel (VBR)

}}

{{Brussels|state2=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brussels}}

City of Brussels

Category:Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region

Category:Populated places in Belgium

Category:Capitals in Europe