'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...
1m Feb 02, 2020
1m
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
Extinction Rebellion arrests in Brussels
The climate crisis group Extinction Rebellion staged a protest near the Royal Palace last weekend. Several city councillors, members of the press and social media users denounced the use of tear gas, a water cannon and batons against largely peaceful protestors. The force used to disperse and arrest protestors was “excessively violent,” according to the organisers of the event. Singer-songwrite...
2m Oct 20, 2019
2m
America Doesn't Exist
The Art & Marges Museum, Brussels’ temple to outsider art is presenting a fascinating collection of looks at the American Dream by artists from around the world. There is also a handsome book on US outsider architects and a lot of outsider music. Curator and author Matthieu Morin tells us all about it. http://www.artetmarges.be/en/index.html
3m Oct 20, 2019
3m
100 days without plastic
Brussels-based Russian expat Artem Mozgovoy has set himself the challenge to live 100 days without plastic. He shares his experiences so far. http://artemdesiberie.blogspot.com/
7m Oct 20, 2019
7m
Smile Safari: Brussels' first Instagram museum
Are you out of inspiration for your next Instagram selfie? If so, help is here with the arrival of Smile Safari’s popup Instagram Museum, Belgium’s first. Creator Hannes Coudenys tells us what we can look forward to. Tour & Taxis, 2 October - 30 November https://smilesafari.be/en/
5m Oct 13, 2019
5m
Brussels Explained
Brussels Explained, on 22 October, is an eye-opening and interactive evening in English that aims to help us better understand the city in which we live. Five experts will deliver a 10-minute presentation on a different aspect of city life - followed by plenty of opportunity for questions and answers. The event is jointly organised by The Bulletin, Flemish-Dutch culture house De Buren, the non-...
5m Oct 08, 2019
5m
Artonov
The Artonov Festival (7-13 October) combines unique architecture with culinary arts, music, dance and visual arts. With this fifth edition they have widened the array of architectural styles and brought in more contemporary music. Artistic director Vincenzo Casale describes two of the 12 venues and programs. Music by Jacopo Baboni Schilingi, one of the composers featured during the festival. ww...
4m Oct 06, 2019
4m
Improv in Brussels
Improv theatre is alive and well in Brussels. We meet Patrick, founder of Brussels' only dedicated improv theatre venue, L'Improviste, and Kelly from Improbubble, who will perform weekly shows in English at the venue every Sunday from this week.
6m Oct 06, 2019
6m
Nuit Blanche 2019
For the Nuit Blanche, Belgian artist Kris Verdonck, an artist working in architecture, visual arts and theatre, brings us an installation/performance called Mass #2 in which he has created four landscapes that constantly change independently of one another creating a hypnotic event. He tells us about it. www.nuitblanche.brussels/en
3m Sep 30, 2019
3m
Foreign chefs in Brussels
With people of 184 nationalities making Brussels their home, it’s no surprise that there are chefs from many countries cooking in Brussels. We speak with Kenzo Nakata from France about his downtown restaurant Gramm, and with Vanessa Garcia from Portugal about her father's Portuguese bakery/tearoom/coffeeshop Garcia, in Ixelles. http://www.grammrestaurant.be/ http://www.patisseriegarcia.be/
3m Sep 24, 2019
3m
Free tap water in Belgian restaurants
The Free Tap Water in Belgian Restaurants campaign does what it says on the tin (or bottle). The grass-roots initiative, launched in March 2019, is encouraging businesses to reduce single-use plastic by offering tap water to customers as standard – with some remarkable results so far. Campaign founder Sarah Ehrlich gives us an update.
8m Sep 24, 2019
8m
English Comedy Brussels
English Comedy Brussels is back for another season, with a new venue: Théâtre Marni next to Place Flagey. Organiser Xavier Rossey talks us through what's coming up. http://www.englishcomedybrussels.com
5m Sep 16, 2019
5m
Full Circle: a new season and a new permanent home
We catch up with Louise Hilditch and Bridie Nathanson from ideas club Full Circle. They talk us through some of the highlights of this season's programme of inspiring talks, and they have news about a new club where members can drop in as and when they please. http://www.fullcircle.eu
4m Sep 16, 2019
4m
Design September
Brussels Design September, a month long celebration of everything design, is back and jam-packed with events. Richard Harris explains more.
2m Sep 16, 2019
2m
Les Enfants de la Resistance
To celebrate its 10th edition, the Brussels Comic Book Festival is holding three museum exhibitions. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Brussels in September 1944, the first exhibition, which is at the BELvue Museum, is dedicated the the comic book series The Children of the Resistance. The exhibition includes objects lent by the Museum of the Resistance which is located in A...
5m Sep 13, 2019
5m