tourism flanders brussels

Visit Flanders

Flanders has many beautiful spots and tourist attractions worth visiting. Planning a holiday trip to Flanders? Then definitely visit the website Visitflanders.com (opens in new window) , which offers plenty of information about our historic art cities, the Flemish coast and gastronomy, among other things.

Visit Flanders Visit Flanders (opens in new window)

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• 1 Provinces
• 3 Understand
• 4.1 By plane
• 4.2 By boat
• 4.4 By train
• 4.5 Other means
• 5.2 By public transport
• 5.3.1 The cycle node network
• 5.4 By foot
• 8.1 Music festivals
• 11 Stay safe

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Flanders ( Dutch : Vlaanderen ) is the Dutch -speaking, northern part of Belgium wedged between the North Sea and the Netherlands in the north and Wallonia and France in the south. This region has an immense historical and cultural wealth made visible through its buildings, works of art and festivals.

• 51.221111 4.399722 1 Antwerp ( Antwerpen ) — Flanders' biggest city, with a large cathedral, the second-largest port of Europe, and plenty to see and do.
• 51.208889 3.224167 2 Bruges ( Brugge ) — also known as the "Venice of the north", a very nice medieval town with lots of small canals
• 50.930481 5.338497 3 Hasselt — the capital city of Limburg , with a lot of greenery and shopping possibilities
• 50.8275 3.265833 4 Kortrijk — an old city with famous medieval towers (Broeltowers) and a big pedestrian shopping district

• 50.8775 4.704444 6 Leuven — an old town with a very old university and a beautiful town hall
• 51.028056 4.480278 7 Mechelen — small town with a famous cathedral
• 51.164444 4.139167 8 Sint-Niklaas — offering nice cycling opportunities and boasts Belgium's largest market square
• 50.850833 2.885 9 Ypres ( Ieper ) — made famous by its destruction during the First World War ; many memorials and museums

Nowadays, Flanders is one of the three federal regions of Belgium (the other two being Wallonia and Brussels ). This means that it has its own government, a parliament and separate laws. The capital, however, is Brussels , over which Flanders has only partial jurisdiction. But Flanders has travelled a long historic road before arriving at its present situation. Once being its own County of Flanders, the territory has been part of several larger countries or empires. Since Belgium's founding in 1830, tensions between the Flemish and French-speaking population have led to the federalisation of Belgium. There is an active independence movement in Flanders, but the struggle has largely been peaceful and is of no danger to any tourist.

The split between the regions is quite noticeable when travelling via public transport. The bus line operator in Flanders differs from the one in Brussels and Wallonia , resulting in different ticket types and different prices. The train network is a uniform network, however, but the announcements are adapted to the language of the region the train is driving in. Also when travelling by car, you'll see that the traffic signs are translated, so it's better to look up the name of your destination in Dutch and French before you leave.

Flanders has several airports:

• Brussels Airport ( BRU   IATA ). Located in Zaventem , this is the main airport in Belgium and likely the most convenient point of entry.  
• Antwerp Airport ( ANR   IATA ). Located in the District of Deurne, a few kilometers from Antwerp it only has direct flights to London and Manchester catering for business customers.  
• Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport ( KJK   IATA ). Business airport in Wevelgem near Kortrijk .  
• Ostend - Bruges International Airport ( OST   IATA ). Located in Oostende , mostly served by charter and freight flights.  

There are several ports of entry at the coast and on the Schelde you can find several small ports too.

Calais and Dunkirk (France), a short drive from western Flanders, receive dozens of ferries a day from Dover in England. The overnight ferries from Hull to Zeebrugge were axed in 2021, though ferries still run from Hull to Rotterdam (Netherlands), which has good road and rail access to northern Flanders.

The E19 goes through Flanders, also the E40 crosses the region.

Big cities in neighbouring countries such as Paris , Amsterdam and London have connections to bigger cities in Flanders. From there you can change train and reach every city in Flanders.

Other means

By bicycle or on foot. As we are in the European Union there are no borders and you can travel freely. Several places have nature parks and allow you to walk in and out (often following old-smugglers routes).

All roads are free of charge in Flanders except that some tunnels, such as the Liefkenshoektunnel in Antwerp , have tolls.

The roads and signalisation are pretty good and almost completely lit during the night. However, since 2017 the default speed limit outside built-up areas is 70 km/h, not 90 km/h as in the rest of Belgium. This speed limit is seldom explicitly signposted.

Many foreigners find in-town traffic nervous due to the many twisty, small roads with very busy traffic. Older towns can appear to be a maze of one-way streets, where a single missed turn might takes you to the other side of the town. One-way streets also often change, causing navigation units and paper maps to be outdated very soon (even if you just installed new updates). Often it is better to park your car and continue on foot. Be sure to look out for bicycles when you're driving in a town; bikes might ride fast and appear from everywhere. Car drivers are also held completely responsible when they are involved in an accident with bikes or pedestrians. The maximum speed in towns is normally 50 km/h, and quite often reduced to 30 km/h. In general, the towns are not large, and most towns have a ring-road, allowing you to drive to the other side without driving through the town.

