Situated at the heart of Europe and at the crossroads of two major cultures, Brussels combines all the assets of a thriving business city with the attractiveness of a major tourist destination. Living in Brussels is an experience in and of itself; the city is culturally diverse, exciting and cosmopolitan. People from dozens of cultures speak a profusion of languages.
Brussels has over one hundred museums that celebrate its rich history and culture, and several of the museums are recognised internationally as cultural centres. Many of the museums were created in the latter half of the 19th century and early 20th century, at a time when the capital's architectural development was at its apex. The design of some of the structures is stunningly beautiful.
The museums house paintings, sculpture and art of all genres, as well as antiques and even the diverse beers Belgium produces and its famous illustrated comics. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts is well known for hosting the works of such internationally renowned painters as Bruegel, van Dyck and Rubens, as well as the masters of Surrealism, Delvaux and Magritte.
For the theatre buff, Brussels offers a highly eclectic and unique mix of entertainment, including performances in English and other languages.
With thirty major theatres, a range of performances is always on offer, including classics, modern and avant-garde plays and musicals.
You can find the agenda of cultural happenings on the website of the Brussels regional government.
Music is very important to Brussels and every year the list of concerts and events grows longer. Classical music and opera are hosted at the Theatre Royal de la Monnaie. This venue also hosts the Royal International Competition: 'Reine Elizabeth'. International orchestras regularly perform at the Palais des Beaux Arts.
If you like jazz, you will love Brussels. It has one of the liveliest jazz cultures on the continent. There are also jazz festivals held every year, the most famous of which is the Jazz Marathon, which is held every summer in the historic centre.
Variety and contrast are the key words concerning architecture. Every street of the city offers a potpourri of architectural styles. Brussels is the former capital of the Medieval Duchy of Brabant. Gothic cathedrals and churches from this era sit next to gracious classical facades like the buildings around the Royal Square. The quantity of art nouveau and art deco houses and apartment buildings is simply astonishing.
The best place to get a start, if you want to explore Brussels, is the Grand Place, known as one of the most beautiful town squares in Europe. This market square is surrounded by splendid guild houses. The most notable building is the Gothic Town Hall. In the Flemish tradition, every two years a multi-colour carpet of flowers is laid down in the centre of the square.
Brussels has many surprises to offer, and nearly all visitors and newcomers come away impressed by the vibrancy of this multicultural city.
Brussels is renowned for playing host to numerous comic strip creators and witnessed the birth of a number of legends of the ‘9th art’: Hergé (Tintin), Franquin (Gaston Lagaffe) and Peyo (The Smurfs) are all from Brussels.
Moreover, Brussels is also home to the Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art, housed in a magnificent art nouveau building.
Brussels also has a long tradition of murals. Reviving the tradition, the city started producing its own comic strip murals in 1993. They have been included in a tour that stretches across the city. Now very popular with tourists, the tour includes 31 walls in the central Pentagon area and four walls in Laeken. People following it can therefore take a nice stroll and discover Brussels in a different manner. The tour has become an integral part of the city’s heritage. It is something we would like to spotlight during the comic strips theme year, by ensuring that the murals are known and recognised by everyone and by turning them into some of the most popular tourist attractions of our capital – the home of comic strips!
Besides the murals, some streets in Brussels will be given two plaques, one of which is fictional. This will be an amusing reference to Belgian comic strips. These ‘comic strip’ streets make up a second comic strip tour across the city, as the guiding thread for a nice walk.
