Politics.be - Expats over belgische steden...

Of zo hoor je het nog eens van iemand anders (vooroordelen en hoe ze ontstaan ?)

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I have lived in Brussels for over 5 years and I agree with most people here: it is a boring, dull city with a total lack of color. This city has no ambition, no 'city project', no image. The trainstations must be the most filthy in the world, run down areas right in the city center, etc...

I don't think Brussels is good publicity for Belgium. Certainly because the cities in Flanders are... the total opposite of Brussels!

I remember the first time I visited Antwerp, the biggest Flemish city. It blew me away. I arrived in the most beautiful trainstation in the world (without a doubt) and the moment I got out of the station I saw a lively and colorful city. Beautiful and well maintained buildings, happy people in the streets, fashionable shops & people, trendy bars and clubs, docklands being transformed in trendy areas with loft appartments, great city marketing: the city logo 'A' is everywhere, etc etc... It is obvious that Antwerp is much 'richer' than Brussels.

So about 6 months ago I decided to move from Brussels to Antwerp (still work in Brussels though...). I must say it was the right decision. Antwerp is rapidly becoming one of the most 'hip' cities in Europe. This year "Lonely Planet" put Antwerp in the list of 10 world cities you have to visit in 2009! I don't see this happening for Brussels any time soon...

I've taken many of my 'Brussels friends' to Antwerp and they all agree with me. How is this possible in such a small country? 2 cities so close together and such a different 'vibe'...

Maybe it's a cultural thing. Brussels is a city of 'French culture' while Antwerp is more 'northern European', more focused on the English-speaking world.

If you want to know what I'm talking about, just visit the city or have a look at these pictures: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=728716 (scroll down!).

Dit was een eerste bericht op een langere draad op dit forum, waarbij er forummers naarstig ook de verdediging van "Brussels" op zich namen. Op het eerste zicht denk ik wel dat de weigering destijds om de fusies van gemeenten ook op Brussel toe te passen hier veel kwaad gedaan heeft en de afzonderlijke gemeenten dikwijls hun paraplu boven halen om de verantwoordelijkheid voor misstanden af te schuiven op de vele andere autoriteiten..

Om alle twijfel weg te halen : ik ben wel een sinjoor maar ik hou van Brussel
onze enige "echte wereldmetropool"...