Rue de Flandre in Brussels the 11th coolest street in the world

First of all, some interesting facts. Connecting Place Sainte-Catherine in the city centre with the Port de Flandre on the western inner ring road, the Rue de Flandre is just about the longest street in the Brussels pentagon. And quite a fun one too: its name in Dutch means ’causeway’, even though you can easily jump from one pavement to the other in one hefty bound.

What makes this city street so attractive, according to the experts and local editors of TimeOut? Its authentic vibe and charm thanks to its cobblestones, centuries-old Flemish-style houses, some of which feature crooked facades and splashes of street art. Dotted along the street, creative Brussels residents run various kinds of indie boutiques, crafts and art ventures. Eclectic, creative, joyful, and a little rough around the edges.

Addresses you simply have to visit. After that, why not sample one of the two remaining truly Belgian authentic pubs, with their intact and unique interiors, namely Au Daringman, aka ‘Bij Martine’ or ‘Le Café Rouge’ or Au Derby, as it is now called (No. 37) and Au Laboureur (No. 108). The traditional tiled floors, with bar, racks of glasses, wood panelling and the traditional Flemish dice game ‘pitjesbak’ in these nearly 100-year-old taverns are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.