In-between smaller towns, the road-network consists mostly out of 2-lane roads, where the speed limit changes between 70 km/h (in the fields) and 50 km/h (when you cross a village). The roads are quite straight, the road surface is well-maintained, and the cyclists normally have separated lanes. So outside towns, driving cars is a better option.

The motorway network in Flanders is quite well developed, and connects all bigger cities, and gives good access to the neighbouring countries. But during rush hour (around 8:00 and 17:00), there are many traffic jams around Brussels and Antwerp. In the summer, there are also traffic jams on the E40, connecting the coast to the mainland. The maximum speed on motorways is 120 km/h.

By public transport

The national train company is called NMBS but is generally indicated by a blue "B" within an ellipse. Trains will get you to most cities. There is a NMBS/SNCB smart-phone app which allows you to easily buy tickets and plan journeys in English. Tickets for over 65s are significantly cheaper.

In cities you will find buses, trams and metro from De Lijn ( The Line ). The same ticket is valid for 90 minutes for one zone. You can buy multi-ride tickets (Lijnkaart), this is cheaper than buying a ticket per ride. Depending on the number of trips you make in a day, buying a day or 3 day ticket might be cheaper than using multiple single tickets or tickets for multiple zones. Buying tickets in advance is always cheaper than buying from the driver. De Lijn ticket offices might be closed in the off-hours. De Lijn tickets are valid in every Flemish city, but only on their buses in Brussels. Brussels has its own transport company called MIVB/STIB.

There is a De Lijn app available for Android or IOS smartphones which offer journey planning, real time travel info and ticket purchase in English. You can also buy a single ticket by holding a credit/debit card neat to the white card readers.

Tickets purchased on a card should be validated on the reader (not the white one) when entering the bus/tram while tickets purchased on the website or app should be validated before entering the vehicle. With a few exceptions, the tickets are usable throughout Flanders.

Antwerp and Ghent have a tram network, and the coast also has a single tram-line, connecting all coastal towns. The tram networks are, just as the bus lines, operated by De Lijn and the same tickets are used as on the bus. There are no metro lines in Flemish cities.

Flanders has a vast network of special roads for bicycles . Get a map in a tourist office, because sometimes they can be hard to find.

Inside towns, when there is no separate lane designed for cyclists they ride between the cars due to the narrow streets, so be cautious. If however there is a bicycle lane, you are obliged to use it. If not, you can face a fine. Outside towns, most big roads have dedicated cycle lanes, though small roads (even when they have no dedicated cycle lane) are more relaxing to ride on.

At some train stations, there are bicycle rental opportunities.

The cycle node network

Flanders implemented a cycle node network. See the map . The network connects streets where cycling is relaxing. Every crossing between relaxing streets received a node number. When you create a route, you only need to write down the node numbers on a small piece of paper, and tape it to your bike. This way, there's no need to mess with big paper maps , or trying to attach a navigation device to your bike. However, you should always carry a map with you, in case you miss a sign. The cycle node network is ideal to create your own roundtrips in the countryside, or to bring you from one town to another.

Getting around by foot is by far the easiest inside towns. You don't need to take one-way streets into account, and most streets have raised sidewalks. Quite often, streets in the town centre are completely reserved for pedestrians. Many of the historical streets do have cobblestones as their primary pavement, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Most towns are also small enough to visit them purely on foot.

The official language of Flanders is the Flemish dialect of Dutch . Flemish Dutch has some vocabulary not used in the Netherlands and a distinct, soft accent but it is still standard Dutch. Nearly all Flemings, with the partial exception of seniors, are capable of speaking standard Dutch.

Most people know English at least moderately, and the younger generation (younger than 30) in particular can be expected to understand English properly. Not everyone can engage in a conversation with native English speakers due to lack of spoken English experience. Above 50, the chance of successfully communicating with someone in English decreases rapidly. Basic French is, just like English, taught in schools to everyone, but with the exception of areas in the proximity of the language border, French language skills are usually insufficient for an effective conversation. Flemings are extremely proud of their language, and in the Flemish region around Brussels for example, many locals might not appreciate you ask something in French. Either way, English is a better bet to ask something or start a conversation. A considerable number of people also understand German, but many have difficulties speaking it due to the different pronunciations and conjugations. If you speak German slowly, Flemings will likely understand what you're trying to say. Other languages are most likely unknown, with the exception of Arabic, Turkish and Berber in some Antwerp suburbs where immigrants accumulate.

Tourist brochures are often available three or four languages (German is sometimes excluded). Official information, such as public transport schedules and traffic signs, is very often only in Dutch. Francophone town names on traffic signs are also translated to Dutch (e.g Luik instead of " Liège ", Rijsel instead of " Lille ", etc.)

Viewing a movie in Flanders is also possible. Most films are shown in the original version (labelled OV at cinemas) with French and Dutch subtitles. Only children's movies are habitually dubbed ( NV ).

• Historical cities, like Antwerp , Bruges , Ghent , Leuven , Lier or Mechelen .

Music festivals

There are many music festivals organised throughout the summer. The bigger ones happen in small villages, because there is lots of space and not many neighbours to complain about the noise.

