Page 166 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

164  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

ENTERTAINMENT

Lying at at the crossroads of London, Paris, cinephilic population. Ghent’s large student
Amsterdam and Cologne, Brussels benefits population gives the city a lively urban scene
from the best international touring groups and knowingly cool Antwerp, the country’s
passing through the city. In its own right, clubbing and fashion capital, offers a range of
Brussels is one of the top destinations in options in much the same vein as Brussels.
Europe for modern dance and jazz, is host Bruges, although quieter, is equipped with a
to a world-renowned classical musical clutch of cosy pubs and jazz bars in which to
competition, and has a knowledgeable, while away the evening.

which instantly places its
winners at the very height
of their profession.
The Théâtre Royal de la
Monnaie (see p52) is one of
Europe’s finest opera houses,
and its season runs from
September to June. Tickets
can be cheap, but beware,
many productions sell out
months in advance. The Palais
des Beaux-Arts, the country’s
most notable cultural venue, is
home to the Belgian National
Orchestra and site of the
final rounds of the Concours
Reine Elisabeth. Its Art Nouveau
hall, Salle Henri LeBoeuf, has
The 19th-century interior of La Monnaie Opera House recently been renovated,
vastly improving the building’s
Listings and Tickets
com for a trilingual schedule acoustics. Its season also runs
Up-to-date and tuned in to of jazz gigs throughout the from September to June.
the city’s goings-on is Agenda, country. If you are interested
a trilingual listings magazine in reggae, ska and dancehall,
that can usually be found visit www.irielion.com. The Dance
freely distributed in boxes best online arts agenda, albeit For its size, Belgium is
outside supermarkets and in in French and Dutch only, is particularly strong in the field
cafés, and online at agenda. found at Out by Netevents of modern dance, with its
brussels/en. The Bulletin (www.out.be). leading choreographers –
magazine, highly On foot, head above all Anne Teresa De
popular with to the Tourist Keersmaeker, Michèle Anne
expatriates for five Information Office, de Mey and Wim Vandekeybus
decades, now has a which, as well (www. ultimavez.com) –
purely online as offering free having enormous influence
presence in Brussels, maps and other internationally. De Keersmaeker
but it still provides a information, will is a former resident at the
good range of news, also help you Brussels opera and director
reviews and events book tickets. of the world-renowned Rosas
listings, along with company (www.rosas.be).
other useful Magazines on sale in Venues naturally vary, but
information and Brussels Opera and the Théâtre Les Tanneurs,
Classical
links. Visit the tucked away in the cobbled
website at www.xpats.com. Students from around the streets of the Marolles district,
The French-language world come to study at the puts dance at the centre of
newspapers La Libre Belgique Royal Conservatory of Music, its programme. Ticket prices
and Le Soir both publish their which is the site of the initial are reasonable.
entertainment supplements rounds of the Concours
every Wednesday. For cinema Musical International Reine
times online, check www. Elisabeth de Belgique, one Jazz
cinenews.be or www.cinebel. of the most challenging Brussels is one of the key cities
be. Visit www.jazzinbelgium. musical contests in the world, in the world for jazz, and the

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