This is a large, richly illustrated book that delves into the city's social, economic and linguistic history. If you want to learn some specialist Brussels history, pick up one of these: Outrageous Fortune by Roger Keyes, about the Nazi occupation of Belgium; Medieval Flanders by David Nicolas; or Waterloo - The Hundred Days by David Chandler, about Napoleon's mismatch just outside of town.

A runaway hit among foreigners living in Belgium since it was published in 1998. Full of hilarious accounts of everyday life and travel in Belgium, it firmly shines the spotlight on the country's idiosyncracies.

If you want to take authentic Brussels recipes home with you, you'll need this gourmet gem. The Belgo Cookbook by Denis Blais and André Plisnier and The Great Beers of Belgium by Michael Jackson are also good and make the perfect souvenir for the right sort of person.

As in her other work set in Belgium, Villette, Brontë paints a largely unflattering portrait of Brussels in the 1840s.

This compendium is a must for art lovers. Also worth a look is Art Nouveau in Belgium by Dierkens & Vanderbranden; and From Ensor to Magritte: Belgian Art from 1880-1940, Michael Palmer's opus covering the surrealism movement.

The adventures of the scampish reporter are essential Brussels reading. Follows the intrepid traveller through Brussels and beyond.