Brussels in English

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/mag...

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-pr...

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.

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 lockd...

The Korean Cultural Centre (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 what's in store.

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 , an eye-opening and interactive set of talks in September that aim to help us better understand the...

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 , 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.

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 www.briff.be

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 t...

Brussels has relaunched its competition to find the best prawn croquettes in the capital, for a third year running. Fernand Obb Delicatessen 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.

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 also...

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

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 gettin...

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

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 the...

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 these...

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, Artois...

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 a b...

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

Twenty years ago, scientific researcher Yves Bernard founded iMAL (interactive Media Art Lab) 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 of particle physics, founde...

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 illuminat...

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. C...

Interlitratour (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 mic to exhibitions to song creation to music,...

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 or t...

The Millennium Iconoclastic Museum of Art ( Mima ) 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.