Belgium: Tourism in the Ugliest Place on Earth | European Journal

Artist Nicolas Buissart says Charleroi is the ugliest place on earth. But that doesn't stop him showing tourists round it.Once the industrial heart of Belgium's French-speaking Wallonia region and still home to 200 thousand people, Charleroi is now an industrial wasteland with high unemployment. Buissart organizes tours of Charleroi that offer tourists an insight into his decaying home town.

[@igorstirling]

In Soviet Russia, Charleroi would have been the biggest touristic center.

[@zeno1565]

nah

[@felix1998041]

"What he considers the most depressing street in the world" Have you ever been to eastern europe?

[@Senoncifossimonoi.....]

Pessima

[@TheArtObsessed]

I can think of FAR worse places.

[@scotnick59]

Me as well

[@KittyNeptune]

Any Belgians seeing the comments, please ignore them! Every country has some places that aren't the prettiest, but you can't judge a whole country on just one place shown on the internet. Belgium is a beautiful country, has lots of lovely places to see, and lovely people. Love from the UK

[@Senoncifossimonoi.....]

Vero Il vero Belgio nn abita a Charleroi di sicuro ... Ma nelle Fiandre ❤❤❤

[@osasunaitor]

I'm Spanish, I've been to Charleroi and it's true that it is probably one of the ugliest cities in Europe. But that doesn't apply to the rest of Belgium, an otherwise beautiful and very interesting country. It's worth visiting it, so if you're planning a trip to Belgium, just don't include Charleroi, and it'll be allright!

[@CruxDM]

+osasunaitor I'm from Charleroi and study in Brussels. Believe me, when my studies are over, I'll come back to my "Black Country" because, believe it or not, people there are fantastic, know how to have fun, are not haughty and the whole city itself is interesting from a cultural point of view. Especially for alternative culture, I'd say. A lot of projects are undertaken as well. We will see in the next 5 or 10 years how the city evolves ! So what I mean is : come, visit and then create your own idea of the city

[@osasunaitor]

Anarkhe I'm sure that the situation in Charleroi will improve in the next years, especially thanks to young people like you, who are motivated and eager to change things. However, you must recognise that for the average tourist, this city is not a very attractive place nowadays, especially compared to other Belgian cities which are really beautiful... Anyway, I truly wish you all the best, and I hope that the next time I go to Charleroi, I'll find a much better place than the last time!

[@cSharpIndonesia]

where do you study? ULB?

[@ameliedutiers9157]

I do think Charleroi has to be included in a trip to Belgium. It's true that some places there aren't the most beautiful or attractive of Belgium, but when you go out Brussels' relatively restricted touristic area, you ain't got nothing else that you can find in Charleroi : weird people, even sometimes frightening and ugly but lovely streets. And it's also important to notice that Charleroi is a city that's growing up in terms of art and culture, it's becoming one of the place to be for alternative cultures like it's been the case in Camden, London for example. So, I don't think people should forget Charleroi when visiting Belgium.

[@ADZ01982]

Looks like most ex industrial towns here in UK

[@somersetdc]

Take a trip to Detroit, Michigan -- Buffalo, New York - Scranton, Pennsylvania - Akron, Ohio, - Flint, Michigan, - Wheeling, West Virginia, - Bridgeport, Connecticut, - Baltimore, Maryland, - Newark, New Jersey, - Wilmington, Delaware, - and on - and on - and on. If you want to see depressing, comatose, rust belt cities with abandoned industry, shuttered homes, and people bereft of hope and dreams - Well then, have we got a fabulous trip for you in the USA. - I am being ironic - but sadly honest

[@sakibulislam5060]

wow Europeans call it the ugliest city yet there is no city in India, pak, Bangladesh as clean as this one..

[@dunrob36]

Charleroi is certainly not the nicest city in Belgium; but to to Gent, Antwerp, Brugge, and all the small medieval towns in Flanders and you'll see more beauty than one can imagine exist. BTW I'm not Belgian but lived there for many years.

