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Entertainment & Nightlife
Guide to Entertainment, Events and Nightlife in Brussels
Brussels has an excellent
choice of entertainment, and something for everyone, whether you're
after cultural performances or you want to go clubbing. The tourist
office has the latest information on what's on.
Brussels Tourist Office
Hotel de Ville
Grand Place 1
Tel: +32 (0)2-513-8940
Music
Opened in 1829, Brussels's French cultural centre, Le Botanique, is
a stunning, palatial building set in six hectares of attractive
grounds. The venue hosts a range of entertainment including
classical concerts, dance and theatre performances and rock bands.
Rue Royale 236. Tel: +32 (0)2-218-3732.
A stunning music venue, both visually and acoustically, the Palais
Des Beaux-Arts was designed by Belgian architect Victor Horta. The
hall is in fairly constant use for symphony and chamber music
concerts. Rue Ravenstein 23. Tel: +32 (0)2-507-8200.
Situated on the southern edge of the city, the Forest National
stadium is the cavernous choice for rock concerts, ice-skating
spectaculars and large-scale dance events. Av du Globe 36. Tel: +32
(0)2-340-2111.
Jazz has a long, proud history in Brussels, and venues throughout
the city swing to the sound of saxophones, pianos and trumpets well
into the night. Music Village Jazz Club opened in September 2000,
and has earned a good reputation among the city's discerning jazz
fans. Live music from across the jazz spectrum can be heard
Wednesday to Saturday, with Belgium's finest jazz musicians
occasionally being joined by international stars. Admission:
EUR10-EUR20. Rue des Pierres 50. Tel: +32 (0)2-513-1345.
Theatre
Presenting modern and established classics such as Waiting For Godot
and Twelfth Night, the Theatre National is Brussels's foremost
theatrical venue. The greater proportion of performances are held at
Salle Le Palace (Boulevard Anspach 85), but some are held at Halles
de Schaerbeek (Rue Royale Ste Marie 22). Tel: +32 (0)2-203-4155.
The Theatre Royal du Parc is a good alternative, showing mainly
classics by playwrights such as Moliere or George Bernard Shaw. Rue
de la Loi 3. Tel: +32 (0)2-505-3030.
Opera
A temple to the classics, La Monnaie presents a varied bill of
opera, music and dance. Tickets for classical performances such as
Othello and Parsifal start at EUR8.
La Monnaie is also home to the Brussels Philharmonic Society, whose
recent repertoire includes Bach, Handel and Debussy, as well as the
works of lesser-known masters of Classical music. Place de la
Monnaie. Tel: +32 (0)70-233-939.
Cinema
For big-budget Hollywood movies Kinepolis is hard to beat. Europe's
largest cinema complex boasts 25 screens plus an IMAX theatre. Films
may be screened in several different European languages. Bld du
Centenaire 20. Tel: +32 (0)2-474-2600.
The Actor's Studio has a diverse bill of art house cinema. Petite
Rue des Bouchers 16. Tel: +32 (0)2-512-1696.
There are a number of UGC cinemas around the city showing mainly
Hollywood fare. Place de Brouckere is one of the most centrally
located, just opposite the Metropole Hotel.
Nightclubs
Brussels is one of those cities where clubs aren't immediately
apparent should you go a-hunting at random. The locals seem to
evaporate from the bars at around ten or eleven o'clock and if
you're not watching closely you can easily get left behind as the
city moves into the clubs until the small hours of the morning. The
best thing to do is to get some advice from a local on the day
before your planned night out. Brussels's clubs have different
nights on offer from day to day and there should always be something
that suits you going on somewhere in the city. Otherwise try these
places to catch some late night entertainment:
The Fuse
Rue Blaesstraat 208
Tel: +32 (0)2-511-9789
Brussels's best club? Many would say so. Fuse has been the top night
out for Brussels's party people for the last half a decade. Techno
and dance dominate the decks and the dance floor is always packed.
Having a good time is more important than looking good - although a
bit of both is naturally preferable.
