Business Studies and Economics School Trip to Brussels

European Parliament Hemicycle

Tours

The European Parliament, together with the Council of the European Union and the European Commission exercises the legislative function of the EU.

The Hemicycle is the vibrant heart of European democracy, where Members of the European Parliament gather during plenary sessions to hold the largest and most important debates. It also provides the setting for historic votes that change the way people live across the European Union. A visit to the Hemicycle is a great way to soak up the exciting atmosphere of the world’s largest transnational parliament and find out about its powers and role.

Group visits last 1-2 hours and consist of a personalised talk by a staff member on the role and powers of the European Parliament, a question-and-answer session and a visit to the Hemicycle gallery. They are available in all 24 European Union languages, from Monday to Friday.

Parlamentarium: The European Parliament's Visitors' Centre

Multimedia guides lead visitors to the heart of the European Parliament, explaining the path towards European cooperation, how the European Parliament works and what its members are doing to meet the challenges of today. It can be experienced in any of the European Union’s 24 official languages. The visitors’ centre is open seven days a week and entrance is free of charge. It is fully accessible for visitors with disabilities.

European Commission

The EU's overall political goals are developed collectively by its institutions. Find out how the EU's strategy is developed and translated into policies and initiatives by the European Commission. Visitors to the Commission can select from various options the most suitable of which are:   

• A 90-minute general information visit, aimed secondary students, with little or no previous knowledge about the EU includes a presentation about the role of the European Commission within the EU followed by a question and answer session.
• The Specific information visit lasting 2½ hours offers an introduction to the role of the European Commission within the EU, followed by a presentation on a specific EU policy of direct interest to the group. This is aimed at undergraduate students and specific interest groups.

Role Playing Games

Step into the shoes of a Member of the European Parliament. At the Parlamentarium, take a fast-track course on how Europe's democratically elected body works. You will need to negotiate with fellow pupils to build the future you want for Europe. In imaginary political groups, you will discuss issues such as water solidarity and micro-chipping and will need to find a compromise in order to legislate.

Parlamentarium: The European Parliament's Visitors' Centre

Dynamic, interactive multimedia displays guide our visitors through the journey of European integration and the impact this has on our everyday lives.

We take a virtual trip through Europe, finding out along the way what contribution the European Union has made to each of the Member States. We also hear accounts by fellow Europeans of what the Union means to them.  

European Commission

There are 3 levels of visit here. We recommend the ‘Specific Information Visit’. This comprises of an introduction on the role of the European Commission within the EU followed by a presentation on a specific EU policy of direct interest to the group.

Museum of National Bank of Belgium 

Money has not always looked the way it does today. In this tour you can find out about the use of commodity money, the emergence of the first coins, the use of bills of exchange, and the establishment of the National Bank of Belgium. You can also listen to recordings telling about the lives of various historical figures connected with money in one way or another

The museum invites students from all levels and types of education to take a guided tour suited to their studies and choose what the main topic of the tour should be, economics, history or both combined.

Planète Chocolat

Would you like to see Brussels in a different way and discover the secrets of chocolate? Why not join a Planète Chocolat tour that will take you to Manneken Pis, the Grand-Place and some of the other sights that make this European capital so famous. You can also take part in one of their practical demonstrations in the Planète Chocolat workshops and find out even more about the origins of chocolate, its history, how it has changed over the centuries, and how it is made today.

Concept Chocolate visit and Workshop

Concept Chocolate offers an opportunity to learn all about the art of chocolate making. Time-honoured production, natural products, 100% cocoa butter and respect for the great tradition of Belgian chocolate are the qualities that have made Concept Chocolate the specialist in personalised chocolate and packaging. All the steps in the manual production of chocolates are performed in front of your eyes and of course, the crucial moment of tasting is not forgotten.

Autoworld

Autoworld is the national car museum, located in the heart of Brussels, housed in a prestigious building in the Cinquantenaire Park. It has on display a large and varied collection of over 300 European and American automobiles from the late 19th century to the 1990s.

Auction of BelOrta

BelOrta is buzzing with activity. The staff sometimes handles up to 4,000 tons of fruit and vegetables in a single sales day. You will not be bored for a second when you visit the largest cooperative auction in Europe. Our experienced company guide will be happy to tell you more about the history of the auction industry and of course BelOrta in particular. You will learn how the auction system works, follow the trajectory of the fruit and vegetables from the producer to your local supermarket, follow the unique clock sales system from the front row and so much more.

Tours are available weekdays at 08.30 or 09.00 to Friday and schools can visit for free if this visit fits in with the learning objectives.

Port of Antwerp Cruise

The Port of Antwerp has been a vital link in global trade since the Middle Ages. Over eight centuries the Port has grown from a modest river port to one of the world’s leading ports. Covering an area of 12,068 hectares, about the size of 16,900 football pitches, the Antwerp port area is one of the largest in the world. Today, 150,000 people contribute to this success story, working together towards a flourishing and sustainable future for the Port of Antwerp and its surroundings!

Cantillon Brewery

The Van Roy-Cantillon family welcomes you and invites you to discover a fabulous family brewery where Lambic, Gueuze, Faro and Kriek are made and where nothing has changed since 1900 when it was founded. Beers, tools and brewing process are still the same as in the beginning. Red copper kettles, barrels, some of them more than 100 years old, and walls of bottles constitute the scenery for your visit.

Belgian Brewers Museum

The Brewery Museum is located in the vaulted cellars of a magnificent town house in Brussels‘ Grand Place where the exhibited material (fermenting vat, boiler etc.) is from a traditional 18th-century brewery. Modern brewing techniques are explained using multimedia.

The Stella Artois Brewery

During your visit to the brewery, students discover all the secrets of the brewing process. You will visit the brewing hall, the filtration and the filling plant, where you can witness how bottles, cans and kegs are filled at an enormous speed.  After the visit, for visitors under legal drinking age, soft drinks are available.

Brussels Airport Tours

At Brussels Airport you have the world at your feet. Every day thousands of passengers pass through the airport in search of new challenges, professional opportunities or just a wonderful vacation. Discover the world of Brussels Airport from an entirely new perspective. Fasten your seatbelt and find out more about one of Europe’s leading airports.

Atomium

Originally built for the 1958 World Fair and restored in 2006, the Atonium is 102 metres tall, and has become one of the icons of the city of Brussels. Thanks to its location on a naturally elevated plateau on the outskirts of town, the Atomium offers the only true 360° panoramic view of the 19 municipalities of Brussels.

Grand Place

The central Grand Place is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe with architecture from 3 different eras (Baroque, Gothic and Louis XIV) making their marks on the square. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is always a popular location for tourists to gather. 

Bowling

Always a popular evening activity, there are a couple of suitable bowing venues in central Brussels where groups can spend the evening,

Shopping

Shopping Arcades (Malls)

Brussels has one of the oldest shopping arcades in the world and a variety of others. Unlike ordinary shopping malls, galleries or arcades offer high quality brands and luxury items. They are normally set inside old buildings, great for escaping the rain and shine to shop at leisure.

Shopping Streets

Luxury brands and boutique shops can be found on Brussels' two renowned shopping streets – Boulevard de Waterloo and Rue Antoine Dansaert. The ‘regular’ shopping street is called Rue Neuve, a pedestrian only street with a large selection of shops and a large shopping mall called City2.

Brussels Markets

To all local Brussels people, Brussels markets are the place to be any day of the week. There are hundreds of open markets operating throughout the week in small squares all over the city. Usually serving up fresh vegetables, handmade cheese, freshly chopped meat and knick-knacks for the home. On the Sundays the biggest markets are open for eager shoppers with small trolleys.