[@Senoncifossimonoi.....]

Sono milanese e sottoscrivo tutto !!!!!

[@wolverineeagle]

Nicholas obviously has not been to Detroit.

[@inesedo4213]

more than a half detroit citizens came from charleroi

[@thesoundofthesuburbs]

Detroit is actually really pretty in many parts. The city itself is spectacularly well planned. The downtown core is very nicely maintained and nicely located along the river.

[@myhappyending9443]

Charleroi may not be pretty but Belgium has a mot of pretty places you just have to know WHERE to look

[@leto1n0u]

Charleroi is pretty.. that's just depending the definition you give to "Pretty". I like rust, coal and the industrial atmosphere that the city emites so yes.. I personally can say Charleroi is pretty but that's my point of view :)

[@myhappyending9443]

I have never been.I only saw a few pictures. I didn't mean to offend :) but yeah, i like that style too :)

[@Londronable]

I'm pretty sure Charleroi was voted the ugliest city in Belgium.

[@BackSeatHump]

+Londronable More likely, yes. NOT "the world"

[@hawxer585]

charleroi is an exception btw, Belgium is actually a really nice place

[@002lisamarie]

Some of it is nice. Brussels, Liege and most of Ghent is awful.

[@miauw8762]

charleroi isn't an exception, the whole industrial zone of Wallonia is like this

[@Senoncifossimonoi.....]

Verissimo

[@Mortician50]

Looks like Wolverhampton. Don't feel bad though, most of the old steel industry, working class Great Lakes cities of America look like this too and have since the 80s. Not ashamed to say I grew up in places like this. The exception to that pride being Detroit and Flint, Michigan. Which currently looks like the Road Warrior/Mad Max right now.

[@BackSeatHump]

He who says that Belgium is the Ugliest Place on Earth has never been to Antwerp, Bruge, Ghent, Namur, Dinant, Malmedy, Mons, Bastogne, Arlon, Eupen, etc. And for a German to say it .... he's never been to the former Kaliningrad or Tiraspol.

[@NGC1433]

Since when did Kaliningrad became a "Former" ?

[@nobrang5146]

@@NGC1433 idk, but it still sucks ever since the Russians took it

[@Maxime_K-G]

I also wanted to go to Charleroi, it's a very novel experience compared to visiting normal cities. We walked on the abandoned metro line and visited the centre of town. Because of waffle-iron politics, the city has way too much infrastructure for its size, two highway ring roads, a metro system, trams and multiple train stations. All normal visitors only ever see the big train station, the renewed waterfront and the big new shopping centre, with the "wastelands" around it it kinda gives of a post-apocalyptic/sci-fi vibe. The city feels big but also doesn't because of how few people there are on the streets and subway platforms compared to normal cities, another thing that makes it feel a bit off. It's still better than a lot of American downtowns though.

[@NicolasSauveur]

Definitely the wrong end of Belgium. Good initiative though. What Charleroi needs is precisely more guys like this who get creative and make things happen.

[@geeboom]

Belgium is a beautiful country. Especially Flanders. Gent and Brugge are 2 of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Lovely people and culture.

[@Bananaman-hk6qw]

I personally hadn't the best experience in Belgium. lets just say that...

[@jme104]

@@Bananaman-hk6qw Dealing with the flemings can be tough .

[@gevorgvanarmenie9788]

@@jme104 how is that?

[@sveta4ika]

welll i think it,s ok:) u should go better to RUSSIA to see for real ugly places,,,,!!!!

[@Napoleon501ste]

Its for people how cant pay a trip to russia. Its not as good but they come close.

[@jsalazarmaya]

Came to Toluca, Mexico, and see what's the ugliest place on Earth. Beginners...

[@phancq]

Un artiste? Quel artiste? Juste un "petit" monsieur qui a trouvé un moyen de se faire de l'argent sur le dos d'une ville qui véhicule les nombreux clichés. Les chancres industriels et urbains que ce triste sire montre ne représente que 10% de la superficie de Charleroi...Il reste 90% à voir ...et à revoir.

