Brussels Explained: Lisa Bradshaw
If you have lived in Belgium for less than about 35 years, then you have no idea what the Palace of Justice looks like without its ubiquitous scaffolding, which has become a normal part of the Brussels skyline. Why is the courthouse behind bars – and when will they disappear? Lisa Bradshaw, editor-in-chief of Flanders Today, explains. You'll find the full podcast shortly at https://deburen.eu/m...
2m Oct 19, 2020
2m
Brussels Explained: Alan De Bruyne
The Belgium Pride was supposed to march through Brussels in May. Due to the corona crisis the Pride was postponed. While awaiting a new date, former pride coordinator Alan De Bruyne talks about the history of the Belgian Pride, the ongoing fight for lgbtqi+ rights and changing societal views. Listen to the full podcast here: https://deburen.eu/magazine/2905/alan-de-bruyne-what-does-the-belgian-...
3m Oct 12, 2020
3m
Brussels Explained: Jasmijn Post
In the first in a new series of The Bulletin's Brussels Explained series, in partnership with De Buren, journalist Jasmijn Post looks at the role citizen participation can play in overcoming the coronavirus crisis in Brussels. Hear the full podcast at this link.
2m Oct 04, 2020
2m
Move One Million protest in Brussels
Protestors, concerned with the deterioration of the socio-economic situation in South Africa, gathered in Brussels on Saturday. The group of South African Belgians were part of a worldwide campaign called Move One Million whose aim is to raise international awareness about the worrying state of affairs in the country. South Africa reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic with one of the most extreme ...
50s Sep 14, 2020
50s
Korean Cultural Centre reopening
The Korean Cultural Centre (http://brussels.korean-culture.org/) (KCC) in Brussels is busy dealing with the pandemic imposed restrictions while getting ready to reopen very soon as well as preparing for 2021 which will be full of special events to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between Korea and Belgium. Chung Haetal, communications director, tells us w...
3m Sep 06, 2020
3m
Brussels Explained
Will citizen participation help steer Brussels through the coronavirus crisis? What's the history of the city's Pride parade? And why has the Justice Palace been covered in scaffolding since the 1980s? These are just some of the questions that will be tackled in the new series of Brussels Explained (https://deburen.eu/programma?series=64) , an eye-opening and interactive set of talks in Septem...
4m Sep 06, 2020
4m
Meet the Masters
Beyond Bruegel, at the Palace of the Dynasty on the Mont des Arts was a big success and is being followed by Meet the Masters (http://www.meetthemasters.be/) , which brings together three superstars: Jan Van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel and Peter Paul Rubens for a fascinating 360° immersive experience. Creative director Frédérique Malbrancke tells us what's involved.
2m Aug 29, 2020
2m
Brussels' Short Film and International Film Festivals
Normally, the Brussels Short Film Festival (BSFF) takes place in April/May and the Brussels International Film Festival (BRIFF) takes place in June. But this is not a normal year and the festivals’ organisers have adapted the events to 2020’s special circumstances. Céline Masset, one of the festival directors, lays out the changes. www.bsff.be (http://www.bsff.be/) www.briff.be (http://www.br...
5m Aug 23, 2020
5m
Smile Safari: Brussels' Instagram and TikTok museum
Need inspiration for your next Instagram selfie? After a successful try-out at Tour & Taxis last autumn – attracting 30,000 visitors in three months – a place described as “the biggest Instagram and TikTok museum in Europe” is back in a more permanent guise, right in the centre of Brussels. Smile Safari is a place where TikTokkers and Instagrammers can pose next to all sorts of backdrops for th...
2m Aug 10, 2020
2m
Brussels resumes search for the best prawn croquettes
Brussels has relaunched its competition to find the best prawn croquettes in the capital, for a third year running. Fernand Obb Delicatessen (https://fernand-obb.be/) won the inaugural award two years ago, having been open for business for less than six months. Last year, with a new jury, it won again by a mile.
