Conference Information & Key Contacts

If you are staying in Brussels after CPDP 2026, get ready to discover a city full of history, culture, and charm! From stunning architecture and world-class musea to lively cafés, delicious chocolates, and famous Belgian fries, there’s plenty to explore. Don’t forget to take a stroll through the Grand Place, visit the Magritte Museum, or unwind in one of the city’s beautiful parks. Read further for more recommendations.

• Visit the Parlamentarium, Europe’s largest parliamentary visitor centre, to get a flavour of European politics. Multimedia handsets in the European Union’s 24 official languages will help guide visitors to the heart of the European Parliament, explaining the path towards European integration, how the European Parliament works and what its Members are doing to meet the challenges of today.
  Visit the website for more information
   
• The House of European History offers a trans-national overview of European history. The main focus of the permanent exhibition is on European history from the 20th century and the history of European integration, viewed from a broad historical perspective and bringing together both contrasting and shared experiences of Europeans in history.
  Visit the website for more information.

Belgium is known for its beers, waffles and chocolate. And maybe for its rich cultural heritance. You will find evidence of all of these in its capital city. But Brussels is so much more than that. It is a melting pot of different cultures, different opinions, different lifestyles… Nothing is too crazy and everything is possible. The city doesn’t have any big touristic highlights like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Big Ben in London. You have to venture off the beaten path. Allow yourself to be surprised and you will have a great time.  
If you want some tips on what to see or do, these websites will help you out.
 

• Spotted by Locals • An all-round blog run by locals. They tell youwhere to eat the most delicious meals, where to drink the cheapest Belgianbeers and even where to swim.
• The Brusselsprouts • This blog not only talks about the best spots in town to have a nice meal, but also gives you an overview of the events that are happening in and around Brussels.
• The Word Magazine • Used to be a printed artsy magazine all about Brussels and Belgium in general. Browsing through the archived website will get you all enthused about your upcoming trip! Today The Word developed into a radio station similarly spirited. At CPDP2020 we collaborate to make live radio broadcasting from the conference.
• See You There • Just like ‘The Word Magazine’, See You There doesn’t just stop at the borders of Brussels. They explore all things cultural and give you a guide on what to do in Belgium each week.
• Visit Brussels • This is the official website of the Brussels tourism board and will give you a general overview on what’s happening in the city.

And of course, don’t forget to check out CPDP-related side events!

As you know, Belgium is about as big as a tea towel. Everything is nearby and you don’t need to travel far to be able to see the whole country. Especially when you are staying in Brussels, all other cities are nearby and easy to reach.
 

• Antwerp  (45 minutes by train) • Antwerp is the second largest town of Belgium, the largest port of Belgium and the second largest port of Europe. The city has a lot to offer, ranging from high-end shops to architectural highlights like the house of Paul Peter Rubens.
  Visit the website for more information
• Bruges (1 hour by train) • Bruges is also called the “Venice of the North” and you will instantly get why. The inner city is well-preserved and almost looks like a museum. Bruges was once a main port and welcomed plenty of artists and nobles from Europe during the 15th century.
  Visit the website for more information
• Ghent (30 minutes by train) • Ghent can rely on along and rich history. It is the birthplace of Charles V and it played an important role during the industrial revolution in continental Europe. Today, the city has maintained its medieval centre but other than that, it is known for its lively cultural scene. Don’t hesitate to check out a play or concert while visiting the city.
  Visit the website for more information
• Liège  (1 hour by train) • Liège is located near the Meuse River in Belgium’s French-speaking Wallonia region. Its old town is filled with landmarks dating back to the medieval era, including the Romanesque Church of St. Bartholomew. The Grand Curtius museum houses archaeological treasures and art, while Opéra Royal de Wallonie has staged operas since 1820. Lately it has been a hub for all sorts of artistic activities.
  Visit the website for more information

Musea

Some of the most exciting musea around: www.wiels.org, www.middelheimmuseum.be, www.smak.be, www.muhka.be, www.mleuven.be, www.museumdd.be, www.bozar.be, www.villaempain.com