[@psionicevasion]

Looks like a nice area in my borough of queens NYC.

[@scootertravel]

My Grandmother was born here & came to Australia in 1919 aged 18 yrs as a war bride. She returned to visit in 1950. I'm planning to visit later this year. Thanks for the insight

[@jf5418]

I spent a few days here, and agree it is a strong contender as Europe's ugliest city. But, like the guide says, the worst is like a historical industrial site. That is a curiosity. I had friends there also, who made up for the city's grim appearance.

[@phancq]

Ce sois-disant artiste a choisi les endroits les plus laids de Charleroi et de son agglomération mais il se garde bien de montrer la réalité de cette avec ses nombreux zonings tournés vers les hautes technologies, ses centres commerciaux modernes, ses hautes écoles réputées ,ses forêts, ses bois, ses quartiers résidentiels(et il y en a quelques uns croyez-moi) où vivent des gens aisés et même très aisés..(Le milliardaire homme d'affaire Albert frère n'a jamais voulu habiter autre part..).

[@mahirozdemir4626]

Charleroi is admittedly not the most beautiful but Belgium has a lot to offer and there are plenty of great spots in the country. it is childish to claim that it is the ugliest on the planet..

[@nicolaspitot9470]

Charleroi has change SO MUCH since this time! Come again and visit the new city :)

[@SuperUnbenannt]

Franchement, rien n’a changé.

[@nicolaspitot9470]

@@SuperUnbenannt alors je pense pas que tu vas à Charleroi très souvent... Toute la ville basse a été redynamisée et toute la ville haute est en train d'être refaite.. la moitié de ce qu'on voit dans la vidéo n'est plus là aujourd'hui, excepté pour la zone industrielle aux alentours. Littéralement TOUT est en train d'être refait à la ville haute jusqu'en 2026... Il faut laisser le temps au temps aussi..

[@kylebroflovski995]

@@nicolaspitot9470 Arrête un peu appart rive gauche y’a rien, c’est toujours la même, la ville est morte, une fois le soir tu ne peux strictement rien faire, la population y’a que des barakies, c’est une ville a éviter, je sais ce que je dis j’y vis depuis très longtemps, heureusement que la populace a l’alcool et la fumette pour s’évader un peu !

[@ancylostomiasis]

Definitely not the worst on Earth! Europeans have seen nothing.

[@marcoprins4880]

Charleroi: Gets named ugliest place on earth Berlin: Hold my beer..

[@XxXgabbO95XxX]

To say that charleroi is THE UGLIES PLACE ON EARTH sounds plain ridicolous to me. I think this guy is exagerating mabye? Edit: ok i get it saw the whole video

[@hydrocharis1]

It's an exaggeration probably. But we Belgians like to be self-deprecating.

[@Properdrainage]

looks like West 3rd Street and Quigley Avenue lost and lonely cemetery of the railways!

[@jannoottenburghs5121]

I'm sorry but why did you want to visit Chalerloi in the first place?

[@violettabicycletta331]

It is clear from all the comments from viewers that he does not know what he is talking about ... he did not even show the good places in Charleroi. . Funny we have artists in the family and they love the industrial part with the old structures ... they find them an artistic fertile ground for the imagination ... they find it amazing in an artistic way !!!. This man must have lived under a rock !!!

[@kartoffeln4879]

I am from Hamilton, Canada. In Ontario. Very similar! Giving me "home" vibes lol

[@TheLupe2522]

Smart and crafty business man!

[@jenwhite8832]

That “ugliest street in the world” reminds me of Bethlehem Pennsylvania

[@mikesaunders8118]

Parts of north and east London are worse than this.

[@ancylostomiasis]

+Mike Saunders Make it benlieues of Paris.

