Cities are by nature transient environments, a conglomeration of communities interspersed with commercial districts, public administration, and infrastructure wending its way between neighbourhoods. For all the efforts of urban planners to impose order, the diversity of human activity packed into a small space often escapes reason or regulation.
With our surroundings in a perpetual state of flux, it will come as no surprise that the perspectives of the city are anything but consistent. A study into how Brussels is perceived as a place to live highlights the strength of opinion. Speaking to residents and those who have moved away from Belgium's capital, researchers found that the city both inspires and irritates, depending on who you ask.
In itself, this finding is not astounding. Like anywhere, you have folks who can't stand city life and others that feel energised by the buzz. Ask me and I would give varying answers depending on the weather and time of day. More insightful was the apparent ease with which residents tired of Brussels leave the city.
Coming from London, it can take a herculean effort to pull yourself away from the capital. A large chunk of residents simply accept the city's shortcomings and unwillingly stay. Brussels is different. It may not have showstopping landscapes on its doorstep but the surrounding provinces are generally pleasant in a pastoral sense.
This surely adds to the appeal of leaving the city. And getting back to the heart of the action is relatively uncomplicated. London on the other hand dwarfs the Belgian capital and is orbited by objectively disagreeable periphery towns, no doubt once pretty but now serving largely as uninviting residential outposts.
Also notable were the media portrayals of the city: rarely is Brussels presented as a congenial place to live with attention more commonly being paid to its economic and multicultural characteristics, and sometimes highlighting crime. These representations are often lacking in contextual nuance and create a skewed impression of what living in the city is like now and how that could evolve, hopefully for the better.
Does living in Brussels appeal to you? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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1. Three in four trains cancelled: All you need to know about today's rail strike
Today, three-quarters of the trains in Belgium will not run due to a 24-hour strike announced by the joint rail union front, which will severely disrupt train traffic across the country. Read more.
2. Delight or disaster? Opinions about Brussels as a place to live extremely polarised
Whether a cultural crossroads bursting with life or dirty, unsafe and chaotic, Brussels divides opinion with the perception of the city varying widely depending on who you ask. A recent study highlights the extremity of views about Belgium's capital among those who live here. Read more.
3. European Commission opens door to temporary EU gas price cap
The topic has been hotly debated for weeks with 15 EU countries (including Belgium) calling for a general price cap. After dithering on the policy, the European Commission seems to now be willing to introduce a cap, but as a temporary measure. Read more.
4. Police to run 'speed camera marathon' crackdown across Belgium on Wednesday
For the second time this year, the Federal Road Police and the Local Police will join forces as part of a so-called "speed camera marathon" on Wednesday, when it will check the speed of drivers across the country. Read more.
5. Iconic Paris Metro paper tickets to be phased out
The small rectangular metro tickets in Paris are coming to their terminus after 120 years of use, ending an era for those who saw Paris through them. Read more.
6. Infrabel prepared to close 20% of train lines
Infrabel, Belgium's rail network operator, has stated that it might have to close 700 km of train lines if the Federal Government's upcoming budgets do not meet their demands. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: Crossbow Guild Museum
Not many people know about the Crossbow Guild Museum. It is hidden behind a gate on Place Royale that is normally locked. Inside this strange museum are relics of an old Brussels corporation that dates back more than 600 years. Read more.
