European institutions employ around 40,000 Europeans from all and any origins. More than 20,000 lobbyists, 1,400 journalists and 5,332 diplomats gravitate around the institutions. Brussels hosts close to 300 regional representations, another extra 2,500 international agencies, more than 2,000 international companies and 150 international law firms. Yet a majority of the 30% of non-Belgian Brussels residents aren’t anywhere close to the European spheres. They live in the city centre, in rundown areas, and few profit from Brussels’ internationalisation. Just like many 'grassroots citizens' of Brussels, they are excluded from the city’s current development model. The authors of 'Brussels as an international city' therefore wonder whether internationalisation is the right development strategy for Brussels.