Western Brussels

The West contains the extensive western suburbs of Brussels. Except for the Sacred Heart basilica, tourists usually do not visit this part of the city.

See

Restored Luizen windmill, on the border of Brussels and Flanders

• 1 Luizen Windmill (Luizenmolen), Vlinderstraat 192 (Appelboom  46  75 , about 800m walk from the bus stop), ☏ +32 2 52 3 32 49. Each 2^nd and 4^th Su of each month from 14:00-17:00. In a beautiful landscape dotted with traditional square farms connected by charming walking trails, famous painter Breughel drew inspiration from the countryside west of Brussels. Of the eye catches is the Luizen windmill, built on the Vlasendael plateau between 1862 and 1864 next to a farm in Butterfly St. ("Vlinderstraat"). It ceased operation in 1928 and was acquired by the Anderlecht municipality in 1939 with plans to renovate it. It was listed as a historical monument during the Second World War but for unclear reasons this protection was withdrawn in 1954. It remained abandoned, and the mill was quietly demolished in 1955. The memory of the mill was preserved, and in 1992 a group of citizens took the initiative to found the Luizenmolen association, with a goal to rebuild it. Gathering funding and construction took over 7 years, and in 1999 a historically accurate replica faithful to the original Luizen mill was inaugurated. Since 2007 it has been reclassified as a historical monument. Aside from guided tours being organized, the mill is also the background of a yearly folk festival. €3, children below 12 free. (updated Jun 2018)
• 2 Museum of Human Anatomy and Embryology (Museum voor Menselijke Anatomie en Embryologie), Faculty of Medicine, Building G, Lenniksebaan 808 (Erasmus  5  ), ☏ +32 2 555 63 76, fax: +32 2 555 6 3 78, anatemb@ulb.ac.be. On request. Hosted on the medical campus of the French University of Brussels, the museum exhibits a collection of authentic anatomical preparations, embryos, fetuses, and organs preserved in alcohol, either in their normal state or affected by congenital abnormalities. These are complemented by veterinarian anatomy, anatomical models in wax and plaster, and pieces illustrating pathologies. Part of the collection are several skeletal pars and mouldings. Thanks to numerous normal teratological fetal parts, shapes and iconographic documents, it perfectly illustrates the development of the human body. An entire section is dedicated to bone diseases and several displays contain exceptional examples of dental anatomy, contrasting anatomy of the masticatory system and dental disorders The museum also features a multimedia room where visitors can interactively engage with the anatomy of the human body. Access and guided tours in English or French are available on request. (updated Jun 2018)
• 3 Maurice Careme Museum, Nellie Melbalaan 14 (Bracopsziekenhuis  46  75 ), ☏ +32 2 521 67 75, fax: +32 2 520 20 86, fondation@mauricecareme.be. W 10:00-17:00. Living residence of Walloon poet Maurice Careme (1899-1978). The antique furniture, dinnerware and artworks are preserved, and give a good impression of the atmosphere of the time when Careme lived here. There is an archive and library about his life and work, with in addition to books and documents also a collection of 2300 partitures and records of music that is inspired on his work. The museum features portraits of Careme, and work of local artists. The collection includes drawings and paintings of Felix De Boeck, Luc De Decker, Marcel Delmotte, Paul Delvaux, Jules Lismonde, Leon Navez, and Roger Somville. The house itself, referred to as The White House, was built in 1933 and a typical reflection of the houses built in Walloon Brabant, the home county of Careme. (updated Jun 2018)
• 4 Eddy Merckx, Josse Leemanslaan 8 (  5   direction Erasmus), ☏ +32 70 23 2000. 06:00-00:30. This station was inaugurated in 2003, and serves as a tribute to Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx, best known as five-time winner of the Tour de France. The station is decorated as an Eddy Merckx museum, with objects commemorating the cyclist, including the bicycle on which he set the hour record in 1972. €2.10. (updated Feb 2018)

Koekelberg

• 5 Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basiliek van het Heilig Hart / Basilique du Sacré Coeur / Basilica Koekelberg), Parvis de la Basilique-Basiliekvoorplein, ☏ +32 2 421-16-60, info@basilicakoekelberg.be. The fifth biggest church in the world, with an impressive interior and an amazing view over Brussels and its surroundings.  

Do

• Football: RSC Anderlecht play soccer in First Division A, the country's top tier. Their home ground is Lotto Park, capacity 22,500.
• 1 BIFFF, Gravin van Vlaanderenstraat 8 (Over de Bruggen  47  57  62  93 ), ☏ +32 2 201 14 69. Brussels' International Fantastic Film Festival (film fantastique in French). This two-week festival is scheduled yearly in March and is a must see for tourist and locals alike. 

Sleep

• 1 Eurocap, Chaussée de Dieleghem 114-118, 1090 Jette, reservation@hoteleurocap.com. (updated Jun 2021)