Video summary

Welcome to Europe’s Most Hated city

Main summary

Key takeaways

News and Commentary

Overview

A travel vlogger argues that Brussels—often described as Europe’s “most hated” or “worst” city—feels unusually dirty, unsafe, and socially chaotic compared with expectations of “beautiful” historic European architecture.

Key claims from the walk

  • Filth and public disorder: The narrator repeatedly highlights scattered rubbish throughout the streets, especially around Brussels North Station. They claim the area smells strongly of urine and appears abandoned or degraded.

  • Severe crime concerns (especially around stations): They assert that Brussels North has the second-highest murder rate in Europe (after a small town in Latvia). They later cite 92 shootings in the area over the past year as evidence of persistent violence.

  • “Worst” station narrative: They describe Brussels South (Midi) as even worse, claiming it has its own police force of ~100 officers. They frame this as part of why the city is viewed as Europe’s most dangerous.

  • Urban sanitation / public urination: At Brussels Midi, the narrator focuses on an outdoor urinal they say was built because people repeatedly urinated on walls. They portray the scene as ongoing and extreme, reinforcing their overall “apocalyptic/scummy” impression.

  • Cultural/political interpretation (EU governance): After the on-the-ground complaints, the narrator pivots to EU governance, suggesting (in their commentary) that Brussels being the EU capital is “fitting” given their view of EU asylum/migration policy. They claim EU institutions:

    • restrict national control over asylum seekers,
    • vote on redistribution programs across countries,
    • allow many migrants to remain after illegal entry,
    • and are insulated from public opinion due to insufficient democratic accountability.

Overall conclusion

Regardless of politics, the narrator concludes that Brussels is the most “putrid” city they’ve ever visited and does not seem recoverable to them.

Presenters or contributors

  • The video narrator / travel vlogger (no other clearly identified presenters or contributors in the subtitles).

Original video