Vincent Van Gogh Hostel

In the heart of Brussels opposite the top end of the botanical gardens, just off the main road that runs between the Supreme Court buildings and royal chapel, there is a little youth hostel called the Vincent van gough. The locals refer to it as the CHAB, an acronym for the youth hostel organisation that owns this particular establishment.
The accommodation was fairly basic, and you could sleep in either a single room, or rooms for 2, 4, or 6 people. The ones that accommodated more people had bunk beds. The more people you were willing to share with the less you paid per person according to the price sheet in reception. Each room had an electric socket, shaving point, mirror, and washbasin. The room was locked and opened using a swipe card. bed linen was not provided but blankets were.
The genders were separated by onto alternate floors and the swipe card also allowed you entry onto your floor section through a locked door.
Communal areas were across the street from the main accommodation block. These consisted of a kitchen where you could prepare your own meals, a recreation area where there was a pool table, TV and bar, and a dinning room where they served breakfast.
The TV had channels from across Europe, including the UK, so you need not miss your favourite soap. The pool table could be used on payment of a small deposit for the cues and the usual coins in the slot to release the balls. In addition to this there was an Internet connection available on an hourly basis if you were willing to pay.
Breakfast was served from 7:30 am to 9:00 am and consisted of 5 slices of thickly cut bread a bowl of cereal and a cup of orange juice, coffee, or hot chocolate. There was a rotary toasting machine to toast the bread, and on each table there were large bowls of butter, jam and marmalade for the toast/bread, as well as milk and sugar for the cereal.
It was also possible to purchase an evening meal if so required. But the proximity to the Grand Place (less than 10 minutes walk away) meant that you were more likely to eat at the fresh seafood restaurants that line the small alleyways leading off the Grand Place. The original "Muscles from Brussels" were the molluscs, rather than a certain Martial Artist that’s big in Hollywood!
The staff were friendly and more than willing to provide information and directions to tourist locations. In the small street where the hotel is itself I counted no less than 5 bars and a jazz club, which also served alcohol. The buildings in the botanical gardens are always hosting one festival event or another. On the two occasions I was in Brussels in early January it just happened to be the International Gay and Lesbian Festival, but I am assured that they do host other events as well! At the top end of the street is the start of the Turkish quarter, and there are a plethora of Kebab Shops and Turkish Grocery Stores. Go in the other direction and you are immediately in the main commercial centre.
As I already mentioned at the bottom of the street you come to the road that runs from the Courts of Justice to the Royal Chapel. The end we are at is closest to the Royal Chapel. As you come out of the street onto the main road you will see the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the other side of the Botanical Gardens. If you keep to the botanical gardens to the left of you and head down a side street towards the back of the Crowne Plaza you are into the Red Light District. Just as in Amsterdam the "painted ladies" sit in the windows scantily dressed with red neon lights framing them. As you get down behind the Crowne Plaza there is a road that runs Parallel with the railway track, this where you will get the "best view" if you happen to be a single man out for that sort of thing!.
Also along this street opposite the painted ladies you will find the Eurolines Bus Terminal and Brussels East Train Station (where you can catch direct trains to Amsterdam).
Coming back up to the road that runs from the church to the courts, along this road you will find Brussels Cathedral, a Memorial Garden, the Houses of Parliament, Several EU Institutions, The Museum of World Cinema, The Royal Palace where the royal family of Belgium live, and several other weird and wonderful things. Because of the damage done during the war, this part of Brussels has an unusual architectural feel to with a nice mix of new and old buildings. As you walk along the street on the opposite side you will see a large gap between two skyscrapers that are opposite a music store. If you walk between the the two sky scrapers you will find that you are on the most amazing elevated platform with a magnificent view across the city.
As you get to the end of this road you come to the building that houses the highest national court in Belgium, and if you think it’s impressive from outside wait till you go in. When I went it was open access, so I just went in and wondered around the building admiring the architecture and the works of art on display in the corridors. If sculpture and paintings in a grand setting are to your taste you simply must pay this building a visit.
This is the end of the road, but by taking a right turn you end up in one of the most stylish fashion centres in the world, La Place Louise. Armani, Gucci, Hugo Boss all have boutiques here, to name just a few. And in the midst of all these you have the most fashionable Oxfam shop in the world. No your eyes are not deceiving you I said Oxfam. When the rich the famous and the glamorous come to Place Louise to get the latest designer gear the dump last year’s designer frocks and suits in this branch of Oxfam. Well worth a visit. If you get a bit peckish there is a Hagen Daaz Ice cream Parlour on the Place itself. So if you like to shop till you drop this is most definitely the place to be seen.
Of course there is always the Stella Artoir (Interbrew) Brewery just a short bus ride away from Brussels which opens its doors to the public two afternoons a week, (I think it’s by prior appointment) giving you a free tour and a couple of hours to guzzle down as much alcohol as you can free of charge!
So here’s to a happy trip to Brussels.