Colonial Walking Tour in Brussels
- 2h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Instant confirmation
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
Beyond the chocolate and waffles, there’s a more profound and darker side to Belgium. Join me as we explore Belgium's colonial history and its lasting impact on both Belgium and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This tour engages with the landmarks, monuments, and public spaces that evoke Belgium's - often violent - colonial past. As we walk through the city, we'll visit key sites like the Monument to Belgian Pioneers in the Congo, and Leopold II's statue, discussing the legacies of Belgian rule and the exploitation along with it. You’ll gain insight into how these historical events continue to shape Belgium's identity, as well as the effects still felt in the DRC today. Through this tour, we’ll not only revisit the past but also delve into present-day conversations around decolonization, reparations and social justice.
Inclusions
What's included
- Gratuities
What's not
- Lunch
Itinerary
We will get an introduction to the history of Belgium in the Congo in front of the monument
We will talk about one of the main early Belgian figures in the Congo, and the rail network he was in charge of constructing.
We will discuss the Belgian monarch at the heart of Belgium's colonial past.
We will discuss the economics of exploitation at the historic Banque du Congo-Belge
We see the colonial office through which adminstration of the Congo Free State was managed.
We finish the tour at the spot named after independent Congo's first leader.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 51
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Ratings come from 1 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Walk to the entrance of Park du Cinquantenaire facing Rond-Point Schuman
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 15 travellers
- Operated by
- Walking Tours with Saim
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
How it compares in Brussels
- Its from-price is 75% below the median of the 680 experiences we list in Brussels.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 285 of 680.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Brussels
Brussels, Belgium's capital and a seat of European institutions, pairs a gilded Grand-Place with comic-strip murals, Art Nouveau houses and waffle stalls.
The Grand-Place is the centre of old Brussels, a cobbled square ringed by gilded guildhalls and the Gothic town hall, whose spire rises over everything. A few streets away, the small bronze Manneken Pis draws a crowd. On the hill above, the Royal Palace and the Mont des Arts gardens look down on the lower town, while the Atomium, a giant model of an iron crystal built for the 1958 World Fair, stands on the northern edge.
Top-ranked sights in Brussels: Grand-Place (Grote Markt), Manneken Pis, Royal Galleries of Saint Hubert (Les Galeries St-Hubert).
Special offers in Brussels
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
