For lovers of the arts, antiques and chocolate, as well as for bureaucrats and politicians, there is always a good reason to visit Brussels — above and beyond its historic houses, heritage sites and fine shops. The coming months are no exception with exhibitions by international artists, antiques fairs and music events.
Opening at the Palais des Beaux-Arts today for three months is a collection of paintings, drawings and photographs by the acclaimed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. For the first time, all her works from the Museo Olmedo in Mexico City are travelling to Belgium. The exhibition will demonstrate her imaginative powers and look at Mexico’s cultural scene in the first half of the 19th century.
Next month an exhibition illustrating the history and extraordinary European career of El Greco, from Crete to Toledo in Spain via Italy, opens at the Centre for Fine Arts. It will show how these experiences transformed his painting and gave birth to one of the most important characters of Western art.
Art enthusiasts and collectors will want to attend the 55th Brussels Antiques and Fine Arts Fair, starting on Friday at the Tour & Taxis exhibition venue. The show attracts antiquities, Oceanic, African and Oriental art, silver, furniture and works from the Haute Epoque to the 20th century.
In the second half of March, the Eurantica fair at Brussels Expo offers upper-class bargain hunting on a continental scale, with 150 dealers from across Europe, selected by a committee of experts, offering works from oriental ceramics to pre-Colombian art.
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A good day to be in the city is March 6 for the Night of the Brussels Museums, when performances, concerts, workshops and youthful entertainment takes place at the Bellevue Museum, Museum of Musical Instruments, Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art and the Museum of the City of Brussels. Events run from 8pm until 1am and are followed by a party.
These museums are worth a visit at any time, with the Comic centre one of many places to feature Tintin, the quiffed character created by the Belgian artist, Herg?. The Museum of Natural Sciences, highlighting a whales and dolphins exhibition, is also not to be missed.
Whatever the event, find time to stroll around the Grand Place, the historic square dominated by the Gothic Town Hall and lined on the other three sides with exuberantly ornate guild houses. The square is the focal point of the city’s social and civic life, hosting regular ceremonies and festivals, a Sunday morning bird market and with plenty of places to enjoy a Belgian beer, coffee or hot chocolate.
The names of the surrounding streets indicate their original and continuing roles: Rue des Harengs, Rue du March? aux Herbes, Rue Chair et Pain. Visitors may be drawn instead to Place du Sablon, famous for its antique shops and rival chocolatiers, or to Rue Antoine Dansaert.
Here, fashion stores such as Stijl showcase the work of emerging Belgian designers while, at No 76, Idiz Bogam is famed for its regularly changing selection of vintage clothes and second-hand shoes. For famous international brands, the street to find is Boulevard de Waterloo.
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Need to know: Bruges and Brussels
Currency Euro (1.12 to £1)
Population 45,000 and 1,080,790 respectively
Area Bruges, at 140 sq km, is the capital of West Flanders and is reachable from London on Eurostar in around three hours. Brussels, at 160 sq km, is closer to the centre of Belgium but can be reached in one hour 51 minutes
Bruges top attractions A boat trip around the canals provides a different perspective on one of Europe’s most picturesque cities
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Belfry Above the Halle soars Bruges’ most distinctive landmark, 83m (272ft) high. Climb up 366 steps for a superb panorama of the town and surrounding countryside
Diamond House With Valentine’s Day in mind, visit Bruges’ Diamond House
Brussels top attractions The Grand Place, or market square, is the main attraction, with the Town Hall the centre-piece and guild houses — and places to sample the local beer — all around
Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate Those with a sweet tooth will find themselves at home and may learn something
Short breaks If you have earned the rewards of a virtuous start to the new year, where better to treat yourself than the land of beer and chocolate
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Offer Three nights, 3* (Bruges) or 3*+ (Brussels) B&B, including one free night and a free upgrade on Eurostar, Bruges from £159pp, Brussels from £185pp. Phone 0844 879 8036