Page 168 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

166  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Cinema
For the latest blockbuster
films – always in their original
language and never dubbed –
head to the massive Kinepolis
Bruxelles (Laeken), boasting
24 screens (including IMAX).
Two central UGC cineplexes
will also satisfy most
mainstream tastes.
For more intriguing
programmes and ambience,
try the Nova cinema for truly
independent films, the Actors
Studio for foreign and art Latin-inspired Brussels hot spot Mappa Mundo
films, and Cinema Galeries, Bruges
which has its own eclectically The Fuse, has earned a
chosen, month-long summer reputation for top-name Bruges is a real pub-goer’s town
festival, “L’Heure d’été”. For techno and dance DJs. Once more than anything, yet jazz
mainstream films in Art Deco a month it becomes La lovers have plenty to choose
movie palace surrounds, go Demence, a gay night that from, notably the family-friendly
to Movy Club. Tickets cost draws crowds from Germany, art centre De Werf in Werfstraat
from €6 to €7.50. France and the Netherlands and Het Zwart Huis. This
Brussels has a packed (www.lademence.com). friendly bistro puts on live jazz,
agenda of film festivals for Ric’s Boat, an actual boat folk and blues twice monthly on
lovers of a variety of genres turned nightclub, hosts parties Sunday nights.
including fantasy (Brussels and music/dance nights. Les
International Fantastic Film Jeux d’Hiver, in the middle of Ghent
Festival, April) and animation the Bois de la Cambre woods,
(Anima, February). attracts an affluent crowd. Big, For Ghent jazz, the mandatory
bold and occupying a church visit is to Art Nouveau Damberd
in Ixelles, Spirito Brussels is a Jazz Café, which has live jazz on
night club with a difference. Tuesdays. Ghent’s popular
In the Marolles, Cuban disco Hotsy Totsy jazz bar also offers
Havana stays open until 7am occasional stand-up comedy.
at weekends. The country’s most warm-
Check www.noctis.com for spirited festival, De Gentse
up-to-date nightlife listings. Feesten, is a centuries-old
celebration that lasts for ten
days in July. Buskers, street
Music Festivals performers, rock and jazz bands
A definite high point on the compete for the attention
classical music calender is of a lively crowd.
Ars Musica, a festival where
composers often premiere
their works. The festival takes Antwerp
place over several weeks, Antwerp is home to Belgian
Poster for BIFFF film festival, held usually in March. ballet. The Royal Ballet of
annually in April Les Nuits Botanique is a Flanders, founded in 1969,
festival of over a hundred performs both classical and
Clubs and Nightlife concerts, with indie rock, contemporary works. Tickets
Brussels’ bright young things chanson Française and rap start at €15.
start off their weekend in figuring prominently; it takes The city also claims two opera
St Géry, a square of trendy over the Botanique for the houses and some fine theatres
cafés and clubs just off the whole of May. In June, hundreds and jazz venues. Try the
fashion district of Rue Antoine of free concerts are on offer atmospheric De Muze for first-
Dansaert. Formerly a run-down during the Fête de la Musique rate jazz and jam sessions.
quarter surrounding the old festival. In the last weekend of the Clubbers from across the
grain exchange, the area is same month, the biggest pop country flock to Café d’Anvers.
now home to latin-flavoured and rock festival in the country The former church, located in
Mappa Mundo, popular comes to the village of Werchter Antwerp’s red light district, was
Le Roi des Belges and the (15 km/9 miles from Leuven) turned into a house club in 1991.
elegant Gecko Bar. The most when the giant Rock Werchter Petrol Club, meanwhile, blends
renowned club in Brussels, festival takes place. electro, hip-hop and rock.

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm