For all the efforts of the Brussels tourism board to coax visitors to the capital during summer there's no disguising the outflow of residents that empties the city.
Whilst downtown is kept alive with activities to stir up the summer spirit (though often scuppered by downpours), a trip to the peripheral municipalities confirms that les Grandes Vacances are underway. Bars and cafés are closed and it all seems a bit dead – some even recall the Covid days as more vibrant.
The impact on local businesses is considerable; some struggle through these lethargic weeks with just a smattering of customers whilst others shut up shop and leave town themselves. Those of us still around are left longing for our favourite bakery or the post-work buzz at the bar du coin.
Having spent years in London before Brussels, this is when I most miss the activity of a big city. Sure, Brussels has the edge when it comes to year-round "livability" but the summer stillness is hard to get used to. Staying in the Belgian capital now feels a bit like being kept back in school when your mates are all out having a good time.
To gauge the difference on street level, Brussels Mobility calculates that around a quarter of cars have "disappeared", cutting traffic and reducing noise pollution. It makes cycling far more pleasant and contributes to a general tranquillity that one could gladly get used to, if it weren't quite so lifeless.
When is the Brussels summer sweet spot? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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