Culture

William Cliff receives the Goncourt Prize

05 June 2015

The Belgian, William Cliff has received the Goncourt Prize for poetry. The prize recognises all of his work.

Au Monde wins Best World Premiere Award at the International Opera Awards

26 April 2015

Au Monde, by Philippe Boesmans, received the award for Best World Premiere at the International Opera Awards gala. The award is presented in recognition of a brand new opera.

Ivo Van Hove wins the prestigious theatre award again

12 April 2015

On 12 April in London, theatre director Ivo Van Hove received the Laurence Olivier award for best director.

Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker wins Golden Lion at Venice Biennale

30 March 2015

On Monday the choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker was honoured with the Golden Lion for a Lifetime Achievement for Dance for all her work at the Biennale in Venice.

Tomorrowland named Best Dance Festival for the fourth year in a row

27 March 2015

During the annual Miami Winter Music Conference, Tomorrowland was named Best Festival in the world for the fourth year running.

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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