Culture

Reopening of the Plantin-Moretus Museum

07 September 2016

On 30 September 2016, the Plantin-Moretus Museum will be reopening its doors to the public.

Nic Balthazar wins the prize for best director in Montreal

06 September 2016

Everybody Happy, the new film from Nic Balthazar, received the prize for best director at the World Film Festival in Montreal.

Middelheim named one of Europe's most magnificent sculpture parks

05 September 2016

Middelheim's sculpture park has been listed among Europe's 10 best sculpture parks by the British newspaper The Guardian.

James Ensor goes under the hammer

05 September 2016

On 27 September Sothebys in London will be auctioning a series of works by the Belgian painter James Ensor.

Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker named Choreographer of the Year

31 August 2016

Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker has been named Choreographer of the Year. The Belgian choreographer received this recognition from the leading German magazine Tanz, as a reward for her successful year.

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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