Page 31 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

BRUSSELS THROUGH THE Y EAR  29

Average Daily Hours of Sunshine
Climate
Hours Belgium has a fairly
10
temperate northern
8 European climate.
Winters can be chilly,
6 so bring a thick coat.
Summers are warmer
4 and much brighter,
though you will still
2
need a jersey for the
0 evenings. Rainwear is
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec always a necessity.
decade. Young singers, viol inists and recitals featuring
and pianists gather in front of world music take
well-known conduct ors and place in the halls and
soloists to determine the museums of the city.
champion among Europe’s
finest student players. July
Brussels Twenty-Kilometre Ommegang (first
Race (either of the last two Thu in Jul and the
Sundays). As many as 20,000 Tue before). This
keen professional and amateur festival has been
runners race round the city, celebrated in
taking in its major landmarks. Brussels since 1549,
Jazz Marathon (last weekend). African drummer performing at the Couleur Café Festival and now draws
Bistros and cafés are the venues crowds from
for myriad small jazz bands, with City of Brussels Summer around the world.
some well-known artists playing Festival (mid-Jun to end Aug). Trans lated as “a tour”, the
anonymously. Classical concerts take place in process ion happens around
some of the city’s best-known the Grand Place and the
ancient buildings. surrounding streets. Over
Brussels European Film 2,000 partici pants dress up
Summer
Festival (late Jun). Premières and become members of a
The season of pageantry arrives and film stars are adding weight Renaissance town – jesters,
with Ommegang in July, one of to this European film showcase. courtiers, nobles and soldiers
Europe’s oldest and best-known Couleur Café Festival (last parade before Belgian digni-
processions, which takes place weekend). Spread over three taries. Such is its popularity
in the Grand Place and the summer evenings in the Tour that tickets have to be booked
surrounding streets. A varied & Taxis renovated warehouse, months in advance.
programme of music runs the fashionable and funky Brosella Folk and Jazz
through out the summer; programme includes salsa, Festival (second weekend).
classical, jazz and avant-garde African drummers, acid jazz Musicians from all over Europe
US and European performers and multicultural music. play informal gigs in the
play in venues ranging from Fête de la Musique (last Groentheater in the shadow
tiny beer cafés to the great weekend). Two days of con certs of the Atomium.
King Baudouin stadium in
Heysel. Independence is
celebrated on Belgian National
Day. Families enjoy the popular
Foire du Midi, a huge fairground
with over a hundred rides and
stalls set up over 2 km square
(1 sq mile).
June
Brussels Rollers (mid-Jun
to end Aug). Rollerskaters
dominate the streets of Brussels
every Friday evening as they
follow an exclusive skate route
around the city. The Ommegang pausing in front of dignitaries in the Grand Place

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