It can be said that the best time to be Brussels is now. Yes, the city has an incredible historic center, anchored around the stunningly beautiful Grand Place (click to read more about Grand Place and historic Brussels). Yes, the city dates back centuries. And yes, this is the capital of Belgium, with all the trappings of that. But modern Brussels truly shines as the de facto capital of the European Union, and if global politics are an interest of yours, a visit here has got to be on your bucket list.

While the European Union itself only really began in 1993 with the Maastricht Treaty, European unity started shortly after the end of World War Two, with six countries (France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) forming the European Coal and Steel Community. As ties deepened, institutions formed, such as a Common Assembly, a High Authority, and a Court of Justice. Over the decades, with further expansion of the organization and its successors (the European Community and European Union), the need for physical space grew. The ECSC used Luxembourg and Strasbourg, and with the start of the EC, Brussels.

Today, Brussels hosts the European Commission and European Council, which function as the executive for the EU, and most relevant committees that fall under their jurisdiction. In addition, it operates the secondary sight for the European Parliament, which is normally in Strasbourg. (Luxembourg still hosts the European courts.) This makes it the main site of EU governance, with approximately 121,000 people directly or indirectly employed in the pan-European sector.

So why Brussels? Well, when the EU was looking for a place to headquarters, it checked all the boxes: a large city, one with reasonable housing, good transportation both locally and regionally, and one sitting between France and Germany (the two main powers and rivals behind European unity). Some existing buildings were initially utilized, but by the early 2000s, a whole new European Quarter was constructed just outside Brussels’ center. (Along with this, new housing and transportation lines came into being, as well.)

While most of Brussels’ European Quarter is off limits (as most governmental buildings worldwide are), those who want to discover what it means to be the EU can do so, mainly in three locations, all of which are free. First, one should visit the House of European History, which sits on the outskirts of the Quarter, just tucked inside Leopold Park.

The museum picks up the story of Europe in the 18th century, and focuses immediately on mistakes made by continental powers when it came to rivalry and war, as well as colonialism. The slave trade is discussed, and the drive to divide the world without the say of those being divvied. It is a staunch reminder of the lessons of the past, so important to acknowledge and learn from in order to move forward.

As the timeline makes it way into the twentieth century, the world wars are at front and center, though other conflicts (the Russian Revolution and Spanish Civil War, for instance) also have their space here. Post-war, the museum begins to focus on unification, first of Western Europe and then the addition of much of the east following the Soviet collapse.

Finally, the House of European History discusses more modern history, like the violent breakup of former Yugoslavia, and issues of today, like refugees and climate change. And like all of Europe, it does so via a multilingual device that recognizes the fact that the continent is diverse.

The modern European Union is unique in the world. While there are plenty of multinational organizations, this is the only one that is a fully functioning government. The European Parliament is directly elected every five years, and has the power to pass binding legislation. While the parliament meets most often in Strasbourg, a secondary location is here, and open for visits, again with a multilingual audio guide.

But to really learn about the EU and the way it works, head to the Parliamentarium, another outstanding free museum here in Brussels’ European Quarter. Over several exhibits, visitors experience the timeline of European unity from the initial six members to today’s 27 (along with more candidate members who may be (hopefully) admitted one day), the various departments and committees of the EU, and the political makeup of the European Parliament. One can even meet – virtually – one’s own representative, see the day’s agenda, and more.

Outside, signage talks about current priorities of the European Union, things like closing the income gap, fighting climate change, and moving towards sustainable energy solutions. It is an ambitious slate of policies, one that only a cooperative effort can hope to solve. And, as a dual American and European citizen, it fills me with pride.

While Brussels wears a number of hats, as it were, this role as the effective capital of Europe is – in my opinion – its most important. And it is also its most interesting. As Europe and the world move both towards and away from multinational cooperation, the European Union stands as an example of what neighborly trust, celebration of both unity and diversity, and economic interdependence can accomplish. It is amazing, and it is worth experiencing personally here.

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