Brussels in English

Green Mango is a local Brussels chain of restaurants that has been gaining aficionados as quickly as they can open branches. What's their secret? Unexpected but delicious versions of the hamburger (40 so far) and a full offer of tropical cocktails in a festive atmosphere. 8 locations so far. Guillaume of the Uccle location tells us what to expect. https://greenmango.be/en/

Brussels born chef Paul Delrez's latest project was a pop up restaurant set up in the middle of Brussels minimaliste art gallery Fondation CAB - He speaks with us about his various projects including his cookbook Hot Regressive Cuisine. Instagram: DelReyPaulChef

The Horta Museum is presenting 100 Patterns From Art Deco to Modernism (1910-1945), a decorative treasure trove for everyone consisting of textiles, rugs, and wallpapers by Belgian and international artists. Direector Benjamin Zurstrassen explains how this temple to Art Nouveau is the right place to celebrate Art Deco designs. https://hortamuseum.be/event/100-motifs-1742206970477x90956221914651...

An intersection for river barges, trams, buses, cars, lorries, bicycles, scooters, and pedestrians, the Place Sainctelette is being completely redone to give each mode of transport its own space. And nearby, with a stunning view of the canal and the vintage apartment buildings, is Bsaha Cafe. Staff member Anas Al-Qadouri gives us the details. https://www.instagram.com/bsahacafe_off/

The Design Museum Brussels is presenting the touring exhibition "Skateboard from the Design Museum London. The show explores in detail the development of  skateboard design over seventy years, focusing on the technological, performative and aesthetic evolution of the skateboard. Curator Jonathan Olivares tells us what it took to make the show a reality. Through 14/09/2025 https://www.brusselsmu...

The Brussels International Film Festival (BRIFF) is presenting its 8th edition. Co-founder Céline Masset tells us about the wide variety of types of movies that have been assembled for this year's edition. 20 to 28 June http://briff.be/en/

After being closed for 18 months the KBR (Royal Library of Belgium) Museum is reopening with a fascinating new feature. Visitors will now be able to hear the music of the 15th and 16th centuries while they look at illuminated manuscripts of the same period. Sara Lammens, General Director of the Royal Library gives us the details. http://www.kbr.be/en/museum/

The Royal Museum of  Art and History has completed its most important renovation in 25 years with a major display of its Art Nouveau and Art Deco collection as well as the 19th century artworks that paved the way for the two movements. Many of the objects have never been seen by the general public. Curator Werner Adriaenssens tells us what is in store for the visitor. The weekend of June 13th a...

In the Dansaert district of Brussels in the 1980s, Sonja Noël was the first. to open a store dedicated to Belgian fashion. For 40 years, through her STIJL boutique, Sonja has been translating contemporary Belgian fashion into everyday fashion wear. By supporting new brands and young designers, STIJL has played an essential part in writing the story of fashion in the city, The Fashion and Lace M...

There's a new museum in Brussels, the Friet Museum which aims to let everyone know everything there is to know about the Belgian Fry. Communications Director Peggy van Lierde introduces us to all the features of this surprisingly detailed but also very light-hearted look at the iconic Belgian food. https://www.frietmuseum-brussels.be/eng/home

One of the top must visit museums in Brussels the van Buuren Museum and Gardens is celebrating its fifty years as a museum and the 100 years of the art Deco movement with a brand new exhibition: AROUND ART DECO Interbellum sculptures. Curator Manon Magotteaux tells us what it is all about. https:///www.museumvanbuuren.be (http://www.museumvanbuuren.be/)

Alice Gallery is celebrating 20 years as part of the Brussels art scene with a move to a new location and an anniversary show featuring 25 artists. Co-founders Alice van den Abeele and Raphaël Cruyt give us a recap on their twenty years of glocal gallery ownership and on the recent demise of their wonderful ten year old museum the MIMA (Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art.) https://www.alicebxl...

EntreprendreBruxelles wants you to know about all the great shops, restaurants and services available in Brussels City. They recently held an event at city hall where we spoke with Project Manager Katia Jacques-Serres as well as representatives of some of the businesses. www.entreprendrebruxelles.be (http://www.entreprendrebruxelles.be/) www.ondernemenbrussel.be

The House of European History's latest exhibition Presence of the Past - A European Album, gives us an innovative look at how Europeans interact with their past. Curator Simina Bădică, explains how the photo exhibition comprising 27 photographic projects from 14 countries lets us see the many different ways people deal with the past. http://historia.europa.eu/

It's time for the 28th edition of the Brussels Short Film Festival (BSFF) bringing us the best in short films from around the world with an accent on freedom. Co-founder Céline Masset brings us up to date on what's in store. www.bsff.be (http://www.bsff.be/)

