Best of Brussels in April 2024.

Welcome to our first edition of Best of Brussels on LinkedIn. Our monthly newsletter aims to inform & inspire, helping you discover and enjoy life in the capital of Europe.

This month we celebrate the vibrant essence of spring in Brussels with warmer weather finally emerging. As the cherry blossoms paint our city with delicate pink hues, we find ourselves inspired by the beauty of nature and the boundless creativity it sparks. Have you explored our mini guide featuring the 11 best spots to admire cherry blossoms in Brussels??Additionally, for those who prefer visual content, check our Insta video?which has already amassed?over 150,000 views.

In April we encourage you to immerse yourself in the allure of Brussels' cultural landscape. From exploring trends in fashion to indulging in artistic and natural beauties, our newsletter promises a refreshing perspective on the joys of the season. To get your spring outfits sorted, head to the new?shopping guide?by our fashion contributor Lorelie.

We expect blooming season of bluebells in Hallerbos to commence around mid-April. The entire area turns into fairy-tale location while the flowering season lasts - if you haven’t been there yet, it is a must see sight. Before you go, dive into our archived photo story for a glimpse of the breathtaking scenery that awaits in?Hallerbos.

Furthermore, be sure not to miss the highly anticipated annual opening of the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, welcoming the public from 26 April to 20 May. Dive into the rich history and grandeur of this architectural marvel by reading this interesting?story from our archive.

We eagerly anticipate the forthcoming Art Brussels at the end of the month from Thursday, 25 April to Sunday, 28 April 2024. This year marks the momentous 40th edition of one of Europe’s most distinguished and longstanding art fairs. Held in Halls 5 and 6 of the Brussels Expo, an Art Deco landmark constructed for the 1935 Brussels International Exposition, this event promises to be a celebration of artistic excellence and cultural heritage. Each year, Art Brussels delivers an unforgettable experience that kindles our creativity and broadens our creative horizons. This edition will feature 176 galleries showcasing their most significant works. Discover the?programme here.

