Culture

33 proud Belgian belfries on UNESCO World Heritage List

13 August 2019

In the 11th century, the feudal system was waning. The cities, however, were very much on the rise. Their economic power allowed them to buy off far-reaching administrative autonomy from the Lords.

Comic albums, comic books, comic merchandising … and comic strip walls

12 August 2019

The comic strip is a fully-fledged art form and the Belgian comic book tradition has all the qualities required to compete on the world stage. That is indisputable.

St Anna's Tunnel: 572 metres of walkway beneath the Scheldt

09 August 2019

A pedestrian tunnel was excavated over 31 metres deep below the Scheldt between 28 June 1931 and 14 August 1933 to connect both banks of the Scheldt in Antwerp.

Thirteen Flemish beguinages have been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites

23 July 2019

In their heyday they were a place of great devotion, modesty, not to mention material activity.

Visit Flanders in the footsteps of its great masters

10 July 2019

Flanders played an important role in Western European art between the 15th and the 17th centuries.

A country of legends and thrills

The constant contact with other peoples and cultures hasn't been without its effects in terms of art and culture, both in the past and the present day. A true crossroads of the major influences of art, Belgium has always been home to a large number of artists and frequently establishes itself as the place for innovation for new movements.

Belgium has preserved much evidence of the greatest architectural and artistic movements. The Middle Ages saw cathedrals and belfries spring up, monuments that still grace the Belgian cities of art. Countless châteaux pepper the countryside and Belgium is the country with the most châteaux per km². As for Brussels, in the 20th century, it became the capital of Art Nouveau. All this explains the country's incredible architectural wealth.

The splendid works of the old Flemish painters such as Pierre-Paul Rubens, Pierre Brueghel, Jan Van Eyck, Antoine Van Dyck, along with more recent artists like Paul Delvaux or René Magritte, are now exhibited in museums all over the world.

The ultimate hub for comics, Belgium is home to the largest concentration of comic book authors in the world. They continue the tradition of Hergé (Tintin), Peyo (Les Schtroumpfs), Edgar P. Jacobs (Blake et Mortimer), Morris (Lucky Luke), Bob De Moor (Barelli, Cori le Moussaillon), Willy Vandersteen (Bob et Bobette) and many more!

Today, many Belgian talents are making a name for themselves. This is particularly the case on the international music scene with Angèle, Milow, Selah Sue and Hooverphonic. On the big screen, a new generation of directors and actors are frequently recognised with awards including the Palme d'Or at Cannes and the Oscars in Hollywood.

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