Global village
There’s a lot more to Waterloo than expats and a visit to the famous lion. Vanessa Marschner points out some of her favourite spots
Vanessa Marschner is a half-Scottish, half-German entrepreneur from Waterloo who, two years ago, decided to convert her home into a lingerie store. The result is Felicité, a store that specialises in bras and fittings for D- to K-cups, as well as nursing and maternity bras in all sizes (www.feliciteonline.be). Although Vanessa was born in Schaerbeek some 37 years ago, she straddles the line between expat and native: “I wouldn’t really consider myself Belgian,” she reveals. “But Belgium is definitely my home.” After several years in Rixensart and Ixelles, Vanessa and her son moved to the Joli-Bois area of Waterloo about seven years ago.“It might seem far away from Brussels, but technically it’s only one long street removed from the city: Chaussée de Bruxelles followed by Chaussée de Waterloo.”
Waterloo is most famous for its statue of a lion on top of an artificial hill (even though the statue is actually in Braine l’Alleud). According to legend, the lion was made from melted cannons, abandoned by the French on the battlefield of Waterloo in 1815, where Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated for good. “People often forget how pivotal Waterloo is for the history of Europe,” Vanessa explains. “Had the wrong person won, we wouldn’t have been here today. During the summer months, I recommend taking one of those converted lorries that take you through Waterloo and tell you all about the battle.”
Something else Waterloo is known for is its various international schools (including Saint-John’s, BEPS and European Montessori School) and, as a result, its large community of expats. “Not everybody living here is American, British or Swedish, though,” says Vanessa. “In my area of Joli-Bois for instance, nearly everybody is Belgian. Compared to a few years ago, I think the number of expats has gone down.” Some of the popular expat places include the British supermarket Stonemanor (8a Rue Théophile Delbar). “The shop is smaller than the one in Everberg, which makes it easier to choose,” Vanessa says. “Irish pub The Snug (129 Chaussée de Tervuren) is probably the most frequented expat bar, along with Oscar’s Café (200 Chaussée de Waterloo), where they serve lovely cocktails as well as a speculoos hot chocolate to die for.”
To eat, Vanessa has a few local favourites. “I love the Japanese restaurant Wataro (399 Chaussée de Bruxelles),” Vanessa says. “The place gathers people from all walks of life, from Japanese businessmen to Belgian families with their kids. The service is not necessarily friendly, but the food is delicious.” For some real Belgian food and atmosphere there is only one place to go: “The frites at Friterie de Joli-Bois on Place Emile Vandervelde are the best ones in the area. I sometimes go to local bar Le Ballodrome (538 Chaussée de Bruxelles), where the average age must be around 60 but it really has the vibe of a local village pub.” Another one of Vanessa’s tips is Irsi chocolate shop (176 Chaussée de Bruxelles). “The chocolate factory is just around the corner from where I live. I guess I like to eat locally,” says Vanessa with a laugh.
Another thing you’ll notice when in Waterloo is the open space. The roads are wider and the houses aren’t packed together. “I let my son cycle around without worry, and around here, all the kids walk to school together. I don’t think that would be possible if I still lived in Ixelles.” Waterloo is home to many families with children, and there are plenty of things to do there. “The communal swimming pool (33 Rue Théophile Delbar) was recently renovated. It has a detachable roof, which is great during summer,” Vanessa says.
“The Bowling Factory (29 Chaussée de Nivelles) looks like an old mill and you are always guaranteed a good afternoon or night out there. On rainy days, indoor playground The Kids Factory (63 Chaussée de Bruxelles) is a good option to keep the youngsters busy while their parents chat away in the bar overlooking the playing field.” And when the weather is nice, Vanessa often takes her son to the Sunday flea market in the car park of the big Carrefour (579, Chaussée de Charleroi). “I also love to take my dog out for a long walk. There are lots of little paths leading to Lasne or Rixensart. In some areas you even get the impression you’re in the countryside – even if you live near a big chaussée,” says Vanessa.
Vanessa says: “Waterloo isn’t too far from the centre of Brussels, but you don’t actually need to go there as the commercial heart has everything for shoppers and foodies. If you do need to travel down, traffic on both chaussées can be a nightmare on Saturdays.”
Property: Mainly detached houses with big gardens. Prices start at about €3,000 per square metre. If you’d like to rent an apartment, expect to pay about €1,000 a month for two bedrooms (Vlan Immo)
Transport: A 50-minute bus ride on TEC Bus W takes you from Brussels South Station to Waterloo town centre. Or you can take the train to Waterloo station (on the Brussels-Charleroi line)
Meet the neighbours: A diverse mix of lifelong Belgian residents as well as a large community of expats from both the US and Europe
Photo by OTTOMURA
