Culture
Tourism Troubles in Brussels
Terror attacks have led to a drop-off in the Belgian capital’s visitor numbers. But that isn’t the only issue.
On a sunny day or under a fresh layer of snow, the historic Grand Place in Brussels is so photogenic that it can look like a fanciful film backdrop. With every surface of its gabled 17th century guild houses smothered in ornamental pilasters, statuary and gold leaf, it comes across like a tightly packed storehouse in which architectural embellishments have been stowed until needed elsewhere.
But while the UNESCO World Heritage Site has at times been voted the most beautiful square in the world, it—and Brussels as a whole—is going through hard times right now. At a time when many European cities are struggling to manage an overflow of tourists, Brussels has gone the other way. This year, visitor numbers have plummeted.