Local Attractions

Atomium

Atomium, Brussels Built for the 1958 Brussels World Fair (Expo ’58), this 103-metre high structure represents a molecule of iron, magnified 165 billion times. Nine 18-metre diameter steel spheres are linked by tubes which enclose escalators up to 35 metres long. Windows in the top sphere offer a panoramic view of Brussels. Some spheres house 1950s exhibitions. Initially planned for a life span of only six months, architect André Waterkeyn's design has lived on to become a popular tourist attraction and a Belgian landmark.