I’ve just added a new pictures gallery on Blue Brussels with pictures from the Cinquantenaire park. I’ve also beefed up my Etangs d’Ixelles galleries with photos of the Flagey building.

The “Cinquantenaire” park, museums and monuments were meant to be erected to celebrate Belgium’s 50th anniversary in 1880. However the buildings were not finished until 1905, in time to celebrate the country’s 75th anniversary.

Besides the arch and the park, the Cinquantenaire complex houses the following museums:

• Royal Army and Military History Museum
• Autoworld
• Royal Museum of Art and History

In the gardens you will also find Belgium’s largest Mosque (originally a conference center for the 1897 World Fair held in Brussels), ironically located close to one of Victor Horta’s controversial creations: a building housing the sculptor’s Jef Lambeaux’s erotic Passions Humaines ensemble. This exhibit remains controversial to this day, and the building is only open on request for museum visitors.

If you are in Brussels in summertime, make sure you go to the Drive-In Movies: from the end of June till the end of August, a weekly selection of movies shown in open air at the Cinquantenaire. Old-timers pay half price, and moviegoers typically blast their horns when there is a lot of action (particularly erotic) on the screen! Check out our events page for more things to do in Brussels.

I am happy to announce a significant addition to Blue Brussels: a new section in our events page now covers all current cultural activities in Brussels.

It is still an early iteration, but the page features a very large selection of current events in Brussels:

• Live Music and concerts, pop and rock concerts at Forest National, the Ancienne Belgique but also at clubs and smaller venues such as the Botanique, the Cirque Royal, etc. Classical music and opera is also tracked, as well as all the summer music festivals in Brussels
• Exhibitions, not to miss anything going on at the National Museums, the Bozar or Flagey
• Nightlife is also covered, with all the parties at Brussels’ clubs, including a special section focusing on the Fuse activities
• Movie and theater. All box office shows with showing times. Listings for theater plays in English, French and Ducth.

I’ll be adding more in the near future, so stay tuned! The service is made possible thanks to a collaboration with Agenda and Cinenews.

• Recyclart
  Held in the little Brussels-Chapelle train station, this art festival showcases artistic creations made out of recycled materials.
  Site: Recyclart
• Ommegang
  A huge procession on Grand Place with origins from the 15th century. Now devoid of any religions connotations, it is a great show for Bruxellois and visitors alike: giants, life-sized chess game, dances.
  Site: Ommegang
• Meyboom
  The oldest procession in town consists in the planting of a “tree of joy” at the intersection of the rue du Marais and rue des Sables. This procession was allowed to proceed as a reward of a feat of arms in the 14th century. To read more about the intense rivalry between Leuven and Brussels about this procession, which lives up to this day, make sure to visit the website.
  Site: Meyboom
• Bruxelles Les Bains
  On the banks of the canal, this temporary resort hosts a number of Summer activities, sporting events, concerts and food stalls.
  Site: Bruxelles Les Bains
• Foire du Midi
  A very old tradition in Brussels: from mid-July to mid-August, countless attractions are set on the boulevards leading to the Midi train station.
  Site: Tourist Info
• Eu’ritmix music festival
  Yet another summertime music festival held in various squares of central Brussels. This festival showcases various musical styles from all around Europe.
  Site: Eu’ritmix
• Fiesta Latina
  The Fiesta Latina is really an incredible event. Two days of latin fever in the Châtelain area, with Cuban dances and a lot of exotic food and drinks. Great summertime event.
  Site: Fiesta Latina
• Ecran Total film festival
  A summer-long festival of films held at the Arenberg Galleries movie theater.
  Site: Arenberg
• Midi-Minimes music festival
  Yet another summertime music festival in Brussels: the Eglise des Minimes hosts lunchtime concerts of jazz and classical music.
  Site: Midi-Minimes
• Drive-In Movies
  From the end of June till the end of August, a weekly selection of movies shown in open air at the Cinquantenaire. Old-timers pay half price.
  Site: Drive-In Movies
• Flower Carpet on Grand Place
  Every other year (during even-numbered years) an impressive flower carpet is laid out on Brussels’ Grand Place. It is made out of more than a million petals of begonias.
  Site: Tapis de Fleurs
• Visit the Royal Palace
  The Royal Palace in the centre of the city is open to visitors during the summer, between the National Day (July 21) and early September.
  Site: Belgian Monarchy
• Beer weekend
  It’s beer weekend in Brussels every week of the year, but there is a special beer event on the Grand Place during the last weekend of August every year.
  Site: Beer Weekend
• Bellone-Brigittines Dance Festival
  An annual showcase of contemporary dance at the old Bellone house and in the old Brigittines chapel. The festival is held at the end of August and in early September.
  Site: Bellone
• Brussels Rollers
  This is an incredibly fun event to participate in: every Friday from early June through the end of September, rollerbladers take it to the streets of Brussels after 9pm. A lot of music and drinks, and a great success every year.
  Site: Belgium Rollers

