WHY HOOKERS BRUSSELS

We might mock Brussels for its role as the centre of the EU, especially in the current climate, but the European Parliament building and its hookers surrounding complex is still a sight to behold. Also, and you might want to be sitting down for this, secondary school students are able to take part in a role play game where they can pretend to be those faceless bureaucrats we hear about so much. There’s plenty for adults visiting the Parlamentarium, too.

The European Parliament may sound like a dry day out but is worth a trip
The European Parliament may sound like a dry day out but is worth a trip CREDIT: ALAMY
2. The city blooms like nowhere else
Every two years the Grand Place in Brussels, the city’s Unesco-protected central square, is covered with a carpet of nearly one million begonias, with a different theme of decoration chosen each year. Last year, the flowers were arranged in such as way to celebrate 150 years of friendship between Belgium and Japan. Who knows what 2018 has in store?

The Grand Place carpeted by flowers
The Grand Place carpeted by flowers CREDIT: ALAMY
3. World’s most beautiful square?
Speaking of the Grand Place, this concourse in Brussels framed by the Town Hall and opulent guildhalls is at the heart of city life. Once a market, bombarded in the 17th century (and then rebuilt) and today a major convening point of Brussels tourists, the Grand Place is a must-stroll. In 2010 it was voted the world’s most beautiful square, ahead of Moscow’s Red Square and Place Stanislas in Nancy.

Since renewing my interest in art a couple of years ago, I remember seeing Hooker’s green named as a color in just about every popular medium—oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pastel.

That “tweet” also got me to thinking again about how certain colors got their names. But, as I often say, what do I know? I didn’t know where the name for Hooker’s green came from, so I thought I’d try to find out. Here’s what I learned: