The largest city in Belgium (in terms of inhabitants within the municipality) is Antwerp. With over 530,000 residents, the port city is significantly larger than the runner-up, Ghent. People often think Brussels is the largest; although the capital region counts more than a million inhabitants, the municipality of ‘City of Brussels’ has only about 190,000.
Belgium is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. The cities are so close to each other that you can often travel from one major city to another within half an hour. This list is a mix of Flemish trading cities and Walloon industrial hubs.
Here are the 10 most populous municipalities in the land of our southern neighbors.
1. Antwerp (Flanders)
Antwerp is not only the largest city in Belgium by population but also the economic heart of Flanders. It boasts the second-largest port in Europe. The city is known worldwide as the center of the diamond trade and as a fashion capital. The residents, called Sinjoren, are known for their pride and direct nature.
2. Ghent (Flanders)
Ghent is the favorite city of many in Belgium. It is a perfect blend of history and modern life. It features a massive historical center (with the famous Gravensteen, a castle right in the middle of the city) and is simultaneously the largest student city in the country. Tourists often appreciate Ghent because it feels more authentic and vibrant than the sometimes very touristy Bruges.
3. Charleroi (Wallonia)
The largest city in Wallonia is not Liège, but Charleroi. It used to be the beating heart of the mining and steel industry (“Le Pays Noir”). After a long period of decline, the city is now making a massive comeback. Old factories are being converted into museums and cultural centers. It is also the cradle of comics: the publisher Dupuis (known for Spirou and Gaston Lagaffe) is based here.
4. Liège (Wallonia)
Liège is situated on the Meuse and is called the “Cité Ardente” (Fiery City). It is the cultural capital of Wallonia. The Liège-Guillemins railway station, designed by Santiago Calatrava, is a modern architectural wonder that stands in stark contrast to the old city center. Liège is also known for its waffles (the thick ones with pearl sugar) and the exuberant nightlife in the Le Carré district.
5. Brussels / Bruxelles (Brussels)
This is the municipality ‘City of Brussels’. Here you will find the Grand Place, Manneken Pis, and the Royal Palace. It is the administrative center of the European Union. Although the municipality itself has fewer than 200,000 residents, it feels like a metropolis because it flows seamlessly into the other Brussels municipalities. It is one of the most multicultural cities in the world.
6. Schaerbeek (Brussels)
Schaerbeek borders Brussels-City directly and is the second-largest municipality in the region. It is known as the “Donkey Municipality” (in the past, farmers brought their sour cherries here on donkeys to the market for Kriek beer). The municipality features beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and a large Turkish and Moroccan community, providing a lively atmosphere and great dining options.
7. Anderlecht (Brussels)
This too is a municipality within the Brussels-Capital Region. To the general public, the name is synonymous with the football club RSC Anderlecht, the most successful club in Belgian history. However, Anderlecht is more than football; the house of the famous humanist Erasmus is located here and is now a museum.
8. Bruges (Flanders)
The “Venice of the North.” The entire city center is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In the Middle Ages, this was one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. Today, the city lives almost entirely on tourism. Travel guides often warn that it can be extremely busy in the summer, but the silent reien (canals) and medieval streets remain enchantingly beautiful.
9. Namur (Wallonia)
Namur is the official capital of the Walloon Region (even though Charleroi and Liège are larger). The city is beautifully situated at the confluence of the rivers Sambre and Meuse. A gigantic citadel, one of the largest fortresses in Europe, towers over the city. It is an elegant, quiet city with many students and a rich history.
10. Leuven (Flanders)
We close the top 10 with the beer capital of Belgium. Leuven is home to Stella Artois (AB InBev, the largest brewery in the world). Additionally, the city houses the oldest university in the Low Countries (KU Leuven). The Oude Markt is often called “the longest bar in the world” because it is a single continuous string of dozens of pubs and terraces.