Some of the famous ones are:

• Pukkelpop (near Hasselt ) is still an independent festival organised by youth movements. They figure big names but try to have alternative groups too.
• Rock Werchter (near Leuven ), owned by Clearchannel features all big commercial bands.
• Maanrock (in Mechelen ) is one of the larger free festivals. It's inside the city.
• Marktrock (in Leuven ) has many different stages with different kinds of music all over the city. Most music is popular music, though there are many small bands playing there. The main stage is the only stage not to be free. Every time you enter you pay a small fee ( 5 euro in 2003 ).
• Sfinks (near Antwerp ) is a world music festival. It has a really nice atmosphere. There is a lot of side animation, like a big market.
• Pole-Pole (in Ghent )
• Openluchttheater Rivierenhof (near Antwerp ) isn't really a festival, though it has big bands all through the summer. Usually they "pick up" artists that have a few days without a gig.
• Couleur Café (in Brussels )
• Werchter Classic (near Leuven ) mainly offers classic rock bands, but has been featuring artists that had their break-through only recently. It's mostly a re-use of the Rock Werchter facilities.
• Graspop (metal music), Rhythm 'n Blues , Dranouter (folk music), Cactus festival , Rock Ternat , Rock@Edegem ... (there are too many to sum up)

The festivals organised in towns are often free and very nice. They stay away from commercial music and have good bands playing combined with small local bands. Flanders has some nice music bands with some international fame (dEUS, Das Pop, Zita Swoon, Soulwax,...)

• Beer . Beer is taken seriously in Belgium. There are hundreds of brands to choose from.  
• Café . Every city or village has a café.  

Flanders is very safe. You will find that people are usually very helpful. In towns, you should of course beware of the usual petty crime (pickpockets in tourist places). Some suburbs around Antwerp have high concentrations of immigrants and should be avoided at night for safety, but tourists are usually unlikely to visit them because these areas typically offer little tourist value. The police force in Flanders is professional and the corruption levels are low in comparison to other government structures. When in trouble, do not hesitate to address police officers, who can be expected to engage in a conversation in English anywhere in Flanders. In tourist areas in particular, police officers will be able to fluently communicate in English.

The relatively flat topography of Flanders favors cycling, but unlike its northern neighbor , cycling infrastructure is poorly developed in many parts of Flanders. Cycling roads are absent outside the major cities, and where cycling roads are available, they are often in a state of disrepair. Wearing a fluorescent vest and safety helmet are not mandatory in Flanders, but of course highly recommendable.

With the exception of wild boars with young offspring, there is no dangerous wildlife in Flanders, and woods or forests are safe any time of the day. In the summer season however, ticks are known to reside in tall grass, and have a small chance of carrying Lyme disease. Check your legs when walking through tall grass or wear long trousers. If strongly discolored concentric circles show up on your skin, you might be bitten by a tick, and it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately.

Jaywalking is not a crime in Flanders, and vehicles will slow down or stop if you stand at the side of the road with the visible intention of crossing.

Tap water is safe to drink anywhere in Flanders, so drink bottles can be refilled at any occasion. Surface water however (streams, rivers, wells) are usually heavily polluted as a result of Flanders' high population density, and unsuitable for consumption regardless of how clean they look.

• Flemings don't like to talk about their income or political preference. They do like to talk with you about beer and chocolate .
• Although the vast majority of Flemish people are indifferent to Flemish nationalism, the Flanders-Wallonia question can be a controversial topic, avoid asking strangers about their views on this. Once you get to know them better and you feel they are open for it, you can ask them about it.
• Although many Flemings speak French , avoid speaking that language, as it may be regarded by some as disrespectful. Explaining you're a tourist (and don't live there) will make people understand, though.
• Most people enjoy helping tourists, and a lot of people speak, apart from Dutch, also English, French and some German (especially the students). Don't hesitate to ask locals if you have a question.
• Throwing garbage or gum on the street is frowned upon – don't be surprised if someone talks to you if you do. You'll soon notice Leuven is a very clean city and locals respect this and try to keep it this way. Use the many bins.
• Giving tips shows that you were content with the service given, but you are certainly not obliged to do so. It is sometimes done in bars and restaurants. Depending on the total, a tip of €0.50 to €2.50 is considered generous.
• If you visit Flanders it would be very logical to also visit Wallonia . Though there is a different mentality, you will find that they are Belgians just like the Flemish (lots of beer and good food).
• There are also some towns just across the NL border which are very near and within easy day-trip distance from Flanders. They are very popular among Flemish people to visit (especially on Sundays, as all shops and supermarkets are open in the Netherlands). The most historically interesting and popular places are Hulst (near Antwerp and Sint-Niklaas ), Sluis (near Bruges and the Belgian coast at Knokke-Heist , and Baarle (a curious enclave inside NL territory, near Turnhout .
• Paris is pretty close, so are London , Cologne , Rotterdam and Amsterdam . These destinations can be reached by train easily.
• The West Frisian Islands in The Netherlands are also not too far.

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Excursion tour to flanders war memorial from brussels.

This is a whole day trip from Brussels that will show you both the beautiful Belgian countryside and the thought-inducing experience of First World War battle sites and memorials. Supported by knowledgeable guide and with lunch included.

The Flanders WW1 memorial

Flanders was an area of major battles during the Great War and there are remnants of those times still present there. You can see the trenches, cratered ground, bunkers, burial sites and various memorative installations. Like statues, poems and tree lines.

