Brussels Maps

Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel), officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is one of the three regions of Belgium and the country's capital. The region consists of 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels. It covers about 162 km² and has a population of more than 1.2 million. Brussels is officially bilingual in French and Dutch. Most of its residents speak French.

The name is generally thought to come from the Old Dutch Bruocsella, meaning "home in the marsh." By tradition, the city was founded in 979, when Charles, Duke of Lower Lotharingia, built a fortification on Saint-Géry Island in the river Senne. Brussels later became an important trading town and served as a seat of the Dukes of Brabant and the Dukes of Burgundy. In 1830, the Belgian Revolution started in the city, and Belgium became independent from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Brussels became the capital of the new kingdom. The Senne was covered over in the second half of the 19th century. The Brussels-Capital Region was created in 1989.

Brussels is often called the de facto capital of the European Union. The European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Council are based there. The European Parliament also holds committee meetings and some plenary sessions in the city. The headquarters of NATO is also in Brussels.

Well-known landmarks include the Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, the Manneken Pis statue, the Royal Palace and the Atomium, which was built for the 1958 World's Fair (Expo 58). Several Art Nouveau town houses designed by Victor Horta are also listed by UNESCO.

The main international airport is Brussels Airport, located in Zaventem in the Flemish Region.