Belgium’s obsession with chocolate is not imaginary; the country produces over 170,000 tonnes of the stuff every year. And although other cities such as Barcelona and Zurich can also lay title to ‘chocolate capital of Europe’, chocolate shops form a strong part of the urban scenery in central Brussels. Here are a few of the best places to get your hit:

Arguably, Brussels’ most celebrated virtue (besides moules frites, beer and chocolate) is Tintin, the intrepid cartoon character created by the Georges Prosper Remi, better known as Hergé. Whilst Tintin and his dog Snowy’s appeal is universal and enduring (Spielberg is currently making a trilogy of his adventures in 3D), there are plenty of other Belgium cartoonists whose work will be familiar to you; Jijé, Morris (who invented the lovable cowboy Lucky Luke), Frank Pé of Brousaille fame, the smurfs creator Peyo and many more besides have made Belgium synonymous with the ‘clean line’ style of comic strip art. There are many places in the centre of Brussels that pay homage to these early auteurs of animation, from Museums to bookshops to street art. Here are few suggestions:

The Grand Place in Brussels is one of the world’s largest and most spectacular squares and is lined with wonderful period buildings. The city centre area also has plenty of Brussels holiday apartments. In 1971, the first Flower Carpet was created within the Grand Place by E. Stautemans, a landscape architect. A graduate of Ghent Horticultural College, Stautemans often experimented with making carpets and rugs out of flowers and he had a particular fondness for begonias. Following years of practice, Stautemans was an expert in the creation of wonderful flower carpets which had sophisticated patterns and amazing floral colours. Size became an issue which is why Stautemans decided to create the most fantastic flower carpet in Brussels, surrounded by much of Brussels’ ancient architecture in Grand Place. Each year, the flower carpet covers over three hundred square metres and involves the use of over eight hundred thousand begonias. Within the carpet design are several fountains that spout water onto the blooms to keep them fresh in the hot August sun for four days. Once the carpet is finished, the result is almost beyond what the eye can take in. The multicoloured flower carpet creates a truly incredible centrepiece in the Grand Place ...

Eyes flashed Noses grasped for oxygen Mouths thrashed Ears squashed Mr and Mrs Saxena smashed the vulnerable brochure. "Where now to go for our sweet honeymoon?" She crackled "Coconut Island in India" He tracked Europe section "Hey, Brussels" that's it "Our destination" and no more mutual tirade “my dear!” So here they departed mingling with the tourist influx chattering amid the humongous bunch heading towards Brussels Mrs and Mr Saxena arrived at dawn at Brussels Airport Maritime breeze soothed the frozen faces Mr and Mrs Saxena Took off their huge coats Pulled out their soft socks “Hey Brussels is warmer We escaped from the cutting cold in Delhi this January” Corpulent back-packs now was ambulatory no more. He accelerated to the coast She grabbed his hands for, well, a kizzzzzz He felt like Lucky Luke, hailing the Atlantic breeze for some detective clues She felt like Victor Hugo, quietening for the souls to communicate The architect Mr Saxena ‘Got lost’ in Grand Place, Royal Palace The ‘far-sighted’ Mrs Saxena Stunned by the Manneken Pis “Hey sweetie, how about our kids? Will they be in that Vrije Universiteit Brussel?” “Sure, honey” Mr Saxena assured “And let’s bound them for some Dutch courses since their babie-hood Let’s name them Tintin, Cubitus, Gaston Lagaffe and Marsupilami” So what's that? What's honeymoon by the way? Is it necessarily sweet as if we can taste the moon? Or as bitter as the dark chocolate? Can the moon dance? As ...