Online tickets for Flanders excursion tour

To reserve your place use the reservation module. After entering your information you will receive an email with tickets. And when you come to the meeting point show the guide your ticket from a smartphone or printed paper.

Our tickets reservation service is managed by the company "Tiqets". They designed a well working system and we have great trust in our cooperation. If you have any questions, the customer service is available seven days a week.

Transportation

Meeting is at 9:00 at Rue du Marché Aux Herbes which is nearby the Grand Place (address and map are below). You should be there 15 minutes before with an online ticket ready.

Journey there and back is done in an air-conditioned bus.

The whole tour lasts around 13 hours.

What is included

There is so much to see but we will list at least some of the main points of interest. All this is supported by a knowledgeable guide that will tell you interesting stories and answer your questions.

• Cemetery of German fallen
• Passchendaele battlefield
• Brooding soldier memorial of the gas attacks
• Old bunkers surrounded by trenches and craters
• Vimy Memorial and trench site in France
• Hill 60 where Australian diggers detonated great underground mines
• Polygone woods
• Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres
• Tyne Cot Commonwealth cemetery
• Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate in Ypres

In between that is a lunch that is included in price.

Meeting point address and map

Rue du Marché Aux Herbes 61 1000 Bruxelles Belgium

Welcome to Belgium! We're delighted that you have chosen us for your next holiday.

Discover our surprising regions and let yourself be seduced by all Wallonia, Brussels & Flanders has to offer.

Select your destination and start your discovery. Have a great trip!

VISITWallonia

Avenue Comte de Smet de Nayer 14, 5000 Namur

+ 32 81 84 41 00

[email protected]

visitwallonia.be

Tourist Office for Flanders - Brussels

Grasmarkt 61, 1000 Brussel

+32 2 504 03 00

[email protected]

www.visitflanders.com

Brussels Tourist Agency

Rue Royale 2-4, 1000 Bruxelles

+32 2 513 89 40

[email protected]

visit.brussels

Brussels is rich in history, architecture, gastronomy, culture and so much more! Warm, welcoming and quirky, Brussels is a bustling city where there’s always something going on. Visit us to discover hidden gems and meet people with hearts as big as this vibrant city.

Must-see attractions

You’ve just arrived in Brussels and you don't know where to start? Don't worry, we've put together a list of must-see attractions for you.

Summer in Brussels

Brussels charms, Brussels moves, Brussels surprises, and it does so all year round. Summer, however, is perhaps the capital's most contrasting season. The weather gods can sometimes be at their most capricious; despite the hard-earned summer break for numerous cultural institutions, there's still an incredible amount to do; and the all-important vibe is somewhere between festive exuberance and no-nonsense, easy-going urban! No obligations, everything is possible! In short, Brussels at its best!  

Top 10 museums

Are you coming to Brussels and need some inspiration for your visits? Join us to discover the capital's unmissable museums and attractions, thanks to our list of the most popular, in terms of visitor numbers.

Upcoming events

Saga days i exhibition, book launch, talk, workshops & book stock sale.

oin us to celebrate the launch of SAGA – A photographic journey from Lewis Baltz to Tarrah Krajnak, the book about Astrid Ullens de Schooten Whettnall’s collection. Free admission all 4 days, registration is required for the workshops and the round table: [email protected], places are limited, hurry!

Find the full program on our website: https://fondationastichting.com/en/exhibition/saga-days/

Fondation A Stichting

Exhibitions

Okay for now. Teenage pain committed to paper

1968, a small town in upstate New York. A directionless father, a distraught mother. Two big brothers, one with a big mouth, the other sucked away by the war in Vietnam. Too little money at home, small jobs to keep their heads above water. Jusqu'ici tout va bien is Brussels-based author Nicolas Pitz's comic book adaptation of Gary Schmidt's novel Okay for now (2011).

1968, a small town in upstate New York. A directionless father, a distraught mother. Two big brothers, one with a big mouth, the other sucked away by the war in Vietnam. Too little money at home, small jobs to keep their heads above water. Jusqu'ici tout va bien is Brussels-based author Nicolas Pitz's comic book adaptation of Gary Schmidt's novel Okay for now (2011). In this exhibition, you get a glimpse behind the scenes of an adaptation of a novel into a comic book. One where every narrative and artistic decision was well-considered and excellently executed. It is an ambitious project that has allowed Nicolas Pitz to showcase his talent and artistic sensibility. This comic captures the essence of Gary Schmidt's novel while offering a new visual and narrative experience.

Curator: Isabelle DEBEKKER Author: Nicolas PITZ Publisher: Rue de Sèvres With the support of Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and Brussels Capital-Region

Comic Strip Museum (Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée)

Saint Jazz Festival

Belgium and Brussels have always been the home of jazz. From the invention of the saxophone to the birth of Django Reinhardt and Toots Thielemans, it's hardly surprising that ‘Saint Jazz’ has its own festival in our capital!

The aptly named festival returns to two emblematic venues on the Brussels music scene: the Jazz Station and the Botanique. International icons share the bill with Belgian jazz artists. This year's line-up includes legends such as guitarist Peter Bernstein and young alto saxophonists Kika Sprangers and Irene Reig.

