Belgium is a small country so nowhere is far from anywhere else. Brussels, which means ‘village of the marsh’, is less than 45 miles from Ghent and our base at Camping Druivenland was less than 15 miles to the Grand Place in the centre of Brussels. Once you get into town, the easiest way to get around is on foot.

1 TOUR IN YOUR OWN TIME
You can book guided coach tours of the city in the Rue de la Colline off the Grand Place. These run at set times throughout the day – the first departs at 10am, the last at 2pm – and the journey takes just under three hours. Tickets cost €20 for adults, €18 for senior citizens and students, and €10 for children.
Alternatively, you can take the ‘Hop-on Hop-off’ tour which, as its name implies, allows you to explore the city in your own time. You can get on at any stop and get off wherever takes your fancy. This service runs every 30 minutes. Tickets, which are valid for 24 hours, cost €13.50 for adults, €12 for concessions and €9 for children.

2 A GRAND SIGHT TO BEHOLD
Spanning 110m by 68m, the Grand-Place and its surrounding buildings boast some of the most magnificent architecture to be found anywhere in Europe, if not the world. Perhaps most impressive of all is the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), dating from the beginning of the 15th century. At its centre is the 90m-high belfry surmounted by a five-metre-high weather vane depicting St Michael slaying the dragon.
At ground level on either side of the belfry are seven arches, above which is the building’s magnificently carved façade. To the right of the belfry is the tourist office while facing the Town Hall is the Maison du Roi (House of the King), although no royalty lives there. Like the Hôtel de Ville, it is truly magnificent, with nine arches at ground level and 17 arches fronting the first floor. Today the building is the city’s main museum, though while we were there it eschewed its regal roots with an exhibition of ‘sanitary ware’.

3 BRUSSELS' FAVOURITE SON
Most first-time visitors to Brussels flock to see one of the city’s most famous citizens – the Manneken Pis, situated at the corner of Rue de l’Etuve and Rue du Chene. The famous bronze statue is a favourite subject for postcards and plastic models in the city’s gift shops and its name probably gives a clear indication as to why. We were disappointed to find that the statue was fully dressed when we visited. Apparently he has been clothed in various costumes since 1698, when the governor-general of the Netherlands gave him his first costume. Since then the Manneken Pis has acquired over 300 outfits from all over the world.

4 THE SOUND OF ANGELS
The Cathédrale de St-Michel (St Michael’s Cathedral) has recently been restored, which included the construction of a new high altar consecrated in 2000. St Michael’s also has a new organ which we were fortunate enough to hear during our visit. It certainly produced a heavenly sound – hardly surprising as it houses a mighty 4300 pipes, 63 stops and four keyboards.

5 MONT DES ARTS
These beautiful gardens are reached by a set of steps, at the foot of which is a statue of Albert I sitting atop a horse. Around the perimeter are the buildings housing the Belgium National Library, the Palais des Congres and the Musée de la Dynastie with its carillon and clock featuring an animated dial.

6 MONEY MATTERS
The Bourse has been the centre of Belgium’s financial world for 200 years. The world’s first stock exchange was actually established at Bruges in the 13th century when a local tradesman named Van der Breuse allowed his house to be used by bankers to transact business. Hence the word ‘bourse’.

7 GALERIES ROYALES SAINT-HUBERT
The Royal Galleries of St Hubert comprise three shopping arcades over 210 metres long by eight metres wide and 18 metres high. Built around 1850, they are truly magnificent, with marble-fronted shops, restaurants, theatres and a cinema. A great place to just go and soak up the atmosphere.