The Fondation Folon has a new show entitled Drawing Room featuring 150 works of art by Folon and eleven artists who inspired him. The exhibition is an intimate look at the creative process. Exhibition director Pauline Loumaye tells us what we can expect to experience both in the show and at the foundation's magnificent estate. Through 31 August. https://fondationfolon.be

Among the many many film festivals that take place in Brussels and Belgium, the Festival Kinolatino stands out for its purpose, which is to bring Latin American movies in all their forms to Belgium where they are not distributed. Festival organizer and film maker César Diaz tells us what to expect. 11 to 19 April 2025 https://kinolatino.be/

With spring busting out all over, bike rides in the countryside so close to Brussels come to mind. Of the many choices available, Zafi Cycles offers a unique bicycle. All their frames are made entirely of wood which means that the ride is extra comfortable due to the anti-vibration properties of wood which is great news for cobblestone rides. Founder Simon Malvaux explains his product. www.zafi...

Downtown Brussels' splendid but rather unknown 19th century covered gallery has been all spiffd up and given a partially new vocation. There are still shops catering to aficionados of rare and old books but there is now also a gourmet culinary dimension. Creator Thierry Goor explains how it works.

It's the centenary of Art Deco in Brussels and it's being celebrated all year long with many events. BANAD Festival (Brussels Art Nouveau Art Deco) is kicking things off during the last three weekends in March but there is much more. An Persoons, the Secretary of State of the Brussels Region in charge of urbanism and heritage fills us in. https://www.visit.brussels/fr/visiteurs/agenda/event-det...

French photographer François Bellabas, who works in Paris and  California, has taken over the Contretype Gallery with his unique photographic creations that combine photos with digital technologies to produce a remarkable ever changing immersive experience he calls Unloadingoverdrive. He tells us a bit about how it works. Through 23 March www.contretype.org

Kim Oosterlinck, the new director of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium describes the current shows and how they illustrate his plans for the future. https://fine-arts-museum.be/en (https://fine-arts-museum.be.en/)

Anima, the venerable and highly regarded animated film festival is back with its 44th edition. The theme this year is Dreams and Co-Director Karin Vandenrydt explains  what that entails. 28 February - 9 March www.animafestival.be (http://www.animafestival.be/)

FestiVita, the Brussels Early Music Festival is back with twelve days of concerts and other unexpected and interesting events celebrating early music with a salute to the Serene Republic of Venice and its three century reign of art and culture. Organizer Rafael Núñez lays out the details. www.festivita.be (http://www.festivita.be/)

Kevin Brooking, professional clown, is the co-founder of the Belgian branch of Clowns Without Borders. He brings us up to date on what the humanitarian group has been up to recently., including a mission to the  prisons of Madagascar. cmsf.be (http://cmsf.be/)

There's a new hotel in town that promises art, creativity and relaxation. Talia Butt, the owner of Jill Hotel tells us what's special about her project. https://www.jillhotel.com/en/

It's the 70th edition of BRAFA, the highly regarded art fair that covers millennia of art divided into twenty specialities including Old Master paintings; classical African art, antique and designer furniture, goldsmithery, carpets and textiles, rare books and jewelry. Tobias Desmet, Secretary General of the fair and also an exhibitor, fills us in on the details. www.brafa.art 26 January to 2 F...

Bruxelles Laïque; which has been supporting secular humanism in Brussels for almost 50 years has taken over the Théâtre des Variétés, an iconic movie palace which could seat over 2,000 spectators in a room large enough to accomodate the legendary Cinerama screen. In its heyday in the 1930's it was considered  one of the most modern theatres with a turning stage, a rising orchestra pit, a roof t...

The Comic Art Museum is presenting an in-depth temporary exhibition entitled Reality in Comics which traces the evolution of some comic book artists into journalists. Communications Director Tine Anthoni explains what is going on. https://www.comicscenter.net/en/home

The Atomium is developing a series of temporary light and sound shows in various parts of the building. Currently there are four shows on display. The latest is Echoes of Distant Lights by Brussels light artist and founder of Magicstreet Antoine Goldchmidt, who worked with Brussels musician Ofer Smilansky to create a wonderland of lights and sounds using various sources and inspirations includi...

Author Myriam Leroy has come up with a very interesting way of dealing with cyberbullying. It involves getting one's artist friends together and doing a show. The show is at the politically engaged that's what x said Gallery in the Marolles. Rébecca Prosper, co-director explains how it works. https://thatswhatxsaid.com/en/ 6 Dec - 26 Jan

Changemakers, a new exhibition at the  Parlamentarium deals with the various approaches and strategies used by contemporary art to address social and political issues that concern European citizens. The selection of pieces from the European Parliament’s Contemporary Art Collection focuses on artists whose respective careers attest to a certain attitude of rebellion against political and social ...

L'Ouvroir is a social workplace that provides jobs for people with disabilities. When the Bourse (the old stock exchange building) was restored l'Ouvroir saved almost 6 cubic meters of solid oak flooring from the building and brought together artists and those with disabilities to create new functional or decorative objects. They will be on display (and for sale) this week. Director Damien Logg...

