Today’s Travel Tuesday blog features the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management in Brussels, Belgium.
Why Solvay?
Located in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management is the business school of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). As the only Belgian university that includes international exchanges in program plans, the school is well connected with over 110 global partners. For those who prefer a smaller, more relaxed city, Brussels’ population of only 178,000 offers a more intimate experience. Solvay itself is only slightly larger than the Goodman School of Business. However, being small does not mean the city lacks things to see and do. Home to both the NATO and UN headquarters, Brussels is Europe’s central power hub that combines the cultures of many countries. When you are not in awe of the city’s rich architectural history, including the Grand Place (considered among Europe’s most beautiful medieval squares), retreat to one of its many greens spaces. Solvay sits near Bois de la Cambre, one of the largest parks in Brussels with winding pathways, open fields, and even a boat pond. Traveling off campus is easy with an extensive tram network the connects you with the rest of Brussels.
Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management - Source: ULB
Why Belgium?
Belgium is nestled near the top of mainland Europe with a coastline along the North Sea. Perhaps most famous for chocolate, waffles, and beer, Belgium cuisine caters to most tastes. Like most of Europe, the Euro is the official currency and its wide acceptance makes cross-border travel easy. Interested in improving your French? With French, Dutch, and German as the official languages of Belgium, there is a lot of opportunity to learn something new. Rest assured, English-only speakers will have no trouble communicating with locals, as English is the common unifying language.
Grand Place, Brussels - Source: Wikipedia
If you want a full European experience, you’ll find that Belgium offers a great mix of cultures. Sharing borders with France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg mean that multi-country travel is within reach. With one international airport and three major train stations, Brussels allows all travellers to the freedom to access some of the most iconic cities. Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, and even London are all within two hours and planning weekend getaways is simple. With so many options, the hardest thing about your exchange to Solvay will be deciding on where you will go.
Contributed by: BBA student Royden Thomson
