European Quarter (Leopold)

Brussels' safest area with heavy security from EU institutions, international crowd, and widespread English. More expensive and less Belgian in character than other neighborhoods.

The European Quarter is where the EU institutions are - Parliament, Commission, embassies. There's heavy security, good lighting, and everything is set up for international visitors. Evenings and weekends get quiet when EU workers go home, but walking around late feels safe. Thursday nights, Place du Luxembourg fills up with people drinking on the terraces. The vibe is professional and international rather than traditionally Belgian. Everyone speaks English since that's the common language for EU staff. Restaurants are expensive because they're aimed at expense accounts, though the food and service are usually solid. You'll see people eating alone, working on laptops - it's that kind of place. Not much authentic Brussels character here compared to Ixelles or Sablon, but you get safety and easy English communication.