[@ABB1115RB]

+Mike Saunders OH TRUST ME THERE ARE NOT! SEEN THOSE AND GOD I HAVE ALSO SEEN CHARLEROI MORE THEN I WISH! ;-(

[@ABB1115RB]

+Mike Saunders OH TRUST ME THERE ARE NOT! SEEN THOSE AND GOD I HAVE ALSO SEEN CHARLEROI MORE THEN I WISH! ;-(

[@mr.g812]

Mh, all of Rome looks like this.

[@jdk3935]

Brussels looks wors than this but this is a holl city if you go to rome or paris you got olso rich neighborhoods belgium is just a country that get verry little money the roads are olso verry bad ik belgium and you can’t finde a bulding higher than 150 meters

[@53Betsy]

And to think that my Great Grand Parents immigrated from here!

[@laszlopalkonyay4133]

I personally find it interesting! I would rather comme here than to the Louvre to see the ugliest painting on earth called Mona Lisa….

[@MrHispanicpride]

this is the kind of place i would actually be happy in and raise a family in.

[@neejohnenjegekkiv5370]

MrHispanicpride 25% unemployment tho...

[@julielebrun4415]

I don’t think that it’s still the ugliest city i mean i live there and there have been works and rebuilds

[@Gilinator]

Well go to flanders instead of wallonie... Or go to the ardennes for our beautiful nature.

[@Gilinator]

@Bubble Ium wow I do not remember writing this comment but yes Namur's nice :)

[@stepanovicci]

Its not filthy over there at all, only the city there talking about has lots of unemployement problems, and that brings crime...its impoving nowadays. But the ardennes are very beautiful, there are nice cities in Wallonia. Btw i'm flemish

[@pknewchanges8453]

Walonia and Brussels is not THE same as flanders do not compare it with hole belguim Thats not wright at all

[@Noid111]

I loved Belgium! Visited Ypres, Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, Louvain, Waterloo, Mons. Granted Liege was a khazi but was really impressed with Belgium.

[@mardiffv.8775]

Ypres = Ieper, Bruges = Brugge and Louvain = Leuven. All 3 are Flemish towns, please use the Flemish names. I call the city of Liege.....Liege, because it is French speaking and not Luik, the Flemish name.

[@pawion]

@@mardiffv.8775 Cities can have several names in different languages. I don't see any problem with you calling Liège Luik or Lüttich as long as it's the way people name it in said language. English often uses French names for places and so Ypres and Bruges are more popular than Ieper and Brugge. Louvain is Leuven though.

[@mardiffv.8775]

@@pawion Well then, go to Helsinki on holiday and call it by the Swedish name Helsingfors. You will not make any friend there. Why? Because 99 % over the Helsinki people speak Finnish and Swedish reminds them of colonial past. When Sweden dominated Finland. The same with Belgium, from the beginning of Belgium in 1830, French was the only official language of Belgium. French was spoken by the elite and the government. The economic powerhouse lay in Wallonia, being mining and heavy industry. Were they speak French and only French. So that is why all towns and cities were named in French on official maps and the British just copied that. In world war 1 orders were given only French to Flemish, many Flemish were killed, because simply they could not understand the orders. So the Flemish are resentful towards the Francophones/ Walloons. And it also financially, while Flanders has economicly grown rich, Wallonia has stayed behind. Mines and plants have closed. Wallonia is on life support of Flemish Euros, which runs in the bilions each. I have never seen such an ungrateful people as the Walloons

[@pawion]