Jazz Station & Botanique

Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode

FAME Festival

Festival where Arts Meet Empowerment Theatre, dance, live arts, exhibition, workshop...

Various places in Brussels

Hans/Jean Arp & Sophie Taeuber-Arp. Friends, Lovers, Partners

Friends, Lovers, Partners

Bozar dedicates a major exhibition to one of the most important artist couples: Hans/Jean Arp and Sophie Taeuber-Arp, two central figures of 20th-century abstract art. Throughout their careers, both artists challenged the hierarchies between the applied and fine arts. The diversity of their work – which includes painting, sculpture, textiles, design and literature – keeps them relevant to this day. Not only are their individual artistic creations remarkable, but also the works they realised together, from their first meeting in 1915 until Taeuber-Arp's early death in 1943.  This exhibition is a unique opportunity to discover Sophie Taeuber-Arp's colourful and geometric abstract work alongside Hans/Jean Arp's biomorphic forms, collages and sculptures.   Read the kids' guide online Read the exhibition guide online

Centre for Fine Arts - Bozar

Car-Free Sunday

Car-Free Sunday will take place on 22 September 2024.

Between 09.30 and 19.00, Brussels-Capital Region will become, as happens every year, Europe’s largest area closed to cars. It’s an opportunity to (re)discover the pleasure of walking, riding on a bike or scooter or travelling on public transport in a peaceful and pleasant city. And to get a taste for active mobility!

Bâtard Festival

In a world of crisis, injustice, and violence, we ask: how do we hold space for art, grief, rage, and hope? This edition of Bâtard faces discomfort head-on. We invite artists who share our struggles, creating spaces to grieve, plot, and dream together. We are not isolated islands; we slide together. Join us SEPT 25-27 at Zinnema.

Sliding Islands  Dear Bâtard Community, In this era of relentless crisis, injustice, and ethnic cleansing, we find ourselves wondering: are you holding up? SHORT REWIND  In April, we postponed a season because of empty batteries and full cognitive dissonance.  But so we’re back, take a seat, a sip and lean into the collective discomfort.  Last year, we discussed the unleashing of emotional vampires. Today, we confront horrors in 4K, exposed for all to see. Our usual appetite for unexpected entrances, misleading paths, hacking discourse, and dismantling classism remains, but now we face pivotal moments.  What does it mean to host a festival amid ongoing genocides? What is the purpose of performing arts when international law and human rights seem more performative than ever? INTENTIONS This year, we invited artists with the intention of supporting their growth and creativity, while co-creating spaces to grieve, plot and hope – artists who share our struggles, our questions, our anger.  The same flesh, nerves, and bones navigate paradoxical territories on a daily basis, so let’s bring them all into one space. We’re not isolated islands, we slide together.  This is an invitation to delve beneath the surface of what appears dystopian. Engage underneath what’s visible at first glance– imagine islands, melting and merging, creating an archipelago of undomesticated bastards. Exploring new possibilities for defining, defending and sharing spaces —whether physical, social, or mental.  ARTISTS Milady Renoir, Araba bni Snassen, and Alexe Dols open their Maquis intérieurs,– the inner struggles that define their activist and artistic practice, invoked by political and poetic friendships.   Nabil Ennassouh draws a gesture of vulnerability that connects the biographical with the political, an attempt of love and abandonment.  Victor Dumont navigates affected matters, questioning our capacity to withstand a crumbling house while acknowledging our susceptibility to being overwhelmed. Eyes wide open. The collective of Céline and Rose-Myrtha, Wildgroei Coven, will share their exploration of sisterhood, spirituality, witchcraft, and ancestry.  Marah Haj Hussein holds a workshop dealing with her research, struggles and questions around languages interlacing in one’s mind in an oppressive environment.  FRIENDSHIP TALKS  Last but not least, we are introducing the new FRIENDSHIP TALKS : instead of the good old “expert aftertalk”, each artist has chosen one close friend to engage in an open conversation about their artistic practices in ways that matter to them.  The expertise will be rooted in affects. We are looking forwards to activate this new island with you all <3 As always, we are here with you, rooted in the present tense, ready to face the best and the worst together.  From Brussels, we send our solidarity from all rivers to all seas of liberation. Bastardly yours, The Bâtard Team

Milady Renoir, Araba bni Snassen, Alexe Dols, Nabil Ennassouh, Victor Dumont, WildGroei Coven, Marah Haj Hussein, and more.

Eat Festival 2024

Keen to discover the latest culinary trends and meet the chefs who are putting Brussels on the map? Eat Festival is back for its 13th edition, from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 September.

This emblematic event of Brussels gastronomy returns to the exceptional setting of the Gare Maritime at Tour & Taxis for a four-day gastronomic extravaganza in the image of Brussels: gourmet, lively, innovative and cosmopolitan. This year, get ready for a brand-new concept! Eat Festival is pulling out all the stops to offer you an accessible, no-holds-barred gastronomic experience. Every day, two teams of Brussels chefs, pastry chefs and cheesemakers will concoct an exclusive and original 3- and 5-course menu, drinks included. Taste the best of the capital with signature dishes, tasty cheeses and indulgent desserts.

