Brabant Street

The Brabantstraat is like the Gentsesteenweg in Molenbeek, a shopping street with strong international connections. Residents of Brussels, Belgians, but also foreign customers of various origins come here to shop. Especially on Sundays, there is a real market atmosphere here when the Arabic beats blast from the speakers, and the street makes 40% of its revenue. Most shops are popular bazaars with clothing, travel bags, carpets, and decorative lamps, olives and dates, pots and pans at low prices. Other shops pay more attention to their store layout because they cater to a growing non-Western middle class. But a car-free shopping street would make it all so much more pleasant.

At number 75, you see a Roman Catholic church building in neo-Italian Renaissance style. In the St. John and Nicholas Church, the services are now provided by the Georgian Orthodox Church. While the traditionally Belgian parishes are becoming very small, new Christian communities are breathing new life into the religious heritage.

• Past the church, take a right onto the short Allardstraat. It will bring you to the back exit of the North Station on Aarschotstraat. Don't know the North Station? Be sure to take a look.

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