Car Hire in Brussels

About Brussels

Brussels is the capital of Belgium. It is the seat of many international institutions such as NATO and the EU, making it an important city in international politics. Brussels has evolved from a 10th-century fortified city founded by Charlemagne to an important hub for international cooperation.

Belgium gained its independence after the revolution of 1830, it is a small country but an important bridge between Western and Eastern Europe. For this reason, Brussels was chosen as the capital of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952. In 1957, Belgium signed the Treaty of Rome, establishing what would later become the European Union (EU). However, the city's political importance goes back even further: at the end of the Middle Ages, Brussels was the focus of attention of two competing powers: France and the Habsburg Empire. The territory of the Habsburg Empire covered much of central and western Europe. In 1695, the city fell to French forces. In the following centuries, the city grew rapidly as workers arrived from all over Europe to take part in the rapid industrialization. Today, Brussels has about 1 million inhabitants.

Brussels is not only the seat of international power in modern Europe but also a centre for trade and culture. The city was awarded the title of the City of Art by UNESCO. The famous painter Peter Paul Rubens was born here, as was the surrealist René Magritte and the comic strip artist Hergé, who created Tintin. The city's many green spaces are frequented by locals seeking relaxation and fresh air. Some of the most famous are the Botanical Gardens, the Square Marie-Louise, the Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Jardin des Plantes.

Brussels is a city of many cultures and languages. The official language is French, but Dutch is also widely spoken. Brussels also has its flavour: the local dialect is called "Brussels French". Brussels is a major hub for transport, education, trade and industry. You could say that few other cities in Europe can match the international flair of Brussels.

Basic info and car hire in Brussels

• Location: North-central part of Belgium
• Population: 174.383
• Official language: 80% speak French. Dutch and Flemish as well. 
• Currency: Euro
• Weather: The capital of Belgium, Brussels has a mild climate with four distinct seasons. With an average low temperature in winter at 1°C and summer reaching just 23 degrees Celsius the city is not as cold as other European metropolises such as London or Moscow but it does provide year-round activity for tourists looking to enjoy this diverse culture! Rainfall also remains constant throughout most parts of Brussels 24 hour period so you'll need either raincoats or umbrellas no matter what time you come here during any given day
  The wind might be stronger sometimes than others but when compared against all Weather patterns: drizzle will always give way
• Holidays in Brussels: You can find all information about holidays in Brussels here. 
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions: Road conditions in Brussels are generally quite good. Traffic jams can be expected in the city. The motorways are driven at high speed causing more risk. In general, the road conditions are very smooth and simple. There are speed cameras across Brussels. 
• Car hire in Brussels:  Finding affordable car hire in Brussels has never been as simple. With Orbit Car Hire, you can compare and find cheap prices with leading companies that provide nothing but the best of customer service. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Brussels! The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Brussels is Brussels Airport

 Driving in Brussels

Brussels is a beautiful city within central Europe. It can be challenging to drive, but some key tips will make your experience much easier and safer! The driving culture in Belgium follows European norms; therefore you must keep an eye on the speed limit (50kph within urban areas/90+ km outside), as well looking out for traffic signs such as roundabouts or crossings when exiting any major roadways. The most stressful part about Brussels' roads might just seem like they're always packed: this makes parking difficult too so if possible try not to get stuck without finding somewhere safe. Belgium has strict drink driving laws, only allowing 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood. Fines for drink driving are high and the same goes for speeding tickets. In Belgium, you can expect to receive on the spot fines for drink driving and speeding. Motorways in Belgium are free of charge. Different driver age restrictions apply to different vehicle groups and these are applied automatically to all online rental searches. If you entered your correct age and the online search returned a specific vehicle group, you are eligible to rent it. Please note that the same restrictions apply to all Additional Drivers.

The only challenging part about getting around Brussel’s city centre might be finding parking spaces due to its popularity amongst tourists (and locals).