1m Aug 02, 2020
1m
Inside the Royal Museum of Art and History's plaster cast workshop
There is a section of the Royal Museum of Art and History that is unique in that it displays a museum collection and is also a going commercial concern producing art for sale. It's the Plaster-cast Workshop that houses over 4,000 historical plaster casts as well as creating new ones. Nele Strobbe, responsible for the collection tells us exactly what they do and when you can visit for free. We a...
5m Jul 20, 2020
5m
Movie Drive
Brussels will have its own drive-in cinema all summer long. Called Movie Drive it will operate July through September at Tour & Taxis with a 340m² LED screen (bigger than a basketball court), in fact the biggest screen in Europe. Mario Iacampo, co-producer, explains why they are calling this “drive-in 2.0" and tells us what to expect. www.moviedrive.be (http://www.moviedrive.be/)
4m Jul 06, 2020
4m
Bruocsella Symphony Orchestra
The Bruocsella Symphony Orchestra is the place to be if you are new to Brussels and want to join a high level, amateur orchestra. Established in 1996 and made up of local and international amateur and ex-professional musicians, the Bruocsella Symphony Orchestra plays a wide range of classic and modern symphonic music, overtures and concertos. From its humble beginnings of a group of friends get...
3m Jun 15, 2020
3m
Atomium reopening: Philippe Close
Prime minister Sophie Wilmès, Princess Astrid, Prince Lorenz and Brussels mayor Philippe Close officially reopened the Atomium on Monday, in a ceremony filled with symbolism and hope. Mayor Close tells us why it's important for those living in Belgium to visit the Atomium at this time. The current temporary exhibit, Bruegel: A Poetic Experience, has been extended to 15 November. www.atomium.be ...
2m Jun 07, 2020
2m
'It is not desirable for our streets to be dominated by cars again'
Belgium must give proper thought, now, to the post-coronavirus future of its towns and cities, a group of 100 experts wrote in an open letter jointly published this week by The Bulletin, Le Soir and De Standaard. The letter argues that Belgium's exit from the coronavirus shutdown cannot be planned without studying the long-term impact on public space and how we get around. We hear from one of t...
5m May 17, 2020
5m
Stay at home - your mental health
We have all experienced disruption to our lives and, for many, this means heightened anxiety and social isolation. It’s a particularly difficult period for people with existing mental health concerns and for those who may be facing problems for the first time. We ask Ingrid Owens, a psychologist working for the Community Help Service, for some tips on looking after your mental health during the...
10m Mar 29, 2020
10m
AB InBev: Becoming the world's biggest brewer
Becoming the World’s Biggest Brewer: Artois, Piedboeuf, and Interbrew (1880-2000), recently published by Oxford University Press is the story of how two Belgian family breweries took over the industry. It’s never been told before despite the fact that AB InBev is by far the biggest industrial player since its absorption of Anheuser-Busch in 2008. The story starts with two Belgian breweries, Art...
5m Mar 29, 2020
5m
The Bulletin on Bruzz: 22 March
A special edition this week as we discuss the coronavirus shutdown and how you're coping with staying at home. Meabh Macmahon from Bruzz International shares her tips on staying at home with two small children Richard Harris reports from downtown Brussels Lisa Bradshaw, editor-in-chief of Flanders Today, discusses ways you can still enjoy culture, even during the shutdown and we find out about ...
22m Mar 22, 2020
22m
Coronavirus: Help for freelancers
This is a tough time for the self-employed, but practical help and support is at hand. We hear from Jenny Bjorklof, community manager of the Freelancers in Belgium group. https://www.freelancersinbelgium.be/post/how-to-survive-in-a-crisis-and-during-recession-as-a-freelancer-in-belgium
5m Mar 22, 2020
5m
iMAL (interactive Media Art Lab)
Twenty years ago, scientific researcher Yves Bernard founded iMAL (interactive Media Art Lab) (http://www.imal.org/) to support artistic and creative endeavours linked with digital technologies. The Brussels institution’s pioneering of this connection between art and the new media and technologies gave it immediate international recognition. Ten years ago, CERN, the world’s largest laboratory o...
