The Dansaert area, also known as the new Brussels, is a hip melting pot of locals, tourists, business
travellers and students. They all come here to shop, drink a glass of wine (or two), have a quick
lunch, a nice dinner, or just to explore the small streets and the green squares. Every time I visit
this area, I discover some new trendy shops or brasserie.
The part of Brussels named “Benedenstad” is divided in two parts by the heavily trafficked avenue
Anspachlaan. Most visitors stay in the area where the “Grote Markt” and the “Beurs” are located and
don not venture out, which is a real shame because the Dansaert area, on the other side of the big
avenue, has a lot to offer. If you visit this neighbourhood, you will discover the variety of Brussels
precincts. The area is within walking distance from the centrally located Anspachlaan and the
Brouckèreplein.
A New Life for the Dansaert area
For decades, this part of Brussels suffered from neglect and urban exodus. In the Nineteen Nineties
things changed for the better. The neighbourhood suddenly became attractive to a young and affluent
middle class that was not attracted to the classical neighbourhoods; they had a different lifestyle.
This change marked the beginning of an unstoppable gentrification process. Social housing apartments
can be found next to trendy lofts, cheap phone shops next to designers stores, homeless people next to
fashionable CEO’s. The area has its own character and has now become the place-to-be for fashion-,
design- and culture lovers as well as for foodies.
You do not even have to read the street names to realize you are in the neighbourhood. The bubbly and
lively atmosphere, in summer as well as in winter, makes you forget that you are in Brussels. You are
in the ‘Quartier Dansaert’. Dutch is spoken here noticeably more often than anywhere else in Brussels
as well as English, German, Spanish, Italian en Scandinavian languages. It is a mixture of different
nationalities all looking for the cool and hip atmosphere.
FC’s in the Dansaert area
Take a leisurely stroll to the Oude Graanmarkt, a square full with big plane trees; you would think
you were in the French Provence. When the weather is fine, the patios are luring with their colourful
striped beach chairs for a first glass of Pilsner or French wine. You may even want to try a strong
Belgian abbey beer accompanied with some tapas! If you are lucky, you will find yourself next to a
real FC (Flemish Celebrity) or a top model. It is true: everyone from the media-, fashion- and design
world wants to get noticed here.
Crèmerie de Linkebeek
Oude Graanmarkt 4 Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
In between the brasseries on the square, there is also a very special
cheese shop. The “Crèmerie de Linkebeek” has been here since 1903 and the current owner acquired
his cheese making skills in France, where he drove from farm to farm in his “little goat” (an old
Citroën 2CV) to learn the profession. Therefore, it is no coincidence that his goat cheeses are
excellent. The shop also has delicious breads and wines on offer. And, how about taking home some
good cheeses as a souvenir?
La Mer du Nord / De Noordzee
Sint-Katelijnestraat 45 Rue Sainte-Catherine, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
At the corner of the Oude Graanmarkt and Sint Katelijnestraat you’ll find
an unusual fishmonger. The “Noordzee – Mer de Nord” is a must for lovers of fish and seafood with
a glass of wine or cava. On a sunny day hundreds of people are standing outside at the cocktail
tables, holding a glass of wine in their hands while nibbling on fresh fish tapas. Sometimes it
looks like an ‘al fresco’ reception. Orders are placed at the “comptoir” (counter) on the street.
When your order is ready, your name is called out and you can go to the counter to pick it up. It
is not seldom that different “Simone’s” or “John’s” rush to the counter all together to collect
their orders, a fun ambience guaranteed. In winter, the fish soup is highly recommended. I have
never encountered such a friendly and outgoing waiting staff. They constantly switch from French
to English and then to Dutch —just the way it should be in Brussels. Please note: the shop is
closed on Mondays and on Sundays; you can enjoy your first drink from 11 am.
Le Pain Quotidien
Rue Antoine Dansaertstraat 16a , 1000 Brussels, Belgium
If you have a morning appointment or meeting at one of the companies in
this neighbourhood, you could leave a bit earlier and have breakfast at “Le pain quotidian” in the
Dansaertstraat 16, pronounced roughly as “luh-pan-koh-ti-dyan”. A trendy bakery where you can
enjoy your bread, coffee and other organic products with friends, colleagues or even total
strangers around a big table made of recycled wood. There is no better way to start your
day.
The square is an ideal departure point for further explorations of the area. The Dansaert area is
not just a hotspot for patios, cheese and fish; there is much more. Fashionistas, design- and
culture addicts as well as foodies will spend quite some time exploring this fascinating area. You
can read more in another article.
How to get to this part of the Dansaertwijk:
Public Transport Pre-metrolines 3 and 4 will take you to station ‘Beurs/Bourse’.
Walk from ‘Beurs/Bourse’ : Walk into the street across the station. You will pass the Marriot
hotel and the Beursschouwburg (an inspiring platform for “the arts in-between”) and from there walk
straight into the Dansaertstraat.
By bike: in Brussels it’s not expensive to rent a bike with Villo!.
Hop-on Hop-off Bus: take the blue line– stop ‘Beurs/Bourse’
Header image: Shutterstock, Zoltan Katona
La Mer du Nord / De Noordzee: Andrew3000, CC BY-NC 2.0
