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Most tourist attractions and museums are open on Sundays and closed on Mondays with the exception of Tournai where they are closed on Tuesdays. There is a small entrance fee for most museums. Special entrance packages are available in main cities.
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ABC
Amsterdam, Brussels and Cologne. It's a easy as abc! Travel to the cultural triangle. |
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Art in Europe
A guide to Art & Architecture in Europe. Book your trip right now! |
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VisitEurope.com
Helps you prepare your next vacation to Europe. |
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The Mundaneum museum in Mons was featured in the
Major
Belgian Museums in:
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| Nocturnes - Late Night Museum Nights in Brussels |
At night the light may be fading, but the museums of Brussels will be illuminated so that you can discover their many treasures in an extraordinary atmosphere! So, make a note in your diary that every Thursday evening from 25 September to 18 December, between 5pm and 10pm, the Brussels Museums will be inviting you to take advantage of a series of Nocturnes (Late-Evening Openings) to (re)discover their magnificent collections. You will be offered guided tours, drinks or unusual activities. Almost 50 museums will open their doors to you successively over the course of 13 evenings. The 7th edition this year will start with a special free opening evening on Thursday the 25th of September. The complete program can be found on www.brusselsmuseums.be.
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The new 2009 Brussels Card has arrived! With options for 24, 48 or 72 hours, this pass provides free access to museums, discounts in restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and unlimited travel on public transport. It's the perfect tool for exploring Brussels throughout 2009, The Year of Comic Strips with a fully packed program of concerts festivals, exhibitions & cultural events.The BRUSSELS CARD is sold for: 33 €, 28 € and 20 € for respectively a 72, 48 or 24 hours card: www.brusselscard.be
There is also The Bus of Museums which is the best way to go from one museum to another in the capital and end at the Parc du Cinquantenaire.
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Museums in Brussels |
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Autoworld
Just
like the it sounds, this museum is dedicated
to the history of the automotive industry
with five extraordinary automobile collections
including a carriage used by Napoleon
III, motorcycles, speedsters and interesting
concept cars.
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Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art
Located
in an art nouveau masterpiece designed
by Victor Horta, this unique museum
depicts the stages of putting together
a comic strip as well as wonderful displays
of cartoon art form artists around the
world and of course Belgium's most famous
cartoonists.
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The
BELvue Museums
This
is the official museum of the Belgian
Dynasty including the King Baudouin
Memorial and Vestiges of the Palace
of Emperor Charles V also known as the
Archeological site of the Coudenberg.
Reopening of the Coudenberg from March 5, 2009! |
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Cinematek
Cinematek in the BOZAR complex has had a complete facelift. One of the biggest cinema archives in the world, it houses 60.000 films. Great venue for group viewings.
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David
and Alice van Buuren Museum
This
house bought in 1928 by the banker and
patron David van Buuren has an outdoor
architecture typical of the Amsterdam
School and an indoor decoration typical
of "Art Deco" style by Belgian,
French and Dutch designers. |
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Gueuze
(Beer) Museum
This
working brewery is also a working museum
and has been around since 1900. Owned
and operated by the Van Roy-Cantillon
family, tours and tastings are available
all year round. Their specialty is the
Belgian beer known as Gueze, which some
say resembles champagne. |
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Horta
Museum
This
showcase of sinuous decorative lines,
curved window frames, elaborate balconies
and floral influence is the former home
of Art Nouveau pioneer, Victor Horta. Attention to detail
is keenly seen here where even the light
switch panels are works of art.
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Jewish
Museum
This museum is devoted
to thousand of years of Judaism as well
as to the part played by the Jewish
communities in the history of Belgium.
Open for more than 20 years the exhibition
includes information on acquisitions,
genealogy, and events.
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Mini Europe & Atomium
Located
in Bruparck, the Atomium is a spectacular
structure representing the atom, magnified
165 billion times.
Mini Europe is a fun, family attraction
where the most famous monuments in Europe
are scaled down to miniatures.
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Museum of
Music Instruments (MIM)
Housed
in a beautiful art nouveau structure
are over 7000 musical instruments including
everything from the bizarre to the beautiful.
Don't miss a trip to the top of the
structure where you can get a magnificent
panorama of Brussels.