Gare Maritime - Tour & Taxis

Transpoesie 2024

The 14th edition of the international poetry festival is back in full force with fresh voices, focusing on surrealism. You can register for the events via the following link: https://forms.gle/D7H7fw4z7sYuW3BX6

TRANSPOESIE celebrates surrealist poetry and linguistic diversity in Brussels from September 26 to 28, 2024 at the centenary of the birth of surrealism. Delve into poetic depths where dreams, reality, and revolutionary spirit intertwine. Embrace the surrealist ethos and see how these poets shape a new world redefining humanity through aesthetic, philosophical depths, or revolutionary spirit. Be ready to encounter poets with an urge to shock, depict the fantastic, the impossible, the magic, different forms of infinite freedom, desire, and reject logical reason. Join this surrealist extravaganza from Thursday September 26 to Saturday 28 for lunchtime debates, thought provoking performances, and poetry “écriture automatique” writing sessions in the public space. Programme: Thursday 26/09: 17:00 - 18:30: Citizens’ Garden: official opening of festival 19:00 - 21:00: Embassy of Luxembourg: Surrealism de Lux (reception with country specialities food & drink) Friday 27/09: 12:00 - 14:00: Fleur en papier dorée – Goudblommeke in papier: bring your own lunch debate & reading 15:00 - 17:00: Royal Galleries: the Poet & the Public – a surrealist encounter 19:00 - 21:00: Italian Cultural Institute: Cheer & Co (reception with country specialties food & drink) Saturday 28/09: 12:00 - 14:00: Fleur en papier dorée – Goudblommeke in papier: bring your own lunch debate & reading 15:00 - 17:00: Royal Galleries: the Poet & the Public – a surrealist encounter 19:00 - 21:00: Liszt Institute: A Maze Sing Words (reception with country specialties food & drink)

the royal quarter & the european quarter

Artonov Festival

The ARTONOV Festival is inspired by the international Art Nouveau movement, both for its philosophy and its implementation, but also by the Japanese sensorial and multidisciplinary art. The particularity of the festival lies in the unique multidisciplinary creations inspired by Art Nouveau and Art Deco houses and other venues of remarkable architecture in Brussels.

Ten years… ten years is how long it’s been since a couple of musicians with a passion for creation, diversity and innovation got together to create a new interdisciplinary festival. And here we are, ready for the celebratory tenth edition of the Festival ARTONOV. This editorial is neither meant to be a nostalgic musing nor a romantic reminiscence, but a simple account reflecting the original intention of the festival of bringing together artists around a project designed for them, in a sort of workshop for artistic creation. An unusual travel agency, if you will. From the outset, architecture has been an integral part of the concept, a crucial link in the dialogue between artists and audiences. Music has been another major focus of the Festival from its very inception. Just like space, sound too is sculpted and shaped to speak more directly to the listener's body. To quote Georges Perec: “Space is when it makes an angle, when it stops, when we have to turn for it to start off again.” While music and architecture are the main focus of the programme, the festival is open to all artistic disciplines. There are works in contemporary dance, circus, theatre, culinary arts and visual arts. What they all have in common is a concern for diversity, renewal and discovery. This anniversary edition is an opportunity for the festival to launch new ideas and try out new formats.

asbl ARTONOV

Alechinsky, pinceau voyageur

The Boghossian Foundation presents a solo exhibition devoted to a major European artist of the 20th century. "Alechinsky, pinceau voyageur" is an invitation to journey through the remarkable body of the artist's works. The exhibition brings together an exceptional collection of around a hundred works and numerous archival documents, gathered over the past seventy years.

The Boghossian Foundation is pleased to present "Alechinsky, pinceau voyageur", an invitation to journey through the remarkable body of the artist’s works. For the very first time since its opening to the public in 2010, the Boghossian Foundation presents a solo exhibition devoted to a major European artist of the 20th century, in the welcoming and unique setting of the Villa. The exhibition, curated by Catherine de Braekeleer, brings together an exceptional collection of around a hundred works and numerous archival documents, gathered over the past seventy years. "Alechinsky, pinceau voyageur", is an ode to travel, which explores notably this remarkable artist’s fascination with artistic practices and traditions in Japan and China, which have respectively inspired him. An ode to freedom, the exhibition highlights the artist’s freedom of experimentation, alternating between different techniques and mediums since 1947: canvases, inks, with or without embossing, etchings, lithographs, enameled lava, porcelain books, and even a harpsichord painted in 1986, displayed in the grand hall. An ode to friendship, the exhibition presents works created in collaboration with artists like Jiří Kolář, Hans Spinner, or to accompany the works of authors such as Salah Stétié, Amos Kenan, or Joyce Mansour. An ode to love, the exhibition also reveals itself through the image of the unpublished painting titled "Comme elle partait", created in 2023, as a tribute to Micky (1928-2023), whom he married in 1949.

Boghossian Foundation - Villa Empain

12th Korean Film Festival Belgium Special Forum “Originals & Re-Imagined Films”

The Korean Cultural Center in Brussels is delighted to host a special forum during the 12th Belgian Korean Film Festival.