Our selection of upcoming events & activities

• Brussels Museums Nocturnes.?As days get longer, Brussels Museums are back with their nocturnal programme. There are guided tours, activities and behind the scenes at various participating museums. Every Thursday from 11 April - 23 May.?Info and tickets
• TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition in Brussels.?Real objects, real stories. Get?a new perspective on the fate of the largest and most luxurious ship of its time.?Expect to see?authentic artefacts recovered from the wreck of the Titanic at a depth of almost 10,000 feet, the reconstruction of the ship’s rooms and poignant accounts of the passengers present at the time of the shipwreck.?15 March - 14 April at Tour & Taxis.?More info
• IMAGINE! Hundred years of International Surrealism.?2024 marks a hundred years of international surrealism and there are many important events lined up to celebrate this. The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium is collaborating with Centre Pompidou in Paris for a touring exhibition on surrealistic art. From Dali, Chirico, Pollock, Miro to Belgian surrealists like Khnopff, Spilliaert, Delville and Minne – discover more than 130 works until?21?July.?Info
• Folon – A Trip to Brussels.?2024 marks the ninetieth birth anniversary of legendary Belgian artist, illustrator and sculptor Jean-Michel Folon. In retrospect, the Folon Foundation, along with three museums in Brussels has arranged for exhibitions showcasing Folon’s works. There is also a route with twenty Folon sculptures which can be followed from Galleries Royale Saint-Hubert to Mont des Arts and the Sablon square.?Info
• Histoire de ne pas rire. Surrealism in Belgium. New?exhibition on Belgium’s famous avant-garde movement spanning?60 years can be seen in Bozar . Until 16 June. Details
• Expo:?VOTE: A European Story, ten elections that shaped our world.?In June 2024, citizens from all European Union Member States will be called to elect their representatives to the European Parliament. A fitting occasion to reflect on how Europe’s supranational democracy has unfolded, from the origins of democratic participation on the continent to the step-by-step building of a true European polity. Until June 2024, Parlamentarium. Info
• The Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF).?The 42nd edition takes place at Brussels Expo. Dedicated to fantasy features, animations and short films only, the festival will bring more than 100 films from all over the world. From 9 April to 21 April.?More info
• James Ensor. Maestro.?2024 is the year of Ensor,?commemorating the 75th anniversary of the death of famous Belgian artist. Bozar pays a tribute with an exhibition highlighting all his facets in an anthology of some 100 works. Until?23 June.?Info
• James Ensor. Inspired by Brussels. Did you know that Brussels played a crucial role in how Ensor developed as an artist? The exhibition at KBR (Royal Library of Belgium) explores how the city helped to shape Ensor’s quirky and characteristic visual language. Until?2 June.?More details
• Popcorn at MIMA - Museum .?New group show featuring 15 artists who paint a colourful, offbeat and dreamlike picture of our society, with a dose of surrealism comparable to that of the 1930s.?The humorous experience is as much a guaranteed visual shock as it is an antidote to winter melancholy. Until?26 May. Info
• New Temporary expo: Bellum et Artes - Europe and the Thirty Years’ War.?The House of European History invites you to the opening of its new temporary exhibition Bellum et Artes (War and Arts), about the role of the arts during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648).?More info
• GIANTS, temporary exhibition at?@Royal Institute Institute of Natural Sciences.?A journey through time - a?chance to feel small next to 11 gigantic animals that lived after the dinosaurs. Until 25 August.?More
• Josef and Anni Albers, Iconic Couple of Modernism.?The Boghossian Foundation hosts the first exhibition in Belgium of the work of Josef and Anni Albers, two pioneers of modernism who produced pivotal artworks that marked the history of 20th century art.?10 April - 8 September?in the Villa Empain - Fondation Boghossian .?More info
• JOSEF HOFFMANN – Falling for Beauty at Museum of Art & History. The expo provides an exceptional opportunity to discover an artist who understood beauty as an absolute requirement for individual and social transformation. Until 14 April!?More info
• Lecture: The Story of Indian Modern Art. Organised by The Arts Society Brussels,?the lecture will be given by Georgina Bexon at the Woluwe-St-Lambert Town Hall on?17 April. More on FB event
• NEB - New European Bauhaus Festival.?The European Commission, in collaboration with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2024 , brings this elaborate festival of 5 days. There are 3 key themes of New European Bauhaus : Forum (featuring discussions and keynotes), Fair (featuring workshops, labs and exhibitions) and Fest (featuring performances of art). The festival will also feature the ceremony of the NEB Prizes 2024.?From 9-13 April, Parc Cinquantenaire / Arts and History Museum.?More info
• Jules Fran?ois Crahay.?Fashion & Lace Museum in Brussels hosts the first exhibition devoted to Jules Fran?ois Crahay. This Belgian is one of the last geniuses of couture. For the first time, and thanks to extensive research, the expo offers an opportunity to discover this undeservedly forgotten couturier.?Until 10 November.?More info
• Brel! The Show.?Admirers of Jacques Brel’s music will be thrilled – Brel! The Show will be playing in Brussels from 9 – 11 May and in Liege on 12 May. Info
• Bill Viola expo. La Boverie museum in Lie?ge is hosting a monographic exhibition on American artist Bill Viola. A major figure in contemporary art, he is considered as one of the pioneers of the medium of video art.?Discover more
• Mark your calendars: Europe Day celebrations are just around the corner. The event in Brussels will be held on 4?May - a perfect opportunity to join many activities and learn more about the European Parliament.?Full program here.

More interesting reads: The New York Times has published an article about?the Brussels food scene. Titled Belgium or Brooklyn? 5 Bold New Places to Eat in Brussels, author Alexander Lobrano went on a discovery mission at 5 new restaurants in the Belgian capital. Also, BBC writes about new Marvin Gaye recordings which were found in Ostend where the artist lived in 1981. Read more in?Never-before heard music surfaces in Belgium.

Thanks for reading and don't hesitate to get in touch via our WeLoveBrussels page if you have questions, ideas or partnership requests.