Activity 1: Brussels, administrative city and spy nest?
Brussels, administrative city and spy nest?
Activity 1: Introduction
Brussels, the city-region, occupies a prominent place in a series of international rankings because of the many important political institutions that are based here as well as all the activities that result from this (including, indeed the presence of many spies! Even though by nature they are not the most visible).
In this section, however, we will not focus on the European and international presence in Brussels, that we have already discussed, but rather on the national Belgian institutions and administrations here. The 'Brussels governance model' may appear complex. In fact, it faces many challenges. You will learn that, as a result of all the discussions and disputes that have marked its implementation, we have achieved today a certain degree of stability.
But who exactly are the public authorities present today in Brussels ? Where are they located? How did they choose to occupy the Brussels space? What relations do they have with each other? In this section, we will examine these important questions.
To start your journey of exploring the institutions of Brussels, we invite you to watch the introductory video below by historian Joost Vaesen.
(Don't forget to activate subtitles in your preferred language by clicking on the CC icon)
[Date of redaction of this section: 2020]