For more info, check out our event calendar on Blue Brussels.

What’s to do in Brussels in July? Here’s our July Calendar of events in Brussels. For other months, check our events calendar on Blue Brussels.

• Brussels Rollers
  This is an incredibly fun event to participate in: every Friday from early June through the end of September, rollerbladers take it to the streets of Brussels after 9pm. A lot of music and drinks, and a great success every year.
  Site: Belgium Rollers
• Ommegang
  A huge procession on Grand Place with origins from the 15th century. Now devoid of any religions connotations, it is a great show for Bruxellois and visitors alike: giants, life-sized chess game, dances.
  Site: Ommegang
• Couleur Café
  Originately a world music festival, Couleur Café is now a potpourri of various musical styles in a very relaxed atmosphere where exotic food and dance abound.
  Site: Couleur Café
• European Film Festival
  Now held at Flagey, one of the most popular film festivals in Brussels. A lot of atmosphere with DJ’s and music well into the night.
  Site: FFFB
• Brosella Folk & Jazz Festival
  Held in the open-air Théâtre de Verdure at the footsteps of the atomium, this low-key jazz and folk festival attracts a local crowd. Great summertime activity when the sun is shining.
  Site: Brosella
• National Day on the 21st
  The national day celebrations typically involve large open-air fairs in the Rue de la Régence and the Royal Park, followed by the inevitable fireworks.
  Site: Tourist info
• Recyclart
  Held in the little Brussels-Chapelle train station, this art festival showcases artistic creations made out of recycled materials.
  Site: Recyclart
• Bruxelles Les Bains
  On the banks of the canal, this temporary resort hosts a number of Summer activities, sporting events, concerts and food stalls.
  Site: Bruxelles Les Bains
• Foire du Midi
  A very old tradition in Brussels: from mid-July to mid-August, countless attractions are set on the boulevards leading to the Midi train station.
  Site: Tourist Info
• Ecran Total film festival
  A summer-long festival of films held at the Arenberg Galleries movie theater.
  Site: Arenberg
• Midi-Minimes music festival
  Yet another summertime music festival in Brussels: the Eglise des Minimes hosts lunchtime concerts of jazz and classical music.
  Site: Midi-Minimes
• Drive-In Movies
  From the end of June till the end of August, a weekly selection of movies shown in open air at the Cinquantenaire. Old-timers pay half price.
  Site: Drive-In Movies
• Visit the Royal Palace
  The Royal Palace in the centre of the city is open to visitors during the summer, between the National Day (July 21) and early September.
  Site: Belgian Monarchy

Brussels finally has its contemporary art museum. The Wiels has finally opened on May 25 with an estimated 10,000 crowd visiting on opening day.

Now that the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition has ended, what’s left to do in Brussels? Here’s our June Calendar of events in Brussels. For other months, check our events calendar on Blue Brussels.

