Subtle And Soulful

BRUSSELS REVEALS ITS LAIDBACK CHARM THROUGH CONVERSATIONS, CAMARADERIE AND A HINT OF CHOCOLATE

-  ALEEMUDDIN SIDDIQUI

IT WASN'T LOVE AT FIRST PLAN, BECAUSE there was never a plan.

Brussels happened to me the way accidental joys do: unannounced, unintentional, and unforgettable. I had landed from Milan, expecting a convenient layover, only to discover a place that felt like the quiet hum between conversations. Subtle and surprisingly soulful.

The moment I stepped out of the airport, the crisp August air carried the smell of roasted chestnuts from a roadside stall. The soundscape was a medley of languages—French, Dutch, Arabic, and English—blending into something uniquely Brussels. My Uber driver, Karim, from Morocco, spoke of the city like one speaks of a friend: with warmth, pride, and a touch of awe. "It's small, but it's everyone's," he said. I understood what he meant only days later.

THE RHYTHM OF THE CITY

Brussels doesn’t announce itself with the grandeur of Paris or the charm that instantly draws you to Amsterdam. Instead, it seeps into you gradually through its cobbled streets, laughter outside cafés, and the constant scent of chocolate that sweetens the air near every square. On my first evening, I wandered to the Grand Place, its golden facades gleaming under the amber lights. Tourists stood in silent admiration, and a busker’s violin filled the square with a haunting tune that made the moment feel suspended in time.