FOCUS
Septembre, patrimonial et architectural You mustn’t miss the Heritage Open Days this autumn, which will be taking place on 19 and 20 September on the theme "From Elsewhere". This theme will highlight exoticism (Chinese ornaments, Egyptomania, Japanism, etc.), “imported” styles (Louis-style, cottagestyle, etc.), buildings representative of the French, Austrian and Dutch periods and places of worship. The open days will also highlight foreign influences in Belgian architecture.
July/August, sweet summer pleasures Life is more gentle in Brussels during the summer. There is less traffic on the roads and pavement cafés fill up at the slightest glimpse of sunshine. What’s more, there are cultural and recreational activities on offer for those not fortunate enough to go away on holiday. From 27 June to 5 July, Flagey will be hosting the Brussels Film Festival, which is simply a European Film Festival. In 2008, this event attracted around 30,000 spectators. For 2009, the organisers have announced bigger and better previews and more Belgian films.
For more information, visit www.fffb.be During the summer, Brussels is also about traditional fixtures, such as Brussels-on-Sea, the canal-side beach (from mid-July to midAugust), Ommegang, a reconstruction of the arrival of Charles V in Brussels (from 30 June to 2 July) and the Foire du Midi, Belgium’s largest fair (from 18 July to 23 August). Not, of course, forgetting National Day on 21 July!
For more information, visit www.bruxelleslesbains.be, www.ommegang.be, www.feteforaine.be and www.sibp.be
For more information, visit www.monument.irisnet.be Culture will also be given pride of place with the opening at Bozar of a major exhibition, as part of the Year of the Comic Strip, entitled "Sexties - Crepax/Cuvelier/Forest/Peelaert”. The idea is to show how, in the 1960s, the imaginations of comic strip authors were suddenly unleashed through the influence of rock music, freedom from 1950s corsets, sexual tolerance and hippy festivals. From this time on, boards erupted in graphic terms, narration exploded, illustration boxes became less standardised and characters were revisited "pop art" style.
For more information, visit www.brusselscomics.be Finally, September will also be a good month for gamblers, since the brand new Brussels Casino will be opening its doors in a brand new building right in the centre of Brussels, in the island hemmed in by Boulevard Anspach and the Place de la Monnaie. Currently located in the Salle de la Madeleine, near to the Grand Place, the casino hopes to be able to welcome 50% more visitors as a result of this move into bigger and better-equipped premises. The temple of gambling will have a surface area of 13,000 square metres, compared with 6,000 at Madeleine, which will enable it to create more playing areas, as well as a panoramic restaurant and a 500-seater theatre. The new
complex will also feature a shopping arcade, accommodation and a hotel.
For more information, visit www.grandcasinobrussels.be
October, with Asian influences In October, the capital will pay homage to China through Europalia. In fact, the event is dedicating its 22th festival to the culture of the Middle Kingdom. From October 2009 to February 2010, Europalia will be revealing a China which is authentic, new and contemporary, through several hundred events including exhibitions, concerts, dance and theatre performances and cinema. The aim is to go beyond clichés to reveal a China which is authentic and on the move.
www.europalia.be
Novembre/Décembre, la ville s'illumine From November, the city will wrap itself in a cloak of lights to mark the end of an extremely busy year. In November, Christmas comes early to the Place du Sablon, known for its antique shops, with the famous Nocturnes du Sablon (Sablon late night opening). The event has become a must in the capital, despite “only” being a local festival. However, this is one of the capital’s most beautiful and richest localities, which makes this event truly magical. This is when shops and antique shops stay open until 11 p.m. and musicians play their instruments more or less everywhere. A foretaste of the festivities to come, which will start properly on 27 November with the opening of the extremely famous Winter Wonders (Christmas market, ice rink and Ferris wheel). Something special to round off a year packed with events and changes, before diving back into another year, which will be just as exciting.
Fanny Bouvry
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