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Royal Army and Military
History Museum
Ten
centuries of military history located
adjacent to the Cinquantenaire Arch
at Jubelpark. The collection includes
suits of armor, masterly crafted swords,
hundreds of uniforms from tens of countries
medals, flags and even planes and armored
vehicles. |
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Royal
Institute for Natural Sciences of Belgium
Museum
This museum houses fantastic collection
of all things science and nature including
iguanodons, the only one of its kind
in the world, automated dinosaurs larger
than life, a vivarium of spiders and
amazing invertebrates, not to mention
a pod of giant whales.
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Royal
Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium-Ancient
Art Museum - Modern
Art Museum
Founded two centuries ago, the Royal
Museums of Fine Arts which also consists
of the Ancient & Modern Art Museums
holds some twenty thousand paintings,
sculptures and drawings. Discover some
of Belgium and Europe's finest here
where the artistic menu offers everyone
from Bosch and Bruegel, Cranach and
Memling, Jordaens and Rubens Delveaux
and Magritte.
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Royal
Museum of Central Africa
This
museum is home to a collection of ethnographic
objects from Central Africa that is
the only one of its kind in the world.
It also has a film library, a photographic
library and a large collection of maps
and geological data. Its zoology collection
features a large number of type specimens
of African fauna, while the Entomology
Section boasts some six million insects.
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Royal Museum of Art & History
This museum was founded in 1835 and
has an important collection of art objects
from different civilizations from all
over the world. It offers an overview
of the history of mankind in the five
continents from prehistoric times until
today. The museum is part of the Royal
Museums of Art and History, to which
also belong The Hallepoortmuseum, The
Japanese Tower and the Chinese Pavilion.
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Porte de Hal
Very well preserved six hundred year old neogothic building. It is the only preserved gate from the Brussels medieval surrounding wall. This is due to the fact that it served as prison during the demolition of the walls in the 18th century. In 1869 architect Beyaert made some alterations that changed the primitive appearance of the building. Certain rooms are quite impressive indeed.
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Museum
of Costume and Lace
Displayed in subdued lighting and safely
laid out in drawers, this beautiful
lace collection contains pieces made
on the spindle and with needles, not
only from Brussels but also from France
and Italy. The bourgeois costumes the
lace was made for are also on show in
thematic exhibits. |
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Bozar - Palais des Beaux Arts
Designed by Art Nouveau pioneer Victor Horta, the Center for Fine Arts in Brussels houses concert halls and exhibition areas open to all visitors and embracing the artistic fields of music, theater, cinema and art. It is the focus for the city's music and dance, and is home to the Belgian National Orchestra. |
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Scientastic Museum
What can be more fun than to discover the world through the sensations it gives us. Sit down as a fakir, fly as a bird, take a picture of yourself in an impossible box, change your voice into that of an alien, whisper secrets from one parabola to another, dance with your gigasntic and colourful shadows...and explore over 90 other scientific experiences and astonishing interactive discoveries.
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Magritte Museum
In the building of the Royal Museums for Fine Arts of Belgium, visitors will be able to discover the world's largest collection of René Magritte's works. The collection is a perfect proof of René Magritte's oeuvre and covers all the periods from his life. The works on display, among which his most important masterpieces, are mainly from the legacies of Irène Scutenaire-Hamoir and Georgette Magritte and from purchases made by the Royal Museums for Fine Arts of Belgium, completed with works on loan from private persons |
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Bastogne
Historical Center
The
BHC is situated next to the American
Memorial on the Mardasson hill. The
visit is made up of two phases: 1) Cinema
: new film made with the best film extracts
shot during the battles by the Americans
and the Germans - 2) Exhibition of amazing
collections presented on dummies, representing
the protagonists of the battle and the
soldiers appearing on documents of that
period.
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Collections:
ancient tools, regional zoology, war.
Discover the French speaking Ardennes: the Battle of the
Bulge, ancient professions, the zoology.
Unique collections. Arms documents and
unusual objects describe the life of German
and American soldiers during the war. |
Bison
Farm
How
did one live in the real Far West? If
you're curious for wild bisons, their
extraordinary yet so peaceful strength
and if you love nature, take place in
the cart that'll take you to the heart
of the herd. If you're fascinated by the
Indian civilization, discover their culture
traditions, crafts,... |
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Ansembourge
Museum
This
private villa was built in 1740 for a banker.
It bears witness to the stimulating architecture
and decorative arts typical of the Liege
region and the refined "art de vivre" of the 18th century. Visitors can admire
the beautiful collection of carved and inlaid
woodwork from the 18th century as well as
tapestries, leather curtains in Cordoue
style, chandeliers, watches and porcelain.
