Culture

60 years? That's worth a smurf!

06 November 2018

The Smurfs are sixty years old. Since their first appearance in 1958, their popularity has by far eclipsed their little Smurf village.

Get to know the Arenbergs

06 November 2018

The noble line of Arenberg has been among the most influential families in the Low Countries for centuries. The name shrouds an illustrious history.

L'Improviste: the first improvisational theatre arrives in Brussels

05 November 2018

There has been an incredible rise in the amount of improvisation performed on the French-speaking scene in Belgium over the last few years.

Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike: Belgian DJs experiencing spectacular success

05 November 2018

For the third year in a row, Belgian DJs Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike have finished second in the prestigious DJ Mag Top 100, just behind Dutch DJ Martin Garrix.

A new book to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of Jacques Brel

30 October 2018

Jacques Brel succumbed to lung cancer on 9 October 1978.

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 Stromae, 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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