What do a praline, a roll of cellophane, and a handbag have in common? They were all invented or created right here, in the heart of Brussels. And they’re far from alone! Beneath its cobblestones, Brussels seems to nurture a fertile ground for businesses bold enough to change the world…
On this National Day, let’s raise a glass – of rather a pinte – to these Brussels-born gems that delight, simplify, and transform daily life for Tokyoites, New Yorkers and Berliners alike.
Brussels, like a box of chocolates
In 1857, Swiss pharmacist Jean Neuhaus opened his eponymous shop in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. To soften the bitterness of his medicines, he coated them in chocolate. By 1912, his grandson took it even further: out with the pills, in with ganache! The praline was born—and soon charmed taste buds across the globe.
Since then, iconic brands have followed: Leonidas (1,300 stores in 40 countries), Godiva’s golden boxes (a staple from NYC to Tokyo) or Corné Port-Royal, keeping Brussels’ chocolate heritage alive worldwide.
And the city’s sweet legacy doesn’t end there. Maison Dandoy has been perfecting speculoos since 1829, Milcamps supplies waffles across Europe, Asia and the US, and EXKi, pioneer of ‘fast good,’ has taken root in France and America.
Brussels, cradle of tech giants
But Brussels is more than food. It’s a launchpad for innovations tested at city scale before going global. Cowboy’s smart e-bikes conquered Brussels’ cobbles before spinning off to Paris, Berlin, San Francisco, and Lisbon.
Tricount was born from two engineers wanting to simplify group expenses. Today, the app keeps millions of Europeans’ holiday budgets stress-free.
Then there’s itsme, the digital identity used by 7 million Belgians—and now winning over neighbouring countries. Not to mention Collibra, a VUB spin-off turned European unicorn, helping Fortune 500 companies from New York to Singapore.
Brussels, an industrial innovation lab
Brussels also birthed industry powerhouses: Solvay (inventor of cellophane, now key in battery materials across 60 countries), UCB (treating millions with neurological conditions), and Umicore (global leader in rare metal recycling).
Brussels, royal couturier
As old as the Kingdom it elegantly represents, luxury leather house Delvaux pioneered the very concept of the handbag—patents and all.
Natan Couture dresses Europe’s royals, while Bellerose’s casual chic style turns heads in Tokyo and New York. And Olivier Strelli saw his designs on Mick Jagger and Sabena hostesses before dressing all of Europe.
Brussels may not be a fashion capital, but its designs travel far and wide.
Long live Belgium, long live Brussels, and long live the brave men and women who dared where no one else did. Thanks to them, Brussels can claim a new title: the capital of possibilities.
