traveldk.com

Prolific master of the popular detective story (1903–89) and creator of Inspector Maigret (see Georges Simenon).

Belgium’s most revered living writer (born 1929), a Bruges-born poet, playwright and novelist writing in Dutch.

The beautiful glasshouses of Brussels’ botanical gardens were built in 1826–9. Cunning conversion of the interior has provided what is now a key venue for a wide range of cultural activities, including theatre, dance and concerts of all kinds.

The magnificent old covered market, built in iron and glass at the end of the 19th century, has been transformed into an inspirational venue for a variety of cultural events – – including drama, dance and music.

Nobel-Prize-winning Symbolist poet and dramatist (1862–1949).

Belgium’s most celebrated 20th-century playwright (1898–1962), and one of the most original writers in the French language.

Victor Horta’s Palais des Beaux-Arts was completed in 1928. Recently relaunched as BOZAR, it has returned to its original function as a multi-arts venue.

Also known as Orlando di Lasso (c.1532–94). One of the leading composers of his day.

The most revered performing arts venue in the country, La Monnaie (Dutch: De Munt) is celebrated for sparking off the Revolution of 1830 (see 1830: The Belgian Revolution), when a crowd took to the streets incited by Auber’s opera La Muette de Portici . It was rebuilt in elegant Neo-Classical style in 1819; the interior was redesigned following a fire in 1855. La Monnaie has highly respected opera and ballet companies.

The Toone marionette theatre, occupying a tiny building at the bottom of a medieval alley, is a Brussels institution. Note this is not for children: the plays – enacted by traditional puppets made of wood and papier-mâché – may be serious classics of theatre, and the language is often Bruxellois, the rich dialect of the city.