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Museum
of Walloon Art
This
museum located in a beautiful building with
an open roof presents many paintings and
sculptures from Belgian artists form the
19th and 20th century. Everything form Magritte
to delvaux to Lombard is on display in the
collection of over 2,500 paintings not to
mention the hundreds of sculptures.
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Modern
Art Museum
In
this museum which has been open since 1905
visitors can follow the evolution of modern
and contemporary art with works by Picasso,
Gaugin, Monet, Chagall. Renovated in 1993
this museum is considered by many as the
most beautiful in Europe.
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Public
Transport Museum
The Public Transport Museum of the Pays
de Liege offers a unique journey into time,
space and public transportation. The museum
features a wide collection of vehicles documenting
the period from 1875 to modern day. Taxis,
horse traction trams, electric tramways,
trolley buses, buses and other vehicles are
displayed in a large ancient depot. |
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Baugnez 44-Historical Center
In order to perpetuate the memory of the Battle of the Bulge, the Baugnez 44 Historical Center takes us through the final great operations and battles which took place during the counteroffensive “Operation Wacht Am Rhein”! This new museum opened in memory of the Battle of the Bulge and the massacre of Baugnez/Malmedy, extends over 850 Square metres and two stories.
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Museum of Walloon Life
Old Franciscan Convent, Meuse renaissance from the 17th c. Listed monument.
The most beautiful and richest museum for ethnography folklore and popular traditions in Wallonia. |
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Perfumes
Guy Delforge
Deep in the cellars
of the Citadel, Guy Delforge, presiding
with the Maestro's baton over an orchestra
of rich fragrances teaches visitors each
phase of this remarkable craft: the composition
of a subtle symphony of different scents,
the maceration process, the miraculous
birth of a perfume, olfactory testing,
chilling, filtration and the art of presentation. |
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Museum
of Ancient Namur Arts
Situated
in an 18th century patrician house, the
museum presents medieval and renaissance
collections including paintings sculptures,
silver, glass and embroideries.
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Felicien Rops Museum
Situated
in the center of Old Namur in a 19th century
residence the museum displays its collection
in a fully renovated setting. The permanent
exhibition offers a complete look into
the works of Rops including lithography
and engravings.
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Groesbeeck
de Croix Museum
Open
since 1935, the building is one of the
finest mansions built in Namur in the
18th century. House inside is a remarkable
collection of decorative arts, furniture,
glass and crystal, crockery, silverware
paintings and sculpture.
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The Treasure of Hugo d'Oignies
A rich collection of Mosan silver and goldsmith work of the 13th century by the monk Hugo d'Oignies in the Priory d'Oignies aux soeurs de Notre Dame. |
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Museum
of Tapestry & Cloth Arts
Nine
sumptuous works illustrate the golden age
of Tournai tapestry art in the 15th and
16th centuries 9with notably the Siege of
Jerusalem). These impressive masterpieces
are displayed next to a host of contemporary
tapestries. The museum is located in a neoclassical
residence. |
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Museum
of Fine Arts
The
building designed by Victor Horta, contains
numerous sculptures and paintings ranging
from Primitive painters to contemporary
masters, among whom are Campin, Roger Van
der Weyden (born in Tournai), Brueghel,
Rubens, Jordaens, Watteau Van Gogh , the
only two paintings by Manet to be exhibited
in Belgium and local artists.
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Museum
of History and Decorative Arts
Its
remarkable collection of silverware, with
moulds and casts, and of gold, silver and
bronze coins offer the visitor a general
picture of the craftsmanship of our past
artists. But it is to the traditional Tournai
porcelain, a flourishing local industry
between 1750 and 1850, that the museum's
most lavish rooms are devoted.
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Museum
of Folklore
In
an intimate and quiet 19th century atmosphere
visitors will rediscover the delightful
ancient trades and crafts, popular art
everyday life scenes, puppets, carnivals
and age-old secular traditions of the city.
They bring back to life its prestigious
historical past and lead you to the very
soul of Tournai.
