Culture

Belgian festivals win prizes at the European Festival Awards

20 January 2017

In January 2017 two Belgian music festivals, Rock Werchter and Pukkelpop, were a big hit at the European Festival Awards gala held in the Groningen district of the Netherlands.

Karrewiet hauls in European news award

07 December 2016

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has honoured the programme 'Karrewiet' with the award for the clearest and most original news report.

'No Home Movie' among best films of 2016

07 December 2016

The New York Times film critics have selected 'No Home Movie' by Belgian director Chantal Akerman as one of the best films of 2016.

Carmien Michels triumphs at EC poetry slam

27 November 2016

The Belgian poet Carmien Michels claimed victory in the EC poetry slam. She won the hearts of the jury in her home town of Leuven with the poems she read aloud.

Kevin Meul has received an award in Tallinn for his feature film debut

27 November 2016

His first feature film ‘My First Highway’ has already won the Belgian director Kevin Meul the jury prize for best film in Tallinn.

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 Peter Paul Rubens, Pieter Bruegel, 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 de scheepsjongen), Willy Vandersteen (Suske en Wiske) 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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