Brussels (French Bruxelles), city in central Belgium, capital and largest city of the country. Bilingual Brussels became one of Belgium's three federal regions in 1993, along with Dutch-speaking Flanders (Flemish Region) and French-speaking Wallonia. The city is located on the Senne River, and boasts tree-shaded boulevards, splendid parks, imposing monuments, and beautiful buildings. Centrally situated in northern Europe, Brussels is internationally important as the headquarters of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Church of Saints Michael and Gudule, a 13th-century Gothic edifice, is famous for its stained-glass windows. Other important ecclesiastical buildings are Nôtre Dame de Finistère and Saint Jacques sur Coudenberg. Among the notable secular buildings are the Hôtel de Ville, in the Gothic style, dating from the 15th century; the royal palace; the 18th-century Palais de la Nation; the 19th-century Palais de Justice; and the Bourse. The cultural institutions include the Free University of Brussels (1834; since 1970 two universities, one Dutch-speaking and one French-speaking); the École Royale Militaire (1834); academies of letters, fine arts, and medicine; the Royal Library; and the Royal Museum of Fine Arts.
Brussels is the hub of the Belgian railway system and is linked by canal to the national network of inland waterways and to the sea. The city's port area is situated in the north near Vilvoorde. Among the chief exports are nails, iron, marble, coal, candles, glass, and sugar. Imports include minerals, palm oil, and coffee. The city has long been known for the production of fine lace, called Brussels lace, and for tapestry weaving. Other industries include printing, brewing, distilling, sugar refining, iron and brass casting, and the manufacture of textiles, electronic equipment, and furniture.