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Museums
in French Speaking Wallonia |
ArcheoPass
Tourist pass for the archeological heritage of French speaking Wallonia. |
Fondation Folon - La Hulpe
Jean-Michel Folon has housed
300 works (watercolors paintings, artifacts,
sculptures, posters and illustrations) at
the Ferme du Chateau de la Hulpe. |
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Caves
(grottos) of Han-sur-Lesse
An
old panoramic train will bring you to the
entrance of the caves, a guide will lead
you through 3km of increasingly beautiful
chambers and passages and a romantic exit
on barges on the subterranean river. |
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The Gourmet
Museum and Library
Asbl La Rawète - Ferme Castrale D'Hermalle-sous-Huy
Interesting,
amusing, convivial. Archaeology, history
and folklore of 'Gourmet'. Rare objects,
furniture and paintings from ancient times
to today - on gastronomy and tobacco including
anecdotes told by experienced guides. The
library contains the most important collection
in Belgium of books on gastronomy: over
13.000 volumes.
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Modern Art Museum
(MAC) - Hornu/Mons
It
was brought into being by the decree of
12th Germinal year V and it was the first
public building the town possessed. The
new museum that we see today was planned
by the architect Ernest Vandestrate. It
display works from the 14th to the 20th
centuries, covering the different schools
of painting, but most particularly contemporary
art (1960-1990). |
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Museum - Louvain-la-Neuve
University
Museum of Louvain-la-Neuve. The Museum is
situated in the city center, The wide variety
if its collections entices the visitor to
join in a dialogue between ancient and modern
art. As well as anonymous authors of Indian
Greek, pre-Columbian, Roman,Chinese and
African art there are also the prestigious
names of Picasso, Magritte, Delvaux, Delahaut,
as well as those of masters of engraving
, including Durer, Rembrandt, Canaletto,
Goya... |
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Hergé Museum
A spectacular new museum dedicated to Hergé, the pen name of Georges Remi, who created the comic-book hero Tintin, opened in Louvain-la-Neuve on June 2nd.
The museum is built in the shape of an elongated prism which seems to float on the forest of ancient trees. The road zigzags away below. The footpath from the viewing platform to the museum resembles a ship's gangplank |
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Tramway
Museum - Thuin
It
houses the most complete collection of rural
trams in Belgium; the oldest steam engine
dating from 1888, the oldest electric tram
entirely built in Belgium and the only PCC
rail car. There are nearly fifty of these
gems. |
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Glass
Museum - Charleroi
It
traces the origin and history of glass,
the developments of its use and its decoration,
its composition, specific characteristics
and its applications today. |
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Museum
of Fine Arts - Charleroi
Located
in the Town Hall, it offers a rich collection
that covers the main artistic schools in
Belgium from the 19th century on into the
20th century: neo-classicism, realism social
realism, impressionism, expressionism, surrealism
and abstract art. |
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The
Hospital our Lady with the Rose
- Lessine
Its
was founded in 1942 and is one of the last
examples of a self-sufficient hospital,
complete with farm, gardens, ice chamber
and cemetery, next to the convent buildings
and hospital. |
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Gambrinus
Driver Museum - Philippeville
Unique museum dedicated to brewery trucks.
The name Gambrinus owes its origin to the
Duke of Brabant, Jan Primus, who was known
as “the King of Beer”… “King of the road” for trucks
and king of beer! This museum is in a former
maltings-brewery-farm buildings of the 19th
century and its contains 20 vehicles and
75 themed displays. |
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The Wool & Fashion Museum - Verviers
Scenographed areas, moving images and comments in several languages allow discovery of the woolen cloth manufacturing process, and the dress history. |
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Archeoscope - Boullion
The Archeoscope Godefroid de Bouillon has brought together the best in technology and production to recreate the first Crusade in the company of Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, Peter the Hermit and thousands of men making their way to Jerusalem.
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The Mundaneum Museum - Mons
The Mundaneum is located in an old large Ar Déco store. It is an archive centre, a place for temporary exhibitions conferences and debates that wants to let relive the utopian view of its two founders in 1895: bibliographer Paul Otlet and Henri Lafontaine, winner of the Nobel prize for peace (1913)
The museum was featured in the Science section of the New York Times (06/17/2008)
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The Famenne Museum - Marche-en-Famenne
Located in a superb 18th century house, the Famenne Museum is a place full of memories, emotions and respect. It broaches themes from the prehistory to modern art! The Merovingian and Carolingian periods are illustrated by means of a remarkable collection found during excavations in Wellin and Hamoir. The Museum pays tribute to the Mâitre de Waha, a famous late gothic sculptor.
