The Atomium: Brussels' retro-futuristic relic of an optimistic age

The Atomium in Brussels was built for its 1958 world fair. (Photo: Greg Hurrell)

Sat, 06 Apr 2024

Take the train from Brussels airport to the central city, and you might catch a glimpse of a strange distant structure glinting above the treetops. A few seconds later it vanished again.I was in Brussels for a two-day symposium hosted by the European Commission (EC), which was keen to tell the world about the EU’s climate change and trade strategies.The trip gave me about a day and a half of free time. On a first-time visit to a big city, the question is always how best to spend it.It’s a big, bustling city filled with the instituti...

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