@@mardiffv.8775 Fortunately, this comment section isn't in Flanders and we are not talking in Dutch. We can therefore use English names for Flemish cities. Punt uit. There are historical reasons behind all this, of course. Only time will bring changes, but for now, that's the way it is. Really you didn't have to give a history lesson. Ima correct and clarify some points: * Until the First World War, the Walloons did not really speak French, but rather their very own languages (Walloon, Picard, Champenois, Luxembourgish) after which their use was strictly forbidden and punished at school by official orders. Hence a brutal reversal of the situation with the cessation of intergenerational transmission and the death of the language. Though, at that time it was considered a lesser peasant french dialect, but still French. See the Wikipedia page. (For example, in Walloon, Liège is Lîdje, Namur is Nameur and Charleroi is Tchålerwè) * Orders were mainly given in French while Flemings, who then made up 60% of the population and therefore 60% of the army forces, did not understand this language, that's true. But they didn't die because of that; the soldiers were trained in French and understood the orders no matter what language they spoke. This myth has been debunked many times, and even by Bruno De Wever, Bart De Wever's brother. * Although the Belgian elite was French-speaking, it was still mainly Flemish. For example, pre-war Belgian governments were for a long time predominantly Flemish. The Flemish historian Maarten van Ginderachter wrote: "The Walloons were practically excluded from central power since, between 1884 and 1902, only one of their representatives took part in the government". * Although Wallonia's "sillon industriell" was the country's main economic engine, they received very little investment from Belgium in future-oriented technologies since the favoured region has always been Brabant. This, combined with the destruction of the wars, led to a very bad economic situation after the war. This is why the Walloon leaders were in favour of regionalization, in order to regain some control over economic development. In fact, I don't think the Flemish should have any resentment towards the Walloons because historically they were not French-speaking and they were not politically dominant. The French-speaking elite =!= the actual French-speaking Walloons. However, the North-South money flow (more like Brabants and Antwerp to the rest of Belgium) does exist but, imo, it is due to Belgian choices in key investments of the last century, and the strong centralization around Brussels.

[@mardiffv.8775]

@Ceroee no, Romain is using the wrong names, period. And any lanuage can used on the internet, not just English.

[@gatotrofh25]

Belgium and tourism are two unrelated concepts... The whole mentality is wrong I am afraid...

[@gutsfinky]

This looks awesome. I grew up in the northern USA so I'm pretty familiar with industrial rot. But these cities still have history abs culture and are full of good people. I expect Charleroi is pretty similar.

[@manatee2500]

Rotterdam should at least win honorable mention. On second thought, perhaps that's a little delicate for DW.

[@ricardo_boutique]

Rotterdam looks pretty nice

[@neejohnenjegekkiv5370]

manatee2500 Whats wrong with Rotterdam though? Except if you like Amsterdam a lot...

[@edwardrclrcl4487]

Holland is the BEST

[@belgben2801]

I dnt think is ugliest place

[@Heya540]

Belgium its a beautiful country but thats sure Charleroi is horrible, never go there if you feel down lol

[@jadrianfj]

You should go to Bruges, you'll regret making the title.

[@jdk3935]

Ghent is more beautiful but less tourism

[@user-xg7dp1hf3n]

@@jdk3935, I've been to Ghent and we stayed for a while. For me it's kinda crowded, and I like Bruges more because of its atmosphere.

[@jdk3935]

RFSweekly thats treu because ghent is 2x bigger then bruges but still less tourism

[@robsteries]

Nicolas Buissart, the world is becoming smaller and smaller, you have to go places

[@scorpioninpink]

They can revitalize it, there is just no political will. Also, Germany has the nerve to do this when Duisburg exist in your country.

[@Neoxiik]

Not all the south, Namur ,for example ,is a cool city.

[@crammy7]

Belgium is much more beautiful: showing the ugliest town is not a publicity but gives an idea of industry that disappeared....

[@antoine.s27]

Maybe it's not beautiful but if you go to their football matches, it's different

[@adamhovey407]

I'm not trying to be mean, but northern New Jersey is uglier. My sister used to live in Hudson County.

[@jamesvaughan8355]

Are we talking about Belgium or the cities of the American Rust Belt?

[@quirijnv6793]

Well Belgium has its own kind of miniature rust belt, with Charleroi at the center.

[@gabrielcaramet3238]

Hahaha I can think of alot worst

[@BisdakTravelSports]

Been to Belgium but never imagined about this. 😮

[@NonDramaZone]

Looks like Cleveland.

[@raymondgood2359]

ever been to detroit!