Mirano Continental
Chaussée de Louvain 38
Tel: +32 (0)2-227-3972
This old cinema converted into a club is one of the most stylish
venues in Brussels and one of the places to be seen, if that's
important to you. It really gets going on a Saturday night when the
city's more outrageous clubbers come out for a night of dance and
house music.
La Démence
Rue Blaesstraat 208
Tel: +32 (0)2-503-5918
Held in the same venue as The Fuse, La Demence is Brussels's premier
gay club event. Approximately monthly from 23h00 the club is home to
the city's most outrageously dressed denizens, as well as the more
mundane of Brussels's gay citizens in a huge dance event.
Milk
Rue de Livourne 40
Tel: +32 (0)2-534-2667
A relative newcomer to the Brussels club scene, Milk is a smallish
venue just off Avenue Louise attracting a laid back, hip crowd.
Fridays see DJs playing funk and electro; on Saturdays it's garage.
Los Romanticos - El Palacio Latino
Quai aux Bois à Bruler 5-7
Tel: n/a
An energetic salsa club just off Place Ste Catherine open most
nights and playing salsa, merengue and other Latin rythms. The
stylish décor adds to the highly-charged atmosphere. Fun for
watching too - there are some great dancers here.
Special Events
February
From mid-late February each year, Brussels plays host to Belgium's
Antiques Fair. The fair, which is almost half a century old,
attracts over 50 art dealers who display their wares in Ravenstein
Hall and Palais des Beaux Arts. Works range from Oriental, African
and South American to jewellery, paintings and engravings. A must
for all enthusiasts.
March
Two weeks of supernatural madness return to Brussels each March, for
the International Festival of Fantasy Film. Over 60,000 fans of
fantasy, thriller and sci-fi descend on the city to enjoy over 100
screenings of new films, unusual processions, body-painting
competitions, fashion shows and the renowned Vampires' Ball.
April/ May
During two weeks in April and May, The Royal Greenhouses of Laeken,
built for Leopold II in the 1800s, are open to the public. You don't
have to be a botanist to appreciate the banana trees, palms, monkey
puzzles, tree ferns and exotic flowers that grow in this fantastic
glasshouse. Evening visits provide a particularly impressive view.
May
For one weekend each May, Brussels taps its feet to the sound of
jazz during the Jazz Marathon. Both national and international
artists will fill the clubs, squares, streets and bars, performing
over 100 concerts to suit jazz fans of every taste from traditional
combos to the most outrageous acid and performance jazz.
June/ July
The last day of June heralds the start of summer and sparks three
days and nights of world music and food during The Couleur Café
Festival. Performances from over 500 artists are set to transport an
audience of over 50,000 right across the globe, from Africa and
South America to Ireland and Spain. Performances are held in the
Tour et Taxis complex.
July
On the first Tuesday of every July, spectators gather in the
Grand'Place, to watch the annual Ommegang (Walk About). The
procession, which dates back to the 1200s, is composed of
Aristocrats and Masters of local trade and crafts, paying homage to
the sovereign and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Processionaries wear
replicas of traditional dress, made according to paintings and
engravings of the period. Space in the Grand'Place is limited to
3,000 spectators, so you must book tickets well in advance.
July/ August
Throughout July and August each year, the city's public places are
transformed into concert halls, to stage The City's Summer Festival.
Music of all kinds, from classical to pop and jazz can be heard
throughout the streets and each evening over 40 concerts are staged.
Head for the Grand'Place, Palais des Beaux Arts, Parc Léopald and
Hotel de Ville.
August
For one week in August every two years the entire Grand'Place is
turned into a "Flower Carpet" with hundreds of thousands of blooms
carefully arranged to form a fabulous decoration - literally
carpeting the square. The buildings that overlook it are similarly
festooned with flowers. The next Flower Carpet is scheduled for
2004.
December
Set within the Grand'Place, the European Market of Christmas
Traditions makes an ideal venue for a pre-Christmas shopping spree.
As well as traditional crafts from Belgium and across Europe, you
can sample traditional food, wine and delicacies. The Christmas
music and lights are sure to get you in the festive spirit. Contact
the tourist office for further details.
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