• La Cambre Models
  Fresh graduates of the prestigious La Cambre fashion academy release their end-of-year creations onto the catwalks.
  Site: modobruxellae
• Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition
  A music competition for young virtuosos which never fails to attract a huge crowd. Alternates annually between piano, violin and voice.
  Site: Concours Reine Elisabeth
• Fête de la Musique
  The annual summer Fête de la Musique takes place on June 21 every year. Most years lots of concerts are organized throughout the town, although the concerts on Grand Place are always the highlight of the day.
  Site: Fête de la Musique
• Jazz Spring Sessions
  Since 1998 the VW Spring Sessions attract popular jazz artists. In recent years the festival branched out to latino, Afro-cuban and pop music. Most events in Brussels are hosted at the Bozar and Ancienne Belgique.
  Site: VW Spring Sessions
• Balsamine Danse Festival
  Contemporary dance festival held at the Balsamine theater.
  Site: Balsamine
• Couleur Café
  Originately a world music festival, Couleur Café is now a potpourri of various musical styles in a very relaxed atmosphere where exotic food and dance abound.
  Site: Couleur Café
• European Film Festival
  Now held at Flagey, one of the most popular film festivals in Brussels. A lot of atmosphere with DJ’s and music well into the night.
  Site: FFFB
• Ecran Total film festival
  A summer-long festival of films held at the Arenberg Galleries movie theater.
  Site: Arenberg
• Drive-In Movies
  From the end of June till the end of August, a weekly selection of movies shown in open air at the Cinquantenaire. Old-timers pay half price.
  Site: Drive-In Movies
• Brussels Rollers
  This is an incredibly fun event to participate in: every Friday from early June through the end of September, rollerbladers take it to the streets of Brussels after 9pm. A lot of music and drinks, and a great success every year.
  Site: Belgium Rollers

Brussels’ May events: Neighbors day – Immeubles en fête. Created in 2002 on the model of what was done in Paris, Immeubles en Fête has now become another traditional May event in Brussels. It is a great success, perhaps because the event matches the Brussels ethos quite well: the idea is very simple, with neighbors organizing a “neighborhood party” for which they get some help and sponsoring from the municipalities and sponsors. From the official website’s description (in typical Bruxellois broken English ;)):

The purpose:
Create a dynamic of hospitality and reinforce proximity and solidarity amongst neighbours. Today, as we live in a multimedia society, it has become easier to talk to someone at the other side of the world, than to say hi to a neighbour. Solitude and indifference reign in the cities of today, so ” The European Neighbours’ Day ” offers a moment where getting to know new people is easy. [...] Over 235.000 Belgian citizens and 6.000.000 Europeans took part in the operation and gathered around a drink, to break the ice, to meet for the first time, to exceed the stage of indifference and a simple greeting…

What’s on in Brussels? Check out Que Faire? Adding to our list of useful sites showing the forthcoming cultural events in Brussels, we would also recommend Que Faire?, very complete but unfortunately only available in French and Dutch.

Brussels Jazz Marathon. Every year at the end of May Brussels hosts the Jazz Marathon music festival. This two day festival was created in 1995 and has been a success ever since. There are typically more than a hundred concerts held throughout the city, with the largest stage on the Grand Place. Most concerts are free, although some years the festival attracts big stars who charge a small fee. There are free buses throughout the night bringing you to the different places. This year the program includes 125 concerts (all free). The highlight will no doubt be Philip Catherine on Saturday 26 May at 5 pm on the Grand Place. Read more on the official webpage, or on Que Faire? (in French)

The Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels is going strong this year. This is a festival dedicated to new creations, intended for artists with a personal outlook on the world and spectators willing to question their own views. According to their site:

“Kunstenfestivaldesarts is a cosmopolitan city festival. We are increasingly becoming part of a complex network of communities that cross and redefine national, linguistic and cultural borders. The city is the environment par excellence in which this cosmopolitan society can be seen. Kunstenfestivaldesarts takes place in dozens of welcoming Brussels theatres and art houses for 3 weeks every May.”