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Brussels is 19 years old. However, most car rental companies require you to be at least 21 to rent a car and at least 21 years to avoid paying an additional young driver fee.
• International Driving Permit: An International Driving Permit is required in addition to a National Driving Licence if the National Driving Licence you or any of the Additional Drivers hold is not identifiable as a Driving Licence, e.g., it is in a non-Latin alphabet (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese).
• Additional papers:  You and all Additional Drivers must present a full valid original Driving Licence and the voucher or booking confirmation document when picking up the vehicle. If your Driving Licence has multiple parts, you must present all of them. All requirements apply to both you and any Additional Drivers. You must have held your Driving Licence for a minimum of 1 full year(s). Non-residents of the pick-up country must also present: Passport and identification card of their country of residence
• Additional requirements: You must have a warning triangle, High Vis vest and the first-aid kit in your car at all times. Remember to check if any of it's expired before you go out on the road!
• Children in the car: Children under the age of 18 and 1.35 m must use an appropriate child restraint system, whether they are in the front or back seat of a vehicle. A child under the age of 3 may not be transported in a vehicle without a child seat/child restraint system. It is prohibited to use a rear-facing child seat in a front seat with a frontal airbag unless the airbag is deactivated.
• Driving side of the road: Right Side. 
• Lights:  Headlights should be used in poor conditions during the daytime. 
• General speed limits: Speed limits are 50kph in built-up areas, 90kph outside,120kph on motorways.
• Parking suggestions: Parking in Brussels can be challenging while in the city centre. You will have to pay for parking during the day and you will find it to be free between 18:00-08:00. 

Popular day trips from Brussels

Bruges

Bruges is 120 km from Brussels and therefore easy to reach by car. The whole route (120 km) takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes and during the drive, you will see the landscapes of Flanders: small hills and roads along rivers. Bruges is located in the clay plain of Valonia with many water reservoirs that were used by local farmers in the past.

One of the most famous symbols of the city is the Belfort or Gildehuys Tower, built in the 13th century for defensive purposes. It is 75 m high and was one of the tallest buildings in Europe at the time. Today, inside it there are houses, restaurants and small cafés; each floor has its style - from Gothic to Baroque.

The Duke's Canal is another symbol of this city. In the past, this canal was used as a transport route, but today it is a nice place for walking and touring - there are many small cafes nearby where you can have a drink or snacks. It also looks fantastic at night when all the cafes are lit up and you can feel the true magic of Bruges as you walk through this historic part of the city.

Bruges has many museums - the Groeninge Museum shows paintings from the Middle Ages to the 19th century; the Memling Museum is famous for its collection of medieval works by Hans Memling, who lived and worked here in the 15th century; the Gruuthuse Museum shows us history from the 13th to the 19th century.

Bruges is also famous for its chocolate factories where you can buy real Belgian chocolate with different flavours - from banana to strawberry, vanilla or liqueur.

So if you come to this beautiful city in your car, you will have the opportunity to feel its magic during a long drive and visit historical sights! ;)

Antwerp

It's that time of year again when Belgium offers something unique and different from its neighbouring countries. Autumn brings us bright colours everywhere in nature, with the white snow-capped peaks of the Alps in the south, the green valleys in the east and the dark blue oceans on our western coasts. But above all, it showcases our cultural heritage! A few hours' drives from Brussels lies Antwerp, one of Belgium's liveliest cities on the picturesque Scheldt. Due to its rich history and beautiful architecture, which includes both Flemish and French Gothic style buildings, it has been named by many as "The Best City Center".

In the heart of Antwerp is MAS (Museum Aan de Stroom), the new museum for contemporary art. With its striking glass architecture, it offers extensive historical collections as well as modern art exhibitions and activities. Exhibitions include Flemish, Belgian and international artists such as James Ensor, Panamarenko and Erwin Olaf. In addition, many temporary exhibitions ensure you will not be bored here! Especially the "Late Night Museum" on Thursdays from 16:00 to 21:30 with DJ is very popular with locals and visitors. You might even meet one or two celebrities who like to visit the city!

What to see in Brussels

Many institutions of the European Union have their headquarters in Brussels, such as the Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission. The headquarters of these three institutions are located in different parts of Brussels. The European Parliament has 3 buildings: Espace Léopold (European Quarter), Louise Weiss and Altiero Spinelli (Eurométropole).

The best thing to do in a city is to walk around and take pictures of the beautiful architecture. Of course, there are many parks and green spaces in Brussels that are perfect for this activity. The most famous is the Grand Place (surrounded by beautiful buildings), the Parc du Cinquantenaire (with huge trees and flowers) and the Royal Park of Laeken (in front of the castle).

Another way to explore Brussels is to enjoy delicious Belgian food in charming restaurants near old churches or palaces. Yes, if you visit Brussels, you must try typical Belgian dishes like mussels, waffles, frites, etc. The best place to eat them is the Halle market, a huge market where you can find everything from clothes to fresh vegetables and fruits!

Finally, I would like to tell you that there are many interesting museums in Brussels, such as the BOZAR (art centre), the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Magritte Museum, located in one building: La Maison Magritte. These sights might not be anything out of the ordinary for you, but they are great places if you are interested in art and music.