Bruxelles Midi station (Image: Getty)
Upon disembarking the Eurostar, many people have mentioned being greeted by a disheartening sight: litter, graffiti, and an overall feeling of urban decay.
As the unofficial capital of the , one wouldn’t expect to see Midi station looking the way it does.
Graffiti isn’t new to the station which was already ‘s most vandalised train station in 2019 with 237 incidents recorded for that year, according to the official figures provided by Federal Mobility Minister François Bellot.
In 2024, the station saw several violent incidents, including a stabbing in April, a deadly shooting in June, and another shooting in August that left one person injured.
Between 2018 and 2022, about 3,500 crimes were reported at Brussels Midi, with theft, extortion, and drug offenses being the most prevalent, according to figures released in 2023.
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The Atomium of Brussels (Image: Getty)
Homelessness has also worsened in recent years, sparking growing concerns in recent months as cold temperatures persist.
The Brussels Times that the most recent figures show 7,134 homeless people on the streets of Brussels, with concerns that the number may have now surpassed 10,000, which marks a significant increase from the 1,724 people reported as homeless in 2008.
In a piece he wrote for , journalist, William Cook said: “Litter and graffiti, beggars and rough sleepers…The de facto capital of the EU could hardly make a worst first impression.”
However, William Cook said that beyond this first impression, he keeps finding himself returning to the city for its fine art, food and above all, its architecture.
Brussels boasts a rich architectural heritage, from Baroque and Gothic-style buildings of the Grand-Place to Art Nouveau buildings like Hôtel Tassel and Maison Autrique.
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The elegant façade of the La Monnaie Opera House and the striking lines of Villa Empain could show that beneath a gritty exterior, the city holds treasures for those willing to look beyond the surface.
Brussels is a haven for art lovers, with world-class museums such as the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the Magritte Museum.
Specialties like carbonnade flamande, moules-frites, and the iconic Belgian waffles at local favorites like Brasserie Ommegang and Au Vieux Saint Martin can perhaps also make you forget the not-so-welcoming entrance to the city.
Whether Brussels is Europe’s depressing capital, covered in graffiti and rubbish, or a hidden gem beneath the rough, is for you to decide.