Well-preserved shops in downtown Brussels
Au Grand Rasoir / Coutellerie Jamart © Korei Guided Tours
Au Grand Rasoir / Coutellerie Jamart © Catherine Dardenne
Dry cleaning De Geest
Maison du Thé © Katherine Ennekens
Authentic shopping in the center of Brussels
Some shops give you the feeling that you've stepped back in time when you walk in. These businesses have retained their charm for generations. No cookie-cutter stores here, but places with character, personal service, and a specific range of products. Here you can feel the love for the product in every detail, and the interior, often unchanged over the years, invites you to discover, admire, and be amazed.
During this walk through the centre of Brussels, you will discover how unique some interiors are: wooden display cases with stained-glass windows, unusual materials, and customised work that you hardly ever see anywhere else today. Each shop tells a story of craftsmanship, passion, and generations of entrepreneurs who have built their businesses with heart and soul. It is precisely these details that make the interior a valuable and fragile heritage, a piece of history that must be preserved. Only when a familiar shop disappears do local residents and customers realize how great the loss is.
Shops as monuments to cherish
The guided tour, inspired by the book 'Goed bewaarde winkelinterieurs' (Well-preserved shop interiors), introduces you to special shops and the stories behind the shopkeepers and their shop windows. You will see how personal service, a love for the profession, and a unique range of products come together to create an experience that still appeals today. From now on, look at shop windows and interiors with different eyes: they are living monuments that we must cherish and appreciate, each and every one worth a detour.
Where possible, we will also take a look inside these authentic shops. Subject to opening hours, crowds and the goodwill of the owners.
This walk was developed in collaboration with Katherine Ennekens, author of the book “Well-Preserved Shop Interiors" (Well-Preserved Shop Interiors), 2023, Luster.
Good to know
This city walk takes place in an urban environment where obstacles such as cobblestones, narrow sidewalks, and level differences cannot always be avoided. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
This walk is a linear walk with a different end point. Don't want to walk back to the starting point? No problem: there is always a public transport stop nearby. At the start, you can agree on the end point with the guide.
Reservation and guide fee. We are exempt from VAT.
