Rue au Beurre

This little square starting on Rue au Beurre is well worth your attention. First, you have the Brussels Stock Exchange just behind you, housed in a beautiful neoclassical building. On your left is the Church of Saint Nicholas, surrounded by jewelry shops that used to be shelters for the homeless who sought protection in this 13th-century chapel. In the center, you’ll also spot one of the many personified fountains of Brussels. These were all placed on the sites of former public troughs used by the population in the 19th century. A total of 12 fountains were commissioned by the city in the 1980s, each inspired by the works of Belgian painter Pieter Brueghel. This one illustrates the painting “The Parable of the Blind.” Of course, you’ll also notice the lovely milkmaid, dressed in traditional clothing from the time of Louis XIV. This sculpture dates back to 1687 and was symbolically placed on Rue au Beurre to commemorate the medieval milk market that once stood behind the Stock Exchange.