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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.

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.

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 Brussels conservatory is a highly respected institution. Its buildings, completed in 1875, were designed by the architect of the Galeries Royales de Saint-Hubert (see Galeries Royales de Saint-Hubert), and include a classical music venue.

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.

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.

As part of its celebrations as a Cultural Capital of Europe in 2002, Bruges undertook to create a new concert hall. The result is a highly innovative building that has quickly become established as a leading venue for classical music, as well as ballet and jazz.

Ghent home of the much-respected Vlaamse Opera, this classic opera house ranks among the most spectacular theatres in Europe.

Antwerp’s opera house was completed in 1907, its interior elegantly decked out with marble and gilding. The Vlaamse Opera performs here and in Ghent.

This vibrant multi-purpose cultural centre is a venue for performances and exhibitions of drama, dance, architecture and music.