Lambic is the only beer in the world of spontaneous fermentation. Lambic as such is a bland drink, but it serves as the basis for gueuze, kriek and other popular fruit beers. The Brussels' brewery Belle-Vue (now part of Interbrew) made these brews great, but at the same time changed the original taste. Gueuze is not an easy drink (very sour); Belle-Vue has sweetened it. There are just a few traditional gueuze-breweries that have survived: Cantillon is the last one in Brussels. On Saturdays, there are guided tours in the museum that is next to the brewery and there is a café.
Created by Engineer André Waterkeyn, and architects André and Jean Polak, for the 1958 World Exhibition, the Atomium is a landmark building inspired by the structure of an atom. To be more precise, the design is based upon the cuboid form of a unit cell of iron crystals, amplified 65 billion times to achieve a total height of 102 meters (335 feet). The nine gleaming spheres are held together by tubes, each sphere representative of one of the nine Belgian provinces. The final effect is that of a mammoth, geometric atom composed entirely of metal. The spheres are encased in stainless steel, and harbor exhibition rooms and other public spaces, while the top-most sphere hosts a restaurant with panoramic views of the city. The connecting tubes accommodate escalators, elevators, and stairways that link the individual spheres to one another.
This historic neo-Gothic marvel of architecture speaks of the remarkable European legacy in all its grandeur. Also known as the "Maison du Roi" in French and "Broodhuis" in Dutch, Museum of the City of Brussels is adorned with several exquisite statues which are reminiscent of the centuries gone by. The museum has been resurrected with elements of contemporary architecture which are inspired by the Oudenaard City town hall. This aesthetic piece of modern and traditional art, houses exhibits of some of the finest artifacts, paintings and statues. When in Brussels, a visit to this place is a must.
Boasting of an extensive collection of some rare finds from the Gothic era, M Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Leuven. Established in the year 2009, this art museum also features an array of contemporary and classical art works. Apart from the Gothic sculptures and paintings, it is also renowned for several creations by 19th-century Flemish artists. Some of the artistic jewels of celebrated painters like Jef Lambeaux, Constantin Meunier, Rogier Van der Weyden and Dirk Bouts are on display here. The museum also hosts a number of workshops, theme-based exhibitions, lectures and presentations catering to various age groups. During summers, it also hosts the M-idzomer festival, a cultural extravaganza attracting the best in comedy, dance and music.
Located within the former grand mansion, Brussels' Toy Museum features a fascinating collection of classic and contemporary toys and games. Housing a collection of over 25,000 games and toys, some of which date back as early as 1830, the museum takes you through some of the best selling games through the years. Here kids can not only learn some intriguing facts about their favorite toys, but also play with a vast variety of old-school games and toys at the play center.
Mechelen Toy Museum takes you on fun-filled trip through the evolution of toys. With a collection of toys that spans over four decades, the museum hands you a playful yet informative experience of the history of toys. One can view play and learn about the history, sale and production of a vast variety of classic and contemporary toys ranging from puppets, toy trains, dolls and action figures to Puzzles, board games, educational, creative and optical toys. Apart from the regular exhibits, the museum also organizes a number of interesting workshops, play-days and other activities for kids.