I’m always surprised to discover that Brussels has hundreds of small parks, hidden behind buildings, or around the corner of a busy street. Even locals do not know them, as the entrance is often a small door, with an opening timetable posted on it.

The other day I saw a gate and a sign “Parc Public, entree libre 09:00 – 18:00″. As a Brussels Spotter I can’t miss out on this! And… what a surprise. Nobody around, and music coming from a workshop nearby.

Quietness, this is the feeling I got from this Park. You need to think? You need to relax after walking around and shopping in Matonge (see the Matonge article)? This is the place to go!

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Parc Viaduc | Relaxing | Free
Entrance from Rue du Viaduc 131B | Ixelles
09:00 – 18:30 daily

The best way to start your visit in Brussels is by going to Place Poelaert. This place gives a good overview of Brussels. It is especially nice to visit during sunrise or sunset.

You can see all of Brussels buildings in a wonderful panorama. There are binoculars to view the buildings in detail and there is a lift that takes you to the Marolles. You can also walk down following the parking space of the adjacent Palais de Justice.

You can sit on the stone fence to admire the view. On your right there is a beautiful art deco building functioning as a high school and on the left there is the Palais de Justice. Right in front of Place Poelaert is Avenue Louise, following this avenue completely to the end, or taking a tram, will bring you to Bois de la Cambre, a large ‘park’ with a lake (see the Bois de la Cambre article).

The whole area is worthwhile to walk around in and to discover at your own pace and interests.

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Place Poelaert | Art & culture, Relaxing
Place Poelaert | Ixelles
Daily

Have you ever dreamed of a place where you can touch everything?

As a kid, when your parents brought you to the museum, did you feel frustrated because they were constantly asking you to not touch anything?

Well, good news: you’re not the only one…

Fortunately enough “our” kids can make this dream come true; this Museum is made for them and they’re allowed (and warmly invited) to touch everything they want and to experiment with everything.

The Musée des Enfants (Kindermuseum) is located in a nice park, it’s a good destination for a sunny/rainy day (you know, it’s so sunny, and as soon as you arrive at the park it’s raining, then you decide to change the plans, and: wow! sunny again).

At the entrance of the Museum, some of the kids were so enthusiastic about it! One told me that he’s constantly harassing his mum to come here (the expression on the mum’s face present at the moment confirmed this), other ones told me that there’s no place on earth, except ‘maybe the beach’ where they can have such a good time.

But, I have to say that all were around 7 to 10 years old. My niece is only 3 years old and yes, she liked it, but I cannot say that she was that enthusiastic.

So I will suggest this place for kids who can already read so they’ll learn a lot (and especially boys).

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Musée des Enfants | Art & culture, Relaxing | Entrance & workshop € 7.50
15, rue du Bourgmestre | Ixelles | +3226400107
Please check the website

Whatever the spot I’m going too: there’s one I don’t miss, any day of the year, no matter if it rains or if it’s sunny: Place Flagey itself!

Around the place you have many bars, snacks, restaurants, theatres and parks, but the place itself worth the visit: you can have a seat it the huge public benches, waiting for your friends (or pretending to) and watching the life around you: kids playing football, roller-skate, or with the fountain, adults drinking beers, playing music, chatting ; artists giving a free show to the lucky ones present.

The place is huge (the biggest one in Brussels) and there’s always something to do or see in it, official, commercial or … popular.

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Place Flagey | Relaxing | Free
Place Flagey | Ixelles
24 hours daily

Everybody loves l’Amour fou. During years, long time before Brussels was even hype, it was one of the place to be. Then, year after year, it lost its charm… and one day : closed. We were all sad, but realized that no one we know were even still going there. End of the story.

Then, few months ago, L’Amour fou reopened. We had a party during a long week-end and more than thousand people showed up. It seems to everyone that l’Amour fou still had a place in our heart.

The new team running the place did a good job : it’s still has this brasserie style we love, in more hype. During the day: you can have a nice afternoon, you can plug your computer and benefit from free wifi. Evenings are more crowded : people coming for dinner, or just for a drink, for a concert, spend some good time with friends.

What a like the most is the spirit of the new owners : they know they have to handle with an institution and everyone has a word to say about the food, the drinks, …. Those guys are just willing to listen to it and to make the necessaries changes in order to please everyone. It’s hard to deal with a place everyone is crazy in love with, but they do it great!

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L’Amour Fou | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Relaxing
185, chaussée d’Ixelles | Ixelles | +3223257353
Tue – Thu & Sun 11:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 03:00

I go to this particular swimming pool because its close to where I live, but Brussels has a huge number of municipal swimming pools. Some of them are quite old, this one for example is more than a hundred years old, which means that they’re generally quite charming but not always very big or in a great state of repair. However, you’ll definitely see locals here and the entry fee is usually very reasonable.

The swimming pools can sometimes get quite busy and – as the local primary schools make use of them too – quite noisy, so I recommend going around lunchtime, while the kids are eating their sandwiches!

If you’re lucky though, as I’ve been on many occasions, you’ll be doing your laps without too much hassle, sharing the pool with just a few other swimmers and with the sun shining in through the ceiling windows…It’s pure bliss and a true moment of relaxation, away from the hustle & bustle of city life! And there’s a villo station meters away…

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Ixelles swimming pool | Relaxing | Non residents € 2.10
Rue de la Natation, 10 | Ixelles
Mon 08:00 – 21:00, Tue – Sun 08:00 – 18:00

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