A controversial opinion from a columnist in the New York Times, Corinne Maier, who also described the Belgian capital as “a sort of mini-New York”.

Maier is the author of books such as "Bonjour Laziness" and "No Kids: 40 Good Reasons Not to Have Children." As such, she's no stranger to bucking the conventional wisdom. She also knows whereof she speaks, having moved a few years ago from Paris to Brussels. “Apart from the cheap accommodation, there are many lovely cafés. While Londoners lament the disappearance of their old-fashioned pub, and Parisians complain that bistrots are being replaced by "le fast-food," Brussels is an oasis for anyone who craves for an old-fashioned pub crawl or a relax aperitif with friends,” she writes.

“This has to be a joke. I lived in Brussels for a year and a half and you couldn't get me out of there fast enough,” writes Srsly of London on the NY Times Room for Debate discussion board.

“Brussels as a mini NYC might be a valid comparison, but it is one of the easiest cities to live for a foreigner,” writes Olivia from Charleston, South Carolina, springing to Brussels' defence. “The food, drink and entertainment are world class and much less expensive than Paris or London. You can have a day trip to Bruges, Antwerp, Amsterdam and by Eurostar, Paris with little effort. The locals are perfectly happy to have foreigners in their midst, as long as you are affluent. No place is great for the poor immigrant, but then for that large segment of the population there is no welcome anywhere.”

Avidreader from Connecticut: “Having been to Paris and although I love Europe, the city was too big to get around, I fell in love with Brussels as having the feel of a small Parisian city. And the Bistros - that’s another article!”

The last word goes to John from Port of Spain in Trinidad: “Brussels? Drab and boring. Why no mention of Antwerp or Rotterdam?”