Belgisches Viertel and Brüsseler Platz

The Belgisches Viertel, or Belgian Quarter, is a fashionable district in Neustadt-Nord of Cologne, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, centred on Brüsseler Platz and streets named after Belgian cities such as Antwerpener Straße and Brüsseler Straße. The quarter is known for late nineteenth-century apartment buildings, independent boutiques, cafes, bars and street art, and it is one of the best places in the city for candid street photography. Brüsseler Platz, with its church of St. Michael and the tree-shaded square, is the focal point, and the surrounding blocks offer painted facades, shop windows, murals and everyday scenes. Late afternoon gives warm light on facades and golden tones on the plane-tree squares, while evenings bring lit bars, terraces and neon signs, with a lively crowd, especially from spring to early autumn when the square fills with young people. Weekends are the busiest, and the square can be very crowded in warm evenings, so weekday afternoons are better for quiet frames. Street photography is legal in public in Germany, but people should not be photographed in a way that violates their privacy, and close portraits are best taken with permission. Tripods are impractical in the crowded streets, so a fast handheld prime is more useful. There is no access fee. A 35 mm or 50 mm prime or a compact camera works well for discreet shooting, and a wide-angle suits facades. Drone use is restricted in the city. Cafes and bars provide restrooms for customers, and the area is easy to reach on foot from the Ringe and by tram.