The 2025 edition of the Brussels Cultural Hotlist 100 Guide is out and publisher Guy de Bellefroid tells us about some of the over 20,000 events taking place in Brussels in 2025. https://www.fondationpourlesarts.be/fr

Sang Hoon Degeimbre, one of the most celebrated contemporary Belgian chefs, whose starred and acclaimed restaurant l'Air du Temps has reached a top position in general esteem, has opened a new  restaurant, in Brussels this time, at the newly restored Gare Maritime at Tour & Taxis. It's called Correspondance in a nod to its travel location and is conceived as a combination of a bistro and a bras...

Two 19th century mansions on the Boulevard Marnix have been restored and renovated and joined together to create what they are calling the smallest grand luxury hotel. Architect Julie Scandolo tells us what meticulous work was necessary to modernise the structures while preserving and restoring the original elements. https://origin.eu/en/projects/marnix

The 2024 flower carpet is the stuff of memories but in case you missed it here's Océane Cornille, this year's carpet designer, to tell us how, as a street artist , she took on the task of designing a flower carpet, a very different medium. Her carpet was also the first to use dahlias rather than begonias and that affected her design as well. https://www.brussels.be/flower-carpet

The Design Museum Brussels is holding two concurrent exhibitions on women in design. One, in conjunction with the Vitra Design Museum is entitled Here We Are! Women in design, 1900 - Today and the other one is Untold Stories - Designers femmes en Belgique 1880-1980. Curators Nina Steinmüller and Katerina Serulus tell us what to expect. designmuseum.brussels

There's a new way to go out to dinner in Brussels. It's called Emile à la Dalle (Emile is Hungry) and it involves changing restaurants for each course and not knowing each destination until you are on your way. Co-founder Thierry d'Otreppe tells us how it works. https://www.emile.brussels

In a career that spanned eight decades. American photographer Elliott Erwitt created a body of work that includes many genres. Elliot Erwitt A Retrosective is currently on view at the Grand' Place. This is a must see exhibition and, since dogs were an important part of his work, to celebrate World Animal Day on October 4th, visitors will be able to enjoy the show with their dogs (signing up bef...

Jules François Crahay is a forgotten genius of XXth century fashion who was known as the Belgian Christian Dior. The Brussels Fashion & Lace Museum is currently presenting a  richly appointed first ever retrospective of his work entitled Back to the Spotlight. Head of Exhibitions and Publications Nicolas Lor tells us all about the not to be missed exhibition. https://www.fashionandlacemuseum.br...

With over 100 events and locations the 18th edition of Brussels Design September underscores the important position design has in Brussels' economy. Until September 30th you will be able to go to exhibitions, visit stores and studios, have personal encounters, attend lectures, workshops, and openings, in a showcase of Belgian excellence as well as a participation of Prague's most innovative des...

Helena Buckinx has been writing for a long time, she joined us at this year's writefest.be and also for this podcast on the journey she took to complete her book and her poignant sweet paintings.

Lisa Martin has been the President of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand and now writes from Denmark we talk all things journalism, books and new cultures.

We are thrilled that Tony Connelly will join us in Leuven, in October, at the Writers Festival and his book 'Brexit and Ireland: The Dangers, Opportunities, the Inside Story of the Irish Response.

Author of the narrative biography 'Pyrros, with my first name', Niko talks to us from Athens about how this book came about, and the emblematic life of the celebrated Olympian Pyrros Dimas.

Visit Brussels is making a major investment in Queer Destinations. Rika Jean-François, the head of International Business Relations for QD explains what they do and why Visit Brussels' participation is so special. https://queerdestinations.com/

Every so often Valérie Lepla, owner and creator of the iconic Brussels restaurant Pistolet Original, asks a favorite chef to create a special pistolet. This time around she asked Nicolas Misera of Restaurant Misera in Antwerp to do the honors. He explains what he has concocted for a cool sensation, a pistolet based on the local sea's bounty. www.pistolet-original.be (http://www.pistolet-origina...

After a thirty year meticulous restoration, the 144 year old commercial passageway connecting the rue Neuve with the Place de Brouckère is inaugurating its refound splendor with the exposition of urban wildlife photographer Thomas Jean's show entitled Sauvage. He tells us all about the rich wildlife to be found in Brussels which he has captured on film. http://www.passagedunord.be/index.php/fr/...

Imagine!:100 Years of International Surrealism is the Royal Museum of Fine Arts' major exhibition to salute the centenary of surrealism and the last of this year's mega shows on the subject to close so you can still catch this exceptional exhibition until July 21. Head Curator Francisca Vandepitte explains the thinking behind the museum's take on the anniversary. https://fine-arts-museum.be/en/...