Are you a fan of the bizarre and unusual? Then take a look at the list below! It contains some unique and exciting things to do in Brussels which your average guide might not tell you about. So when you step from you Brussels city hotel doorstep, take yourself off the well-worn path of the tourist trail and explore the secrets this city has to offer.

La Maison de Toone

If you want to find something truly special to entice you out of your Brussels city hotel, then visit La Maison de Toone. This establishment offers everything puppet related, in a delightfully quirky setting. In the attic you will find an adorable little puppet theatre with a decor of blackened beams and mulit-coloured cushions nailed onto wooden planks. There is a great puppet workshop, where a bevy of new 'toones' will be brought to life under the talented hands of the puppeteers. You can visit the library, which also includes a superb video section for your viewing pleasure, and finally there is the puppet museum. This is where the older puppets are placed when they retire from the stage and the museum is home to a wonderful collection, including many from far flung corners of the world.

Plasticarium

A mad myriad of brightly plastic items - from TVs, to furniture and art - populates this museum. The collection stems from the 1960s to the present day and showcases many top contemporary designers. Walking through the doors, you are transported back to the swinging sixties and can't help but be captured by the pop-culture ambience. This groovy collection is the brainchild of Philippe Decelle, and every piece has been collected through of his passion for preserving the memory of these plastic works. This museum is well situated close to your Brussels city hotel and will be an experience you won't forget in a hurry.

The Farm in the Parc Maximilien

Located only a 10-minute walk from the Grand-Place and your Brussels city hotel, the Farm, in the Parc Maximilien, is the perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon. The park was constructed after the Second World War, along with 700 homes and businesses, in the northern part of the city and is a welcome escape from urban bustle of life in Brussels. The Farm was set up in an old car park in 1990 and has been running ever since.

Upon entering the Farm, you are transported to the countryside - there are sheep lazily grazing next to chickens pecking grain, there are rabbits, goats and a whole other host of other rural farm delights. Workshops are organised for visitors to gather eggs, feed the animals, or tend to the orchard and vegetable garden - if it's raining you can take in a session on DIY in the barn. One of the main priorities of the farm is to make visitors aware of environmental issues.

Street Lamp Museum

This is a deliciously odd open-air museum which exhibits about 20 street lamps depicting the evolution of Brussels street lighting. There are enamelled plaques detailing the significance of each lamp explaining its place in the timeline. The Street Lamp museum is best visited at dusk for the most atmospheric experience. It is part art installation and part national museum and is well worth taking in on a sunset stroll back to your Brussels city hotel.