5m Mar 14, 2020
5m
KBR Museum
The Royal Library of Belgium is now KBR. The new name indicates a broadening of its mission. It will remain an essential place of research with its eight million documents but will also provide a complete cultural program which will be centered around the KBR Museum which will open in May. Co-curator Elena Savini describes the core of the library's collection which is the peerless set of illumi...
4m Mar 07, 2020
4m
BANAD 2020
The Brussels Art Nouveau and Art Deco Festival (BANAD) takes place over the last three weekends in March. This year there are visits to over 65 buildings in Brussels City, Etterbeek, Forest, Ganshoren, Ixelles, Koekelberg, Laeken, Saint-Gilles, Saint- Josse-Ten-Noode, Schaerbeek and Uccle. Among the novelties this year are historical lifts and the newly restored Saint-Josse public swimming pool...
2m Feb 22, 2020
2m
Interlitratour
Interlitratour (https://en.interlitratour.be/programma) (19-22 February) is a festival that celebrates the literature of many of the different cultural communities which have found a home in Brussels. Taking place for four days in various venues across town including the Fleur en Papier Doré Café, MuntPunt and the Fedasil Arrival Centre along the canal, there will be events ranging from open mi...
2m Feb 15, 2020
2m
Fermerie
The City of Brussels has chosen Fermerie to operate its new food kiosk on the Place de Brouckère in the heart of the pedestrian zone. They call what they do naturbanisation. The menu is based on fruits and vegetables grown by urban farmers in Brussels and its surroundings. Food bowls, soups, homemade desserts, coffee and local organic beverages including beer, wine and bubbly to consume there o...
3m Feb 15, 2020
3m
Mima: Zoo
The Millennium Iconoclastic Museum of Art (Mima (http://www.mimamuseum.eu/) ) has a new show called zoo which is all about anthropomorphism as seen by 11 artists from around the world. A fun and very kid-friendly show that co-curator Raphaël Cruyt gives us the background on. Until 30 August. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
4m Feb 08, 2020
4m
Brexit: British ambassador to Belgium, Martin Shearman
An afterwork crowd of sad, albeit jovial Brits and sympathisers assembled in the Grand Place on the eve of the UK’s exit from the EU. Meanwhile, British ambassador to Belgium Martin Shearman had this practical message for Brits in Belgium, in a video posted on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ukinbelgium/videos/3104068846310842/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBFxCv6b7o1KJlXeU9qJZkE7O6GvLWimJ4RWqYer9Tmg7...
56s Feb 02, 2020
56s
Cinematek
Whether you want to watch a Hollywood musical of the 1930s, a German silent movie of the 1920s, a gritty documentary of the 1970s or just about any period and style film in pristine conditions you’ll find it here. The Royal Cinémathèque of Belgium, known as Cinematek since 2009, was founded in 1938 and is the largest in Europe with a very broad reach across many different types of films, commer...
3m Feb 02, 2020
3m
We Love Brussels photo exhibition
We Love Brussels has spent two months searching for the best amateur photos of street life in the city. The photos will be on display at Where Nowhere art gallery in Ganshoren from Saturday 1 Februar (https://mailchi.mp/0cbeba618c4e/wlbphotoexpo?fbclid=IwAR00t4QahUioprBCfd3sZ0bayn9Cz8mVU3FpmoYlkMyy9IL70l5gVtR8H2Y) y and the audience will select the winner. To tell us more about this event we sp...
2m Jan 26, 2020
2m
The Sonian Wood Coop
The Sonian Forest is a big producer of timber - 20,000 cubic metres per year. To appreciate how much wood that is, it takes three full size lorries to transport just 100 cubic metres. Since about 10 years ago, 75% of this wood is exported to China where it is made into objects that may very well come back to Europe at great environmental cost.  A collective named the Sonian Wood Coop has been f...