[@jordyvandenbempt2409]

But that's only wallony :)

[@jordyvandenbempt2409]

@Bubble Ium sorry bro I didn't even know I typed that comment. Hope all is well there!

[@hannofranz7973]

Ugliest place in Belgium is also a good way of promoting the place.

[@alexket9994]

That's what we use to call "an industrial city" as you can find it anywhere in the world. That just hurt the "bourgeoisie" that has never left their cities... Bourgeoisie that made all its money by exploiting the people... of industrial cities. And now, some of them dare to come in this cities to say "shit what an ugly place?". What do you thing guys? That steel grow on trees? What a shame...

[@thesoundofthesuburbs]

Looks a lot better than a lot of places in Canada!

[@ad6417]

You would love Lebanon Junction, Kentucky

[@CallOfDutySniperzzz]

Looks like eastern Europe

[@enthusiastisch1922]

That's why I think it's nice in some areas.

[@Heya540]

im from belgium and i can tell you thats a JOKE, its fake , just watch other videos , Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels are very beautiful and great places to visit or to stay

[@witsze3]

when you go to belgium, go to flanders

[@brigadier_shiv]

Reminds me of my hometown Newcastle upon Tyne

[@JULIO71360]

Far away for depressing Belgium people and country

[@MichalKos9]

GHOST TOWN

[@woutvanthielen5260]

You guys only show the ugly places, Charleroi is known for Belgians as the ugliest place, but there are enough beautifull landscapes an towns in Belgium, this makes me kinda mad!

[@dwnews]

Wout Van Thielen, you're absolutely right: there is indeed plenty of beauty to discover in Belgium - and DW has repeatedly introduced such places to a global audience. For instance please check out our city portaits of Antwerp and Bruges: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHSXqZ6irqxspa8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmixlqF6h52MfZo Or have a look at this whole series of reports from Brussels: kzbin.info_videos?o=U&sq=brussels+euromaxx /pj

[@beeldbuisbengel1]

try ST.DIE what a messed up place is that!

[@istoppedcaring6209]

not surprising that "city hall" is not to happy about it, and all the Belgians should ask themselves this question, where are the aproximately 12 000 000 000 that are sent from flanders to wallonia anually going, nothing really changes, who is running away with it, they may not have the coast but they do have cannals and are still really close to the coast with free access to it, so how is it that wallonia only seems to produce guns these days I wil add though that Liege is a city where I have noticed the people hating the current situation, one man in an interview noting that he "isn't waloon by choice", not because he hates his city or heritage, but because he hates the politics and mentallity that has grown over the years, I met lots of great walloon people, and we shouldn't forget that the people there are not bad people, but in cities such as charleroi you wil find that hope is hard to find, demoralised people settle into that state, most of all because the socialist government makes it a valid option, unemployment is not a problem, some people make nearly as much from unemployment benefits as they would working a job, so why spend 8 hours a day 5 days a week working hard if you could show up for a few mandatory meetings and faux interviews with employers to show that you are trying, and get nearly as much money as the average working person, especially if the better jobs are just not there it is sad really

[@cdemr]

Idk about Liège and Charleroi but Namur and the walloon brabant are doing fine, lots of buildings full of banks, ensurances and enterprises growing.

[@cookie856]

@@cdemr Liège is actually doing fine too, actually

[@p.e.gottrocks4528]

Get your act together, Charleroi.

[@spaceinvador11]

The whole region of Wallonia actually, they only survive on transfers of Flanders

[@johnny4498]

Airport ist cheap there love it. Ryaianir the best

[@pknewchanges8453]

Gent capital of east-flanders like states

[@dutchvoyager]

Visit Dinant, Namur, Arlon in the Wallonia region. Beautiful places.

[@enthusiastisch1922]

Mons too, plus it's only 8 euros with TEC day ticket. I am going to Florennes to visit the aircraft museum.

[@ZARALILI88]

quelle laide ville!!!!

