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Brussels

Capital of BelgiumBrussels lies in the north-central part of Belgium. It forms its own region, an enclave surrounded by Flanders, and the river Senne that once ran through the centre was covered over between 1867 and 1871.

Why it's the capital

The Belgian Revolution began in Brussels in 1830, and the city became the capital and seat of government of the new country. It is also called the de facto capital of the European Union, and NATO has its headquarters there.

Fun facts

  1. The name comes from Old Dutch words meaning 'settlement in the marsh'.
  2. The city's story is traced back to a chapel built on an island in the river Senne around the year 580.
  3. The Atomium, a 102 m model of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, was built as the centrepiece of the 1958 World's Fair, Expo 58.

Finding it on the globe

Belgium lies between the Netherlands to the north and France to the south. Aim a little north of its middle, inland from the North Sea coast.

Sources: Wikipedia: Brussels, Wikipedia: Atomium, Wikipedia: Belgium