Rue de la Cigogne

A charming side street hidden away in the Dansaert quarter of Brussels.

The past and future go hand in hand in Brussels. Many of the side streets are now more contemporary, but there’s one piece of Brussels that continues to escape modernisation. Rue de la Cigogne is a Pinterest-worthy dead end for all urban explorers to discover in the Dansaert quarter. Practically the same as it was centuries ago, the residential street is short but sweet at 70m long.

Step through the fancy entryway in the quiet side street of Rue du Rem des Moines to discover this hidden gem. Rue de la Cigogne is just a short walk from the Saint Catherine Cathedral and fashion shopping street of Rue Antoine Dansaert, so it’s not one of those places you have to go super out of your way for.

• History is right in front of you! One of the porches here dates back to the 18th century. Plus, there’s a little statue of Saint Roch which we think was made under the belief it would help ward off the plague, which Brussels was really suffering from back then.
• The locals here bring out their tables and chairs once the sun comes out. While you won’t find many tourists wandering in, the residents are pretty active.