This year’s theme, “Originals and Re-Imagined Films,” reflects current global film industry trends and explores how various media—such as films, musicals, games, novels, and webtoons—are transformed into new genres. Titled “Originals and Re-Imagined Films,” the forum will delve into the film markets and trends in Europe and Korea. Experts from various fields will discuss the unique characteristics of each sector and share their insights on the future of the film market. The forum will take place on Saturday, September 28, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Cinema Palace and will be divided into two sessions. The first session will feature a panel discussion with a film market analyst, a film streaming platform operator, a professor of language and cultural studies, and an analyst from the Korean Film Council. The second session will be a master class led by world-renowned Korean filmmaker Kim Jee-woon, focusing on his film Illang, an adaptation of an animated film. Kim will share his production methods and experiences in adapting original works into films, including Illang and his other notable works.

1st Session: 17:30 - 18:30 “Panel Talk” Dr. Agnes Schneeberger / European Audiovisual Observatory (Online) Ms. Won Eunyoung / Korean Film Council Film Screaming Platform Operator / SOONER.BE Prof. Andreas Niehaus / University of Ghent 2nd Session: 18:30 - 19:30 “Masterclass” KIM Jee-woon / Director of Film "Illang" JUNG Eunjin / Interpreter KO-EN

Cinéma Palace

Conferences and conventions

Fêtes Romanes

Wolubilis and surrounding area

Woluwe-Saint-Lambert

FESTIVAL FRANCOFAUNE I 11E ÉDITION

Art On Paper 2024

The 9th edition of Art on Paper will be held from October 03 to 06, 2024 at the Gare Maritime in Brussels. The fair returns to the sumptuous spaces of the Gare Maritime, which it will once again transform into the "Grand Palais of drawing in Brussels".

After a remarkable edition in 2023, the fair confirms the dynamism and attractiveness of the drawing and works on paper market in Europe. The fair offers visitors an exceptional discovery of drawing through the centuries. This year, Art on Paper will welcome some 50 Belgian and international galleries, and will further accentuate its openness to modern and ancient art galleries alongside contemporary artistic proposals.

Irène Laub Gallery (art gallery); Jonathan F. Kugel (Cabinet de curiosités Contemporain); Keijsers Koning (art gallery); KITAI (art gallery); La peau de l'ours (art gallery); Lancz Gallery (art gallery); Lee Bauwens Gallery (art gallery); Loo & Lou Gallery (art gallery); m.simons (art gallery); Michèle Schoonjans Gallery (art gallery); Michel Rein (art gallery); Schönfeld Gallery (art gallery)

TOUR & TAXIS

Fairs and shows

Abrupt 2024 - Music, Talks & Experiment

Abrupt is a new annual festival that blends emerging, contemporary and unconventional music, visual arts and public discourse. During the first edition, which will take place from 9 - 13 October 2024, Abrupt presents several musical performances, club events, talks & more spread out over several iconic and unique venues in the Brussels Capital-Region.

Abrupt is a new annual festival that blends emerging, contemporary and unconventional music, visual arts and public discourse. During the first edition, which will take place from 9 - 13 October 2024, Abrupt presents several musical performances, club events, talks & more spread out over several iconic and unique venues in the Brussels Capital-Region. Abrupt is an initiative by the non-profit organization Arty Farty Brussels, Next to running the temporary cultural space Reset Brussels, they co-organised the last 6 editions of Nuits sonores & European Lab Brussels with Bozar. Venues ▔▔▔ Reset Bozar C12 Botanique Cathedral of St. Michael & St. Gudula Usquare & more

CCL B2B Shed Chief Adjuah (fka Christian Scott) Ehua B2B Mankiyan Elisabeth Klinck Kafim Kode9 presents Escapology (live) Laurel Halo presents Atlas with Leila Bordreuil Maxime Denuc Moses Yoofee Trio NEK Radio Hito SkyH1 & Mika Oki (live A/V) Van Boom (live) Varg2TM Much more to be announced!

Terracotta Army and The First Emperor of China

“Terracotta Army | And The First Emperor of China” exhibition is an extraordinary voyage in Ancient China of 2,200 years ago. It is, undeniably, the most complete exhibition ever created on the Terracotta Army, the necropolis and life of the First Emperor.

Tour et Taxis

Molenbeek-Saint-Jean

Aimez-vous Schönberg ?

This year we celebrate the 150th birthday of Arnold Schönberg, a musical visionary who captured the particularity of the Zeitgeist. Rooted in romanticism, his musical ideas developed into an essential part of the twentieth-century repertoire.

Festival des Libertés

POLITICAL AND ARTISTIC, INTERCULTURAL AND CREATIVE, FESTIVE AND SUBVERSIVE. Festival des Libertés will mobilise all forms of expression in order to offer an overview of the state of rights and freedoms around the world, to point out lurking dangers, to encourage resistance and to promote solidarity.

An autumnal gathering of human rights defenders, thought-leaders, lovers of resistance, brewers of diversity and inventors of possibilities, the Festival des Libertés offers a multitude of documentaries, debates, shows, exhibitions and of concerts. All forms of expression, in tune with their time, engaged in a critical approach, inspired by the promotion of a fairer world and mixed in a friendly and festive atmosphere which is also the hallmark of the festival.

Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles

Festival Raising Voices

Museum Night Fever 2024

See you on 19 October 2024 for another great night in the museums of Brussels.