[@joris7000]

I was on vacation in the Flemish part and it looked all right. Maybe its just in the south where its flithy

[@Tibor458]

Its just this city, area's like the Ardennes, the Kempen,... are really beautiful

[@dreamsteam8272]

the Ugliest Place? Come to Berlin!

[@pknewchanges8453]

Haha long live Wallonia if you think About it you know what THE francophones (french speaking belgians) good for look history

[@Ju-bj3ko]

Your English is horrible but I'd like to to understand what you mean.

[@bibeksharma1753]

Combining with Usa also Belgium is good

[@neejohnenjegekkiv5370]

I find it funny how the gemeente in charleroi doesn't have a sense of humor about it at all. Reacting more like without him the reputation of the town would be just fine. That's so Waloon-like.

[@situationsixtynine8743]

It's horrible by western European standards 😅

[@jonasbrans2279]

Urbex heaven

[@ghgjkklf9340]

I have seen much worse

[@denisesimpson591]

as bad or worse than Detroit

[@Maxime_K-G]

Way better than Detroit or Camden. Comparable to Cincinnati or Baltimore probably.

[@jahova77]

Wicked people

[@hasashi38]

Belgium is the most boring country I have visited.

[@vilaniisep2213]

Went to belgium 3 days ago . One of the bad french speaking country i ever been. It used to be really good.

[@julielebrun4415]

Vilanii Sep yeah there’s some weard guys but i don’t think i am one of them

[@Valandix]

You mean Wallonia or/and Brussels?Because well you will not find that many french-speakers in Flanders. Anyway Charleroi is well different now (At least in comparison of this video), anyway

[@milanpeeters5585]

Let’s say Charleroi is Belgium’s Cleveland

[@stepanovicci]

I think, probably these guys never traveled much in there life..

[@flippingdomain]

snore.

[@thelyingfacts4880]

You can tell that they have benefited from having the EU headquarters in their country lol!

[@TheEloquentImage]

You are honouring your name! Strasbourg has a EU parliament as well. We, as Belgians, arn't really benifiting from the fact that we are the centre of western Europe. It brings much more trouble, as well as more taxes than any other EU-country.

[@omzldn6472]

The french sounding cities in belgium are generally uglier than dutch sounding cities 🤣 Have u seen liege

[@Synthiotics]

immigrantS

[@fablb9006]

It looks like english cities

[@tamaracarter1836]

No! Many forms of “historic” Belgian and English architecture share similarities, but NOT the deprivation of this city.

[@fablb9006]

Tamara Carter I agree, sure there is no cities as beautiful as Bruges or Gent in England

[@tamaracarter1836]

@@fablb9006 I completely disagree. Bruges and Ghent are beautiful, of course, but so are many of the smaller-scale historic cities in England. For example: Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, York, Canterbury, Chester, Norwich, Wells, Winchester, Durham, Ely, Lincoln, Salisbury, Chichester, Lichfield, Rochester etc etc etc, along with the historic districts of larger cities such as Bristol or Brighton. Plus of course, the hundreds upon hundreds of gorgeous, and well preserved, old English villages and small market towns throughout the English countryside. European cities (that have preserved their historic architecture), are all beautiful in their own ways and cannot really be compared to one another. The ones that are not so beautiful are generally the larger variety; that suffered badly during WW2/ post war modernisation. But the Belgium city shown in the video is very rare for England/ any other Western European nation, for its combination of poverty, dirt, vandalism, ugliness and dilapidation - that is not a normal site anywhere in this part of the world (hence why I opposed what you were saying in your initial statement).

[@fablb9006]

Tamara Carter there are many beautiful towns in England (even if less beautiful than Bruges in my opinion), but usually the big cities are not (except London).

[@tamaracarter1836]

@@fablb9006 Yes I agree, the big cities are generally not very attractive due to the damage inflicted from the war (and then the post war re-build). Many of the smaller cities, along with the historic market towns and villages of the countryside, survived the majority of this damage, and are therefore much better preserved and beautiful.