The Best Things To See Do In Koekelberg Brussels

At the East side of Brussels, only 30 minutes from the touristic center, is a small and largely unexplored neighborhood. Easily accessible by public transport and home to various interesting sights, there’s no reason to ignore this municipality on your to-do list.

Basilica of The Sacred Heart

This impressive church on Koekelberg hill was built fairly recently, in the 20th century. Architect Pierre Langerock wanted it to be a neo-Gothic church, but due to lack of finances another architect, Albert Van Huffel, changed the plans, turning it into an Art-Deco building. The tower stands about 89 meters (292 ft) high and can easily be spotted on the Brussels skyline. If you’re not afraid of heights, taking the stairs to the top of the tower is a great experience, since the view on Brussels is breath-taking. Besides being a church, the Basilica also hosts various exhibitions and conferences, and has its own restaurant, theater and holds two museums inside the building.
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 9am-5pm
Basilica of The Sacred Heart, Koekelberg, Brussels, Belgium, +32 242 116 67

Museum of Modern Religious Art

This is one of the two museums within the Basilica (the other one being The Black Sisters Museum). The works exhibited in this museum offer a very different view on religion, and Christianity.
Opening hours: Thursday-Sunday 2pm-4pm
Museum of Modern Religious Art, Koekelberg, Brussels, Belgium, +32 242 116 67

Belgian Chocolate Village

n assortment of Belgian chocolates|© Jerick Parrone/Flickr

Ever wanted to try a chocolate workshop, or just learn more about the magic of chocolate in general? Then the Belgian Chocolate Village is the place for you. The museum will not only inform you on how chocolate is made, but it will also guide you through a history of Belgian chocolates and the importance of the sweets in Belgian heritage.

Parc Elisabeth

Park

Located right in front of the Basilica, this park is not hard to miss. It’s a very long walkway that spreads out in front of the Basilica like a red carpet. You can enjoy it while walking to the Basilica, or you can take your time to take in the sights. It was designed during the reign of King Leopold II. With a bit of imagination, you can see the king’s monogram in the design.

Aquarium de Bruxelles

Aquarium, Museum

This little museum is very fishy, in the best possible way. With about 48 aquariums filled with small fish, amphibians and other sea creatures, it’s like visiting a cozy little part of the sea. Aquarium de Bruxelles also owns various fish that are threatened with extinction, or worse, which are already extinct in their natural habitat. The goal of this museum is to show its visitors the importance of respecting the environment, the sea, and even the tiniest of its inhabitants.

Vintage Brussels

Bar

Whether this piano bar is actually vintage is debatable, but the delicious food and friendly service are a sure thing. It’s a great place to have lunch or to enjoy an evening drink. The live music concerts just add to the fun, relaxed atmosphere of Vintage Brussels.

Ristorante San Daniele

Restaurant

This Italian restaurant isn’t actually in Koekelberg, but it’s situated so close to the Basilica, it might as well be counted amongst the Koekelberg restaurants. Named after a ham from Northeast Italy, this ristorante lives up to the great expectations of Italian cuisine.

About the author

Ayla Sileghem

Ayla is a 20-something Belgian with roots in other places. She teaches Japanese, writes pieces in English and is always open for a change. Raised in Kenya, she picked up English at a young age and still prefers writing in English instead of Dutch. She studied Japanese at the Catholic University of Leuven and did a Master’s degree in Journalism at the Catholic University of Brussels. Ayla also spent some time in Japan, at Fukuoka Women’s University. She loves reading about history, and only remembers the funny facts. Her family includes a boyfriend who does the cooking and a rabbit that loves watching the Wizard of Oz.