Brussels in English

"I am here - je suis là - ik ben hier" is a free trilingual exhibition at Espace Vanderborght exploring self-representation from traditional portraits to selfies. Organized by the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), it features interactive installations examining identity, media, and social media culture. Art Historian Margaux Van Uytvanck tells us what to expect.Free. Through 30 May

There's a new food hall in an ex parking structure in the Saint-Boniface neighborhood in Ixelles. It's called RATZ and features cuisines from West Asia to East Asia. Food impresario Thierry Goor describes what he has created.ratzfoodmarket.com

When is a lift not just a lift? When it connects the Mont des Arts with the rooftop of the Belgian Royal Library and its unique view of the city. Library Director Sara Lammens gives us the details. https://www.kbr.be/en/

Staff at Visit.brussels protested near the city's parliament against budget cuts. The agency, which promotes Brussels worldwide, must save €5.7 million this year. More than 1,700 people have signed a petition against the cuts. Benjamin Vella, head of visitor services at Visit.brussels explains what is at stake.

Some short clips from the many interviews we recorded around Brussels in the aftermath of the 22 March 2016 terror attacks.Listen to the interviews in full:- Kate Havrlik | Richard Harris at the Bourse | Ex-ambassador James Cain | More

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the complete restoration of the Atomium three new digital art (lights and sound) installations were inaugurated recently. One of them is especially noteworthy since it illuminates the structure on the outside. Antoine Menalda of Dirty Monitor, the creators of the spectacle, tells us what we can expect.www.atomium.be

The Belgian Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA) just announced the latest winners of the Cultural Heritage Challenge: The Renaissance Pavilion in Mons and the façade scraffiti of the Art Nouveau Maison Dorée in Charleroi. Communications and Development Director Robrecht Janssen explains the very important work that KIK-IRPA performs.https://www.kikirpa.be/en

It's the 45th edition of ANIMA, Belgium's venerable but always new, always fresh, animation festival. New co-director Nicolas Moins tells us what's in store for us this year.https://animafestival.be/en

Brussels photographer Philippe Braquenier has a current show at Galerie Contretype entitled Earth Not a Globe in which he uses his talents as a photographer to jab at various "truths" the Flat Earthers espouse. In the process of which he has produced some very beautiful images. As well as photos there are installations and videos. He tells us how he picked this subject.www.contretype.orgThrough 22 March 2026

Seminal Belgian new music group Ictus is moving into Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's seminal Belgian contemporary dance troupe PARTS' newly expanded building and they are celebrating with an opening festival the first week in February. Ictus Director Tom Pauwels and Ictus Artistic Coordinator Jean-Luc Plouvier spoke with us about the move and celebration.https://www.ictus.be/Photo: Christophe Urbain

Neuhaus is well known for being among the top chocolatiers of Belgium but they also have the distinction of having invented the praline, bite-sized sweets coated in chocolate, and the balotin, the elegant box that carries them. They have just published a richly illustrated book on the history of chocolate and the company. Co-author Charlotte Huens spoke with us at the launch.https://www.neuhauschocolates.com/en_BE/home

Through a new display, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium focus on gender-related stereotypes. The show, titled Art X Gender questions how images and artworks reinforce or challenge such representations. From the 16th to the 20th century, from Lucas Cranach to Roger Raveel, including works by Khnopff, Pierre Bonnard and Jane Graverol among many others, nearly 30 works are exhibited for the occasion at the heart of the Old Masters Museum, some of them for the very first time. Additionally, the reflection does not stop at a single room: it extends throughout the collections, with a guided trail encouraging visitors to continue questioning stereotypes within the permanent displays.Curator Audrey Laserre and Cultural Facilitator Jean-Philippe Theyskens explain the innovative elements of the exhibition.Until 19 April 2026