If you reside in Brussels, you can now proudly claim to be living in one of the best cities globally, as per the annual report by Resonance Consultancy. But what makes Brussels so distinctive?
Brussels is on the rise. This summer, our beautiful capital was already featured in the top 10 cities offering the best brunch globally, surpassing cities like Melbourne, Paris, or Barcelona. Today, it’s revealed that Brussels is also part of the top 50 best cities in the world, according to a recent ranking.
The annual report from Resonance Consultancy has placed Brussels at the 37th spot among the 270 cities considered in this ranking. But how do you determine if one city is better than another? While the question may seem subjective, the report analyzed cities based on three main criteria: livability, friendliness, and prosperity. Each of these criteria was further subdivided into various categories to determine the best cities globally.
Brussels is also among the most attractive cities in Europe:
These categories included factors such as the level of education, poverty rate, city architecture, the number of quality restaurants, cultural offerings, proximity to an airport, as well as Facebook reviews, Instagram mentions, and Google searches, among others. This year, another crucial criterion was added to establish this ranking: the presence of cycling lanes and their accessibility.
By compiling the results of this analysis, it was found that the only Belgian city standing out in this ranking is Brussels. Note that the ranking only considered metropolises with more than a million inhabitants. If your small town seems much more pleasant than our capital, don’t take it the wrong way; it simply didn’t meet the criteria for eligibility.
Brussels, a City that Stands Out
So, how did Brussels manage to carve out a place among the world’s major metropolises? “The Belgian capital, home to the European Union, is a city full of surprises,” reads the report. The Grand-Place, consistently regarded as one of the most beautiful squares globally, gives Brussels undeniable international visibility. But that’s not all. Public spaces have recently been renovated, such as the Toux & Taxis Maritime Station and the former Grand Hospice, transforming almost obsolete places into ultra-trendy addresses. The Working From coworking space, newly installed in The Hoxton hotel nestled in Saint-Josse, also makes Brussels one of the most dynamic capitals professionally. Moreover, on Facebook, it ranks in the top 10 cities for hosting various conferences and summits. Another significant point, especially in the era of sustainable mobility, is its extensive railway network.
Yes, Brussels may be a nightmare for motorists, as it is still considered one of the most congested cities globally, but it’s evident that the grass is not always greener elsewhere, and despite its flaws, Brussels remains one of the most livable cities.
Sources: https://sosoir.lesoir.be/bruxelles-reprise-dans-le-classement-des-meilleures-villes-du-monde
