Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

88 BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG REGION BY REGION

ENTERTAINMENT IN BRUSSELS

L

ying at the crossroads of

London, Paris, Amsterdam

and Cologne, Brussels

enjoys the presence of the best
international touring groups. The

calendar is full of first-rate
opera, jazz, rock and classical

and world music, glittering with
performers of world renown. The city

also generates its own productions of

international acclaim, notably in

opera and modern dance, while

its cosmopolitan culture ensures

that the latest films arrive quickly.

There is a lively club scene, with

venues attracting revellers from

all over Europe. Many bars and

cafés host live music, providing

an easy continuum between traditional

taverns and DJ-fuelled dance floors.

LISTINGS AND TICKETS

Most expatriates in Brussels
depend on the weekly
English listings guide, Brussels
Unlimited, and a monthly
magazine, The Bulletin, which
also provides cultural infor-
mation, weather reports and
news online. Agenda is a
trilingual listings magazine that
can be found in boxes out side
super markets. Its website also
has extensive, up-to-date
listings in French and Dutch.
The Brussels Tourist Office
pro duces useful brochures
such as its Brussels Guide and
Map and My Guide to the Night.
Tickets for many events are
available from Fnac (see p87).

DANCE

Belgium is particularly strong

in the field of modern dance.

Its leading choreo graphers

such as Michèle Anne de Mey

and Wim Vandekeybus have

enormous influence inter-

nationally. Another important

figure, Anne Teresa De

Keersmaeker, is currently

resi dent at the Brussels opera,

and the director of the world-

renowned Rosas Company.

JAZZ

Every May, jazz fans from

around the world congregate

for the Brussels Jazz Marathon

much of which is free.

The quintessential Brussels

jazz venue is the venerable

L’Archiduc, an Art Deco

gem in the city centre which

hosts regular concerts every

week end. The Music Village

stretches across two 17th-

century build ings near the

Grand Place and features both

local and inter national names.

Sounds, in Ixelles, is anoth er

popular jazz club boasting a

prolific agenda of concerts.

ROCK, REGGAE,

FOLK AND WORLD

Brussels is one of the best

cities in Europe to catch up-

and-coming acts, generally at

reason able ticket prices.

The Forêt-National, lying

southeast of the city centre,

is Belgium’s top arena for

big-name acts. Closer to the

centre, Brussels’s other venues

tend to be more intimate, and

each have their own favoured

genres. Café Central leans

towards R&B, blues, bossa

nova and ambient, while

Cirque Royale favours indie

rock, and has a reputation for

booking bands before they

become house hold names.

The downtown Ancienne

Belgique has a similar line-up,

but for more established acts.

The Flemish student venue

Kultuur Kaffee at the Vrij

Universiteit Brussel, the city’s

Dutch-language univer sity,

always has a strong line-up

and serves the cheapest beer

in the city. Recyclart plays

avant-garde techno, hardcore,

punk and some world music

in a refitted train sta tion.

The impressive Halles de

Schaerbeek, formerly a 19th-

century market, hosts a range

of dif ferent groups and other

arts events. Reggae con certs

are often held at the VK Club

(Vaartkapoen), while Flemish

acts are showcased at the

Beursschouwburg, the Flemish

cultural com mun ity centre.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

The Théâtre Royal de la
Monnaie is one of Europe’s
best opera houses. Tickets can
be cheap, but many pro duc-
tions sell out in advance. The
Victor Horta-designed Palais
des Beaux-Arts (BOZAR), the
country’s most notable cul-
tural venue, is home to the
Belgian National Orchestra.

NIGHTLIFE

Brussels’s bright young things

start the weekend in St Géry,

a square in the fashion district

of Rue Antoine Dansaert. This

area is home to such bars as

Logo for rock venue,

Ancienne Belgique

Dramatic performance at the prestigious Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie