Why did Brussels grow as a trade centre in the Middle Ages?

Brussels grew as a significant trade center in the Middle Ages primarily due to its strategic geographic location. The settlement developed at the intersection of the Senne River and a major east-west economic route that connected Cologne on the Rhine with important commercial hubs in Flanders, such as Brugge and Ypres.1

This crossroads facilitated the establishment of a market and bartering center under the protection of the dukes of Brabant. By the 12th century, the city’s economy was further bolstered by the manufacture of luxury fabrics. These textiles were exported to major fairs in Paris, Venice, and the Champagne region of France, generating significant wealth for the city's merchant families.1