Belgium used to belong to the countries in Europe with a very conservative attitude towards gays until the mid 1990s and then became one of the most progressive countries regarding gay rights within only 10 years. For instance, it took more than 25 years after the Stonewall riots in New York for the first Gay Pride march to happen in Belgium's capital Brussels – but now gays and lesbians in Belgium have better legal rights and a higher gay self-confidence than in the once leading USA and in many European countries.
As our Brussels Gay Maps show, many of the gay bars, clubs, saunas and shops are located in the city centre along and around the street Rue du Marché au Charbon (Kolenmarkt – Brussels and its street names are bilingual: French and Flemish) – very close to many other shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.
Most gay bars in Brussels aren't very exciting for gay travellers, but Brussels gay club life is one of the best in Europe and attracts guys from Belgium's neighbours France, Germany, Netherlands and other countries.