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Charleroi Photography Museum - Charleroi
It is one of the largest photography museum in Europe. In addition to the negatives, the museum owns roughly 80,000 prints dating from the invention of photography until today. A rotating, representational selection of about 1,000 of them are on a display at all times, which means that on any day and by means of superb works by major international figures, you can survey the history of photography at the museum. |
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Bois du Cazier - Marcinelle
The Bois du Cazier is located south of Charleroi and is a place full of life in an industrial patrimony. This remarkable architectural complex lies in the middle of nature between 3 slagheaps, which have become walking paths. This place, where a dreadful mining disaster took place, is an interesting and complete museum on coal, steel and glass.
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Museum of the strawberry and the land of Wepion
The Strawberry Museum is located in a park, next to the Meuse and presents its visitors five exhibition rooms dedicated to the local history and strawberry growing. It also offers the services of a documentation centre and a boutique where you can buy regional products.
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Silver Museum - Seneffe
The castle is at the centre of a remarkable 18th century group of buildings which includes an orangery, a neoclassic theatre, an aviary and gardens, set in a park of 22 ha. The castle is the Silversmiths' Museum of the French-speaking community and houses a European Silver collection. Numerous temporary exhibitions are organised there. You can find all the information on our website.
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L'Ilot
Sacre
All
you want to know about the heart of Brussels
including an interactive, virtual map. |
René Magritte
A virtual gallery
of the painter's life and works.
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Tintin
Visit
the site of Belgium most famous comic strip character.
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Le
Guide Colvert - great information
on attractions, museums in Belgium, and
more..... |
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| MusicInBelgium.net
All about Rock, Blues and Folk. You will also find News, Concerts agenda, New CD Reviews, Topics, Forum, Classifieds, and more.
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Concours Reine Elisabeth
The Queen Elisabeth Competition covers the musical disciplines of piano, voice, violin and composition. The performance sessions take place every four years and the competition for composers every two years.
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Festival of Wallonia
This festival takes place in the enchanting city of Namur. It is for the true music lover, with musical novelties in historic places. Portions of the festival are intended for a younger audience.
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International Competition Adolphe Sax
The 5th International Adolphe Sax Competition will take place in Dinant from October-November 2010. Adolphe Sax was born in Dinant and invented the saxophone. |
Tele service
Tickets for concerts and music festivals throughout Belgium. |
Performances in Belgium are in French or Dutch, some have sub- titles and some performances are given in the original language. |
Kaaitheater
The Kaaitheater arts center in Brussels was established in 1977 and presents theater dance and concerts, with a special emphasis on innovative work. The Kaaitheater presents performances in two places. Larger productions are put on at the Kaaitheater itself (Sainctelettesquare 20, formerly known as the Lunatheater). This theatre is part of a striking modernist building from the thirties. Smaller productions are mounted in the marvelously renovated Studios (Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Vaakstraat 81), a former geuze brewery. Both buildings are in the Brussels canal zone, a stone's throw from each other and from the city center. |
Cultural Center of Verviers-The Grand Theatre
Located in Verviers in the Liege province, this cultural center invites you to see an exhibition, a classical concert, danse show, and many other events in differents places of the city. |
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Belgium has a great opera tradition. It was during an opera performance of “La Muette de Portici” that following a rebellion on stage the spectators were so excited that they rushed out of the theater to the neighboring Royal Park. There they started the revolution that led to the separation of the Belgians from the Dutch and the independence of the country. International productions of world renowned operas are performed in four major opera houses listed below.
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| Opera on the Grand Place For the fourth time, at the end of the month of June, the Symphonic Orchestra, the Monnaie chorus, along with the Monnaie's children's choir will give a free concert on the Brussels Grand-Place. Last year, the event attracted an audience of between 5000 and 6000 spectators. The orchestra, conducted by Kazushi ONO, will pay homage to the opera I Pagliacci. |  |
La
Monnaie in Brussels
Built by Joseph Poelaert in an eclectic style, the auditorium combines French and Italian features. It can seat 1,152 people and is a magnificent example of European theatre architecture. In 1999 the restored canvas by the Parisian set designers François-Joseph Nolau and Alfred Rubé was reinstalled on the cupola.
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Opera
Royal de Wallonie in Liege
Built at the
end of the first quarter of the 19th century
by the architect Duckers, this theatre is
a massive parallelepiped. Its main facade
is adorned with a marble colonnade from
the old church of the Chartreux in Cornillon,
ending in a balustrade and surmounting the
arcades of the ground floor. Allegorical
figures are sculpted on the vast triangular
pediment.
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