5m Jan 26, 2020
5m
The Food Hub
The latest addition to Brussels' new 3,000m² food destination, Wolf, has opened with the inauguration of an organic supermarket. The Food Hub features fresh produce from more than 40 small and medium producers and co-ops, who are supplying vegetables, fruit, dairy products, baked goods, meat, dry foods and beverages. We hear from Food Hub founder Simon Clissold as well as two Spanish producers ...
4m Jan 18, 2020
4m
Magritte Awards 2020
What seemed to many to be a quixotic endeavour, the Magritte Awards for Belgian francophone cinema, are celebrating their 10th edition with verve. Co-founder Patrick Quinet tells us why he knew it was destined to succeed. https://www.lesmagritteducinema.com/startpage.php?lang=en?lang=fr
4m Jan 12, 2020
4m
Charlemagne Palestine
American artist/musician Charlemagne Palestine, a New York native, was an integral part of the contemporary music scene starting in the Sixties, composing music, creating kinetic light sculptures, sound and movement pieces, records, videos, sculptures, abstract expressionistic visual scores, teaching at Cal Arts and performing on the piano with his stuffed animals. Since the mid Nineties he has...
13m Jan 01, 2020
13m
Wolf food hall in Brussels
A new 3,000m² food market looks set to be a major game-changer for central Brussels - including 17 restaurants, an organic supermarket, on-site microbrewery and bean to bar chocolate-maker. Wolf Food Market aims to seduce with a wide variety of fresh food, a historical building and imaginative design. We spoke with six people involved. https://wolf.brussels/
4m Dec 28, 2019
4m
New Year's events in Brussels
Making plans for the period between Christmas and New Year? Richard Harris shares some ideas.
3m Dec 28, 2019
3m
Declutter and donate this Christmas
This Christmas you can help more than 400 off the worst-off families in Brussels by donating mother and baby items to Nasci - a charity supporting parents in and young children in poverty. Nasci needs nappies, toys, clothes, pushchairs and toiletries - and removal service Dwump is on hand to pick up your donated items and deliver them free of charge to the charity. www.dwump.com
5m Dec 15, 2019
5m
Renovating Antwerp's Handelsbeurs
Built in 1531, the Antwerp Handelsbeurs was the first building built specifically as a stock exchange. The Royal Exchange in London, which built in 1565 was originally called the Bourse until Queen Elizabeth I changed the name, is based on it. The magnificent building has now been completely restored and will once again be a shortcut across the city as well as an event location. Bart Anthonisse...
4m Dec 15, 2019
4m
Punk Graphics
The punk, post-punk and new wave eras were about more than just music – as a fascinating, visually striking new show at Brussels design museum ADAM reveals. Punk Graphics: Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die (http://adamuseum.be/punk-graphics/) takes a look at the totally original and extremely inventive visual language that came out of the era - a language that would deeply influence overall gr...
6m Dec 08, 2019
6m
ECC - Beauty and the Beast
The ECC is bringing Beauty and the Beast back to the stage this winter, which has been written and directed by Chris Jones and Chris Goddard. See it from 17-19 January at Auderghem Cultural Centre. https://thelittleboxoffice.com/ECC/
3m Dec 01, 2019
3m
Bruegel at the Atomium
During this year commemorating the 450th anniversary of Bruegel’s death we have had the pleasure of discovering different facets of the painter and his work through a number of different exhibitions and this continues into the autumn. The show at the Atomium is titled Bruegel:  A Poetic Experience. An innovative World and Mind. Director Arnaud Bozzini tells us what to expect (runs until Septemb...
