Galerie Bortier Brussels

Galerie Bortier Brussels

Beautiful gallery full of books

Nettah from Brussels

About me I am passionate about cities. From the chaotic creativity of Asian metropolises to the elegant sophistication of ancient European capitals, I love the energy and dynamism of urban life. I travel as often as humanly possible to discover new places and return to old favourites, seeking out the unusual, the contradictory that lurks beneath the everyday. I grew...
""Galerie Bortier" is a beautiful book gallery designed by Brussel's iconic architect. I could spend ages browsing through books on books..."

Brussels boasts one of the oldest covered shopping galleries in the world, but it isn't this one. That one is very famous and full of expensive shops. This one, however, was built by the same architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer a few years later. While the famous one retains an air of sophistication, the younger sister languished for years in obscurity and neglect. Not that I'm complaining. The lower rents allowed Galerie Bortier to fill with secondhand bookshops, rare books, prints and antiquities. In short, a booklover's paradise.  I love the combination of old books in an old gallery and I always wander in if I have some time to kill in the centre (it's right next to the station).

The city of Brussels has finally realised the potential of this beautiful, overlooked gallery and is attempting to bring more life to it. As well as its myriad bookshops and stalls, the gallery can now boast a contemporary at gallery. B-Gallery, run by the municipality, dedicates 3 weeks to a solo exhibition by a young, upcoming artist. Definitely worth checking out as you peruse the books.

002-building
Art & culture

Buy one, Give one!

Share your 💚 this December

*on all products

Brussels Spotter Nettah

About me I am passionate about cities. From the chaotic creativity of Asian metropolises to the elegant sophistication of ancient European capitals, I love the energy and dynamism of urban life. I travel as often as humanly possible to discover new places and return to old favourites, seeking out the unusual, the contradictory that lurks beneath the everyday. I grew up on the rainy northeast coast of England before moving to London to study languages at UCL. I then lived in Japan for a year, studied an MA in European Cultures at Cambridge and am currently pursui...

About this spot

Rue de la Madeleine 55

free

Dec 2, 2025

Our Brussels City Guide

Find your way with 295 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Brussels guide.

Loved it? Join us!

Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in Brussels

Entre Nous Brussels

Entre Nous

Sustainable grocery and restaurant

Entre Nous is a grocery and restaurant in Brussels close to Gare du Midi that's all about sustainability. Try their pasta salsiccia e broccoli...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

William

Mertens

Dec 3, 2025

Poseidon

Ice skating rink

Poseidon is an ice skating rink in Brussels that just makes me really nostalgic. Get some candy and hot cocoa for the full experience!

017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Davy

Verbeke

Dec 3, 2025
Mofelito Paperito Brussels

Mofelito Paperito

Stationery shop for designers

"Mofelito Paperito" in Brussels is a stationery shop. However, it's far from traditional or old-school -- come here to discover modern Brussels design...

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Nettah

Yoeli-Rimmer

Dec 2, 2025
La Laiterie du Parc Brussels

La Laiterie du Parc

Cosy café in green setting

"La Laiterie du Parc" in Brussels is a new cafe housed in a fantastic piece of contemporary wooden architecture renovated from the 1900s & in the green!

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Nettah

Yoeli-Rimmer

Dec 2, 2025
Parc d'Egmont Brussels

Parc d'Egmont

A hidden oasis of greenery

"Parc d'Egmont" is a hidden oasis of greenery in the city of Brussels. When walking to the city centre, I always try to pass through here so I can stop...

017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Nettah

Yoeli-Rimmer

Dec 2, 2025
Maison d'Érasme Brussels

Maison d'Érasme

A humanist's home in Brussels

"Maison d'Érasme" is what I'd refer to as a humanist's home in Brussels, formerly where Erasmus stayed now a fascinating museum, full of old manuscripts...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Nettah

Yoeli-Rimmer

Dec 2, 2025
Villa Empain Brussels

Villa Empain

East meets West in Art Deco mansion

"Villa Empain" Brussels: a unique experience of a gallery. I always get blown away by the sheer opulence of the whole thing, straight out of Great Gatsby.

002-building
Art & culture

by

Nettah

Yoeli-Rimmer

Dec 2, 2025
El Turco Brussels

El Turco

Your weight in good food

"El Turco" in Brussels is a Turkish/Greek restaurant where you pay your food by weight. I find their salads particularly original, with fresh ingredients.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

André

Corrado

Dec 2, 2025
Elevator to the Sky Brussels

Elevator to the Sky

Brussels panorama

From this Brussels spot in Marolles you can catch the "elevator" to go from "uptown" to "downtown"! And when you reach the top... believe me: THE VIEW!

002-building
Art & culture

by

Renata

Riva

Dec 2, 2025
Bia Mara Brussels

Bia Mara

Mouthwatering fish and chips

"Bia Mara" in Brussels (on rue du marché aux poulets - kind of ironic!) is all about the fish and the chips. I just their beers, too...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Sarah

Filion

Dec 2, 2025
Nikolas Koulepis Brussels

Nikolas Koulepis

Greek bakery

"Nikolas Koulepis" is a Greek bakery in Brussels. Not only does it have my favorite tsoureki, ravani and spanakopita, it also has French-style desserts...

024-burger-1
Snacks

by

André

Corrado

Dec 2, 2025
Kosmos Bar Brussels

Kosmos Bar

A taste of Plaka

Every Tuesday evening, I go to "Kosmos Bar" in Brussels, a Greek-inspired joint together with friends. True to the Greek spirit, it closes pretty late...

028-beach-bar-1
Bars

by

André

Corrado

Dec 2, 2025

Heading to Brussels?

295 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

Brussels app Home
Brussels app Home
Brussels app Map
Brussels app Home

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

295 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

City guides by those who know the city in and out!

Our Locals' Favorite Art & culture

Our team loves Brussels

Get to know our other Spotters from Brussels

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
[paywall_activator]
false
0
false
29
Made with the 💚 of 498 Spotters.
Filters