Museum Night Fever is the Brussels' museums night. During one evening, about 30 museums open their doors between 7pm and 1am, offering an ultra-diverse, effervescent and offbeat programme in collaboration with emerging artists. The party goes on until the early hours in the afterparties. More info : www.museumnightfever.be

Brussels Museums

Filem'On, the International Film Festival for Young Audiences

Filem'On, the International Film Festival for Young Audiences, offers a mix of more than 130 short films, feature films, animation and documentaries, for audiences from 2 to 16 years old. There are Belgian, European and international competitions, and many films are shown in the presence of the director. There are also fun cinematic workshops specially organised for children and young people.

Filem'On, the international film festival for young audiences, is blowing out 18 candles in 2024! Usually this age is marked by seriousness and maturity, but Filem'on remains forever young! The festival is aware of serious world problems, and is doing its part for the future. Yet Filem'On always remains a little kid, and the film festival is a place where everyone is allowed to be unserious! During the autumn holidays, Filem'On once again entertains and educates all the little ones and youngsters from 2 to 16 in Brussels and the surroundings. With a program of more than 130 short films, fiction, animations and documentaries, the festival serves up a cinematic buffet to schools, families, friends, associations and anyone who enjoys good movies. This year with a touch of humor and slapstick! At the screenings, there are captivating chit-chats between the audience, filmmakers and actors. For a dash of fun where the kids are the stars, you can attend workshops, internships and film concerts. Filem'On ends the festival with the award ceremony where the best Belgian, European or international films walk away with awards. Seriously, you are coming too, right?!

Les Nuits Weekender

La Demence: 35th Anniversary: Closing Party

Fifty Lab Music Festival 2024

Fifty Lab is a festival for curious music lovers, to discover emerging music talents from Belgium and beyond. Come to explore the future of live music, DJ sets and performance – whether you’re the type to lead the way or trust us to take you by the hand. Fifty Lab is YOUR Music Festival, right in the heart of Brussels.

Since 2019, Fifty Lab aims to invite the most promising upcoming talents, during 3 days throughout iconic venues in the heart of Brussels. With recommendations by some of the most influential Belgian and international musical programmers (Primavera Sound, Down the Rabbit Hole, Glastonbury, Øyafestivalen, & more), the audience will discover the next musical crushes from all musical genres and nationalities. Fifty Lab is hosted in the heart of the Belgian capital, in different venues that are within a maximum of 4 minutes walking distance from each other.

Butch Kassidy; Ciao Kennedy; Deep Tan; Dina Ayada; Ganavya; Hayes & Y; Hypnosis Therapy; JADA; Jawnino; Lézard; Library Card; mui zyu; Natasha Pirard; Oonagh Haines; ROCKET; Stella Rose; twst; VAAGUE; Whoman; YOA; & many more TBA

1000 Brussels (location to be confirmed)

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Tour of Flanders: Discover the charms of the region’s lesser-known towns and cities

Flanders boasts a rich collection of contrasting cities that attract a discerning public. Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels are buzzing destinations that enjoy an international reputation for their medieval treasures and other heritage delights. Now it’s the turn of smaller cities and towns to come under the spotlight, thanks to the launch of a new tourism initiative.

The series Tour of Flanders features 15 places in Flanders that are full of cultural, quaint and quirky surprises. First up is Lier in Antwerp province, a historically significant town that is brimming with folklore traditions and an infectious pride in local life.

Each month, a new city portrait will be published on the low countries , an English-language website dedicated to arts, history, literature, language and society in Flanders and the Netherlands. The site of Flemish-Dutch institute Ons Erfdeel builds bridges between English-language speakers around the world and everyone with a keen interest in the culture of the Low Countries.

All the articles for the series are written by renowned Brussels-based British journalist Derek Blyth , the author of the bestselling Hidden Secrets series of books on Belgium. He delves into the history, character and atmosphere of each of the 15 places, presenting little-known facts, unique events and offbeat personalities.

The focus is on the identity of the selected towns and small cities, says the low countries editor Tom Christiaens: “These places form the DNA of Flanders, and they each have their own unique story to tell. For example, Ypres and World War One, Geel and its treatment of psychiatric patients and Aalst and its folklore carnival.”

The city portraits go beyond the tourism clichés, adds Christiaens. “We show these cities through the eyes of the open-minded but critical observer Derek Blyth. In his typical tongue-in-cheek style, he writes well-researched travel essays showing that there’s much more to discover in each one. Even local inhabitants can learn new things about their town.”

Targeted at the low countries’ readers, mainly UK and US visitors, as well as expats in Belgium, the series aims to stimulate cultural tourism. “It will help visitors, especially during the pandemic, prepare their city trips or short breaks to the region and also strengthen the international reputation of Flanders as a centre of culture and heritage,” he points out.

Three towns from each of Flanders’ five provinces are featured in the series: Kortrijk , Ostend , Ypres , Aalst , Oudenaarde , Sint-Niklaas , Leuven , Vilvoorde , Halle , Lier , Mechelen , Geel , Tongeren , Genk and Hasselt .

The Tour of Flanders series receives support from the Flemish government.

Photos: The Zimmer Clock Tower ©  Visit Lier; River Lys, Kortrijk © Kattoo Hillewaere ; Menin Gate last post ceremony © Andrew P Clarke; Genk C Mine © Visit Limburg

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