Brussels is a city of layers, where medieval walls meet the heart of Europe.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The City of Brussels is more than Belgium's capital; it is a complex administrative hub that serves as the seat of the European Union. Defined by its unique, irregular borders and a history of annexations, this multicultural metropolis balances its historic pentagonal core with a rapidly evolving, modern urban identity.

The City of Brussels is the largest municipality within the Brussels-Capital Region, functioning as the capital of Belgium, the Flemish Region, and both the French and Flemish communities. Its geography is a product of historical expansion; while the original city was confined within the 14th-century pentagonal walls, it grew by absorbing surrounding areas. In 1921, the municipality annexed Haren, Laeken, and Neder-Over-Heembeek, creating a distinct northern bulge. Further south-east, the city’s unusual shape was finalized in 1864 when it annexed a narrow strip of land to secure the Avenue Louise and the Bois de la Cambre, effectively splitting the municipality of Ixelles in two.

Demographically, the city is a global crossroads. As of 2023, only 16.94% of the population is of native Belgian ancestry. The majority, 55.84%, are of non-European origin—predominantly Moroccan, Indian, and Congolese—while 27.21% are of European origin other than Belgian. This diversity is reflected in the city's official bilingual status, where French and Dutch are used side by side in public life, despite the city being geographically surrounded by the Flemish-speaking region of Flanders.

Today, the city is undergoing a transformation. Once criticized as a concrete-heavy, traffic-choked environment, it was ranked sixth in 2022 among cities becoming greener at the fastest rate. Current authorities are pursuing a '10-minute city' model, aiming to make essential facilities accessible to every resident within a short walk. This effort sits alongside the city's role as an international governance nexus, hosting major EU institutions in the European Quarter—a stark, glass-and-steel contrast to the historic townhouses and parks that define the older, eastern parts of the municipality.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• A marsh settlement became Europe’s political village
• How a Brussels municipality became a vibrant crossroads of African culture and history
• The accidental capital: how Brussels won the EU's seat by default
• A Low Country that industrialised Europe’s mainland first
• Flemish Brabant: The Belgian province that wraps around a capital city
• Deep in the rainforest, Equatorial Guinea is building a new capital from scratch.
• Chișinău: The resilient capital city built on a spring and shaped by empires
• Dili is both a resilient capital city and a serious medical diagnosis to avoid.
• From U-boat defense to a $150 million modern gateway
• Djibouti City: The Strategic Peninsula That Became a Modern Red Sea Crossroads
• How a Depression-era project evolved into a global aviation fortress for American Airlines
• Tanzania's capital Dodoma was designed to be a village in a nation of villages.

More in Capital cities · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics