Brussels ventures: When spring knocks at the door

With spring knocking at the door, we all feel the need for a different kind of ventures to diversify and freshen up our daily lives. Everybody is impatient to say “goodbye” to winter and welcome the new season. But since we are still in this “in-between” state of melancholia and hope for a new year full of new things, why not capture this moment and get the most out of it? Luckily, Brussels offers many opportunities to everyone who seeks them, and I would like to tempt you with a few ideas on where to go and how to spend a nice, relaxing pre-spring day.

A good book for a good day

What is more romantic and relaxing than a book? There is a cute little bookshop in the city center, called Evasions. It is a second-hand bookshop, which hosts a genuine treasure trove! All genres of literature and antique books can be found here, as well as vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, old video games, gramophone records, and even VHS tapes and audio cassettes! Evasions is a place for collectors and connoisseurs of good quality literature and pop culture.  

Bubble up!

The next stop (it is mandatory) is The Bubble Tea Room, near Grand Place. There is no better medicine to uplift your spirit than a cup of a colorfully delicious Bubble (BoBa) ice tea.  The Bubble Tea Room is probably the most popular place in Brussels to get a BoBa tea, with a great variety of tastes offered by very friendly staff. While waiting for nature outside to start blooming, spoil yourself with a spring in a cup.

A taste of culture

The Korean Cultural Center is a veritable hidden gem in Brussels. It is a lovely cozy place if you have a taste for the authentic and original Korean culture. The Korean center regularly organizes various events, like art and comic exhibitions, as well as movies, cartoons and book presentations. And of course, all of this for free!  

Time for lunch

Grand Central is one of the most popular and trendy bar-restaurants in the European capital. It offers amazing food and cocktails, which you can enjoy on its terrace with a great view of Leopold Park. And if you go there on a Sunday, you will be able to partake in their lavish brunch, a real feast for only 25 euros.

The cherry on the cake  

Welcome to The House of European History. This comprehensive museum, inaugurated in 2017, is a big pride of Brussels. The museum offers its visitors an interesting, truthful and provocative promenade through European history. You would need over two hours to explore the four floors of past and present, starting with the foundation of Europe and ending with the most recent historical events.

The House of European History is situated in Park Leopold, a gorgeous piece of greenery in the middle of the European quarter. The park features a small lake, full of sociable and eternally hungry ducks and swans, a basketball court, tennis tables and a playground. A bit of everything for everyone, really. And in case you have more energy to spare, there is one more museum in the park, the famous “Dinosaur museum” (formally, the Museum of Natural Sciences) and the beautiful Solvay Library.

Instead of just waiting for the most romantic and optimistic season to come, why not look around and open our senses to all the beauty that already exists. Let us remember that just as Mother Nature is a great creator, so are we – the humans. With spring knocking at the door, get ready for a new beginning in beautiful Brussels, always there to offer everybody new and interesting ventures.