2m Dec 01, 2019
2m
Schuman Lights Up
Schuman Lights Up is back, with a programme of festive events under a heated marquee next to the Berlaymont with Christmas trees and fairytale lighting. Various groups will be offering seasonal foods and activities. Marion Wolfers from organiser Schuman Square ASBL explains more. 29 November - 4 December
6m Nov 23, 2019
6m
Brussels Cultural Guide 2020
With just a few weeks left in the year it’s time for the publication of the Brussels Cultural Guide 2020. We caught up with Guy de Bellefroid, the director of the Fondation pour les Arts, to get the details on the new edition. http://www.fondationpourlesarts.be/
3m Nov 23, 2019
3m
Brussels Shakespeare Society: Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing (https://thelittleboxoffice.com/bss) is the theatrical choice of the Brussels Shakespeare Society this winter - and director Marianne Farrar-Hockley assures us that “we will be taken on a holiday” and leave the theatre feeling rather warm. 
3m Nov 20, 2019
3m
ECC winter play: Beauty and the Beast
The ECC is bringing Beauty and the Beast (https://thelittleboxoffice.com/ECC/) back to the stage this winter, which has been written and directed by Chris Jones and Chris Goddard. True to pantomime tradition, ECC expect lots of audience participation as “we break the fourth wall a lot”, says Jones, who hopes that his jokes are as funny for the audience as they were for him when he wrote them.
3m Nov 20, 2019
3m
BLOC: Kiss Me Kate
Cole Porter’s wonderful score for Kiss Me Kate comes to bustling life as Brussels Light Opera Company (http://bloc-brussels.com/) performs the classic musical. Ex-spouses, a gambling addict and a couple of mobsters get mixed up onstage and behind the scenes as a theatre troupe puts on Shakespeare in 1950s Baltimore. 21-24 November, Auderghem Cultural Centre, Boulevard du Souverain 183
3m Nov 16, 2019
3m
Super Heroes Never Die
Super Heroes Never Die – Comics and Jewish Memories, the new show at the Jewish Museum of Belgium, is an updated version of a show created by the the Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme in Paris and the Joods Historisch Museum of Amsterdam which has travelled around the world. Co-curators Bruno Benvindo and Karim Tall have refreshed the exhibition which is divided into five chronological sect...
3m Nov 16, 2019
3m
#stilltogether #beyondbrexit
#stilltogether #beyondbrexit is an unusual event at the Black Sheep near Flagey on Tuesday 19 November - an evening of comedy, live music and open floor debate that aims to encourage a more authentic level of engagement across the divisions and polarisation at the heart of the Brexit discussion. Organiser Andreea Petre-Goncalves explains more. https://www.facebook.com/events/704035823444284/
7m Nov 09, 2019
7m
La Source beer
Brussels' newest brewery is La Source, opening in the historic Byrrh building next to Tour & Taxis. Co-owner Mathieu Huygens tells us about his fresh beer with local ingredients. www.lasourcebeer.be (http://www.lasourcebeer.be/)
3m Nov 09, 2019
3m
Celebrating 400 years of Manneken Pis
The Manneken-Pis statue is 400 years old this year and the city is organizing a full bouquet of events to celebrate the birthday. In 1619 the Brussels city government ordered a new Manneken-Pis statue to replace the existing one. The city commissioned the new statue from one of the most prominent sculptors at that time, Jérôme Duquesnoy, which shows the importance the statue already had. We hea...
4m Nov 04, 2019
4m
Insecure & Dangereux comedy
Insecure & Dangereux have been running comedy gigs in English in Brussels for the past year - going from a 20-person audience once a month to a 100+ person weekly crowd. All gigs are free, with a street-theatre style “pass the hat” policy for the comedians. Venues include the Black Sheep, Sax and Drums at the Funky Monkey and the ViaVia Café. Two of the founders, Aili Voit and Sean O’Dubhghaill...
8m Oct 25, 2019
8m
Picture! Festival
PICTURE! Festival is the first festival in Brussels dedicated to the art of illustration. Over the ten days there will be: 50 illustrators, 40 venues, 33 exhibitions, nine masterclasses/meetings with artists, seven live drawing concerts and performances, seven film screenings, four workshops, a small press/printed image fair and a party. Festival director Marie Noble tells us all about it. www....
4m Oct 25, 2019
4m