Good afternoon!
I'm trying to be positive today, despite the weather here in Brussels. So, in that vein, I want to draw your attention to a report today in The Brussels Times about Brussels' global ranking.
The study was conducted by leading research firm Oxford Economics, and looked at the attractiveness of cities for investment. Brussels is ranked 34th out of 1000 globally, up from 45th place in 2024. The city also scores higher on quality of life compared to London.
The index notes that Brussels is "an impressively global city given its size". Antwerp and Ghent were the only other Belgian cities to make the index, coming in at 75 and 76, respectively. However, not to put too much of a downer on things, the report says Brussels' standing is in jeopardy if things continue on the current path.
It highlights the issues we here at The Brussels Times report on daily, and have also identified as growing challenges for the city and the authorities. This includes things like lawlessness and violence, noting that Brussels has "one of the highest crime rates across Western Europe", and high levels of air pollution. The study also says that it is "likely to continue suffering from deficiencies relating to its patchy governance structure" – highlighting the lack of a Brussels Government as a key factor (I refer you to my previous BIBs!).
I am always somewhat sceptical of surveys like this – and there are many published in any given year – which rank cities against each other, as there are so many criteria which can be included or excluded, meaning cities often end up in vastly different positions in each respective survey. However, to end on a positive note, regardless of Brussels' position in this specific poll, I think it's safe to say that some of the conclusions are undeniable and positive.
The city we all call home has its faults and problems, yes, but it is vibrant and accessible, and has, for the most part, a great quality of life to enjoy. And above all, what makes cities is the people. Brussels has a wonderfully diverse population – and here I include Belgian-born citizens – living alongside each other, all contributing to the cultural and social tapestry which is ever growing and evolving.
From that perspective, you can't really ask much more from a city, can you – because in Brussels, it's certainly not the weather that's the attraction!
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