If Jean-Michel Folon were still alive, he would have been gratified to see his sculptures nestled among the remains of Villers Abbey in the Walloon town of Villers-la-Ville. 

The Belgian sculptor always had a fascination for the subtle yet powerful relationship between sculpture and architecture, two diverse disciplines that share a three-dimensional form in common.

Folon’s sculptures were designed to live outdoors. Exposing his works to the beauty of architectural sites and watching how they converse with their environment was a tradition Folon kept throughout his life.

The perfect setting for a poetic journey

The Villers Abbey provides the ideal setting for the poetic journey that unfolds as you encounter the creations of Folon. With eight centuries and 36 hectares of illustrious history, the former Cistercian monastery invites curiosity and contemplation, much like Folon’s art. 

Against an elaborate and mesmerising background, the sculptures of Folon come off as endearing for their humble and modest appearance. Instead of getting drowned out, they seem to speak even louder.

Folon often reduced his subject to its simplest form. He limited the use of symbols to what was essential and universal. It had to be that way because Folon’s sculptures weren’t intended to dominate or intimidate. They were meant to harmonise with their surroundings and spark a connection with the spectator.

The main character in Folon’s work is a man wearing a plain suit and bearing minimal features. Simple yet mysterious, sometimes playful but always thought-provoking. He represents somebody, nobody, and everybody at the same time. And although he is a work of art, this figure is really just another visitor contemplating the world around him. Like you. 

The exhibit at Villers Abbey features 22 of more than 400 wood and bronze sculptures by Folon. One section of the abbey takes you down the Allée des Pensées or Alley of Thoughts, a sculptural ensemble of eight works depicting Folon’s main character. Each statue has a different object for a head, provoking a dialogue with the viewer.

Who are they and what’s their story? Are they one and the same character captured in different moments of reflection? Or different individuals with their own interpretation of one and the same subject? That’s between you and Mr. Folon.

Jean-Michel Folon began devoting himself to sculpture in 1993 following a long and established career as a watercolor painter, illustrator, and printmaker. His sculptures have travelled all over Belgium and to other parts of the world, from Europe to America and all the way to Asia. 

In 2003, Folon was named ambassador to UNICEF and accorded the Legion of Honor, the highest French order of merit. He established the Folon Foundation located in the farm of Château de la Hulpe in Solvay Park. 

The Folon Expo at Villers Abbey marks the 20th anniversary of the Folon Foundation. The event opened last October and ends on March 21. If you miss it, you can always visit the works of Folon at Château de La Hulpe. From March 27 to November 7, the Folon Foundation will hold an exhibit featuring the posters designed by the versatile Belgian artist.

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According to the Guinness World Records, Belgium has more than 100 record-making achievements tucked under its belt. Unassuming as they are, Belgians are quite capable of undertaking the unprecedented and succeeding at it.

Here’s a showcase of Belgium’s record-breaking abilities from the 16th century to the present.

1.   First to publish a world atlas – Antwerp,1570

Although the earliest world maps date back to 600 BCE, the Theatrum orbis terrarum or Theatre of the Orb of the World is considered the first true modern atlas.

It was Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius who came up with the idea of collecting the best maps of the known world during his time and printing all of them into one book.

The first edition of the Theatrum contained 70 maps with supporting text. Less than a century after its release, more than 30 editions of the atlas were published in seven languages.

2.   First to suggest the theory of continental drift – Antwerp, 1596

Abraham Ortelius didn’t just invent the atlas. He was also the first person to float the idea that continents moved across the earth’s crust over time.

“The coastlines of the continents are so similar that they seem to have been torn apart at some point in time,” wrote Ortelius in the Theatrum orbis terrarum.

Continental drift is widely associated with German geophysicist Alfred Wegener, who developed the theory in 1912. But now we know where it all started.

3.   First to produce fully synthetic plastic – U.S.A., 1907

The age of modern plastics began when Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first synthetic and heat-resistant plastic. The Belgian chemist stumbled upon the discovery while experimenting with phenol and formaldehyde in his laboratory in Yonkers, New York.

Baekeland is also the genius behind the first commercially successful photographic paper called Velox.

4.   The largest hoard of medieval coins – Brussels, 1908

In July 1908, a group of workmen unearthed some 150,000 penny-sized silver coins while tearing down an old tavern in the Brussels city center.

Known as the Brussels hoard of 1908, the event marked the largest discovery of Flemish and English coins from the Middle Ages.

The hoard consisted of nearly 70,000 local Flemish pennies and more than 80,000 English sterlings from the 13th century.

5.   First to raise the Olympic flag – Antwerp, 1920

The Olympic flag made its first appearance during the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. Belgian athlete Victor Boin also recited the very first Olympic oath during the historic event.

The International Olympic Committee chose Antwerp as the host of the 1920 games to pay tribute to the Belgian lives lost to the war that ravaged Europe from 1914 to 1919.

6.   Oldest Tour de France champion – France, 1922

Belgian cyclist Firmin Lambot owns the world record for being the oldest winner of Tour de France. It’s not like he was 100 years old.

Lambot was only 36 when he won the annual bicycle race, but the average age of tour winners is about 28 years.

7.   First solo female artist to top the U.S. albums chart – U.S.A., 1963

The very first female singer to claim the no. 1 album in the US charts was not an American, but a Belgian. And get this, she was a nun.

Jeanne-Paule Deckers, also known as Sister Luc Gabrielle, Soeur Sourire (Sister Smile), and The Singing Nun, became a sensation in 1963 when she released the French song “Dominique”, which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for 10 consecutive weeks.

The 1966 film The Singing Nun was based on the real-life sister act of the amazing Belgian nun.

8.   Most consecutive Grand Tour wins, 1968-1974

In the history of competitive cycling, one name stands out for achieving the highest number of Grand Tour victories.

Eddy Merckx of Belgium bagged a total of 11 cycling trophies from 1968 to 1974. He won five Tours of France, five Tours of Italy, and one Tour of Spain.

9.   First person to swim across False Bay – South Africa, 1989

The False Bay Swim is a 34-kilometer open water swim considered one of the most challenging swimming marathons in the world.

To date, only five people have successfully swum solo across the bay. And the very first person to do that was Annemie Landmeters.

Landmeters completed a one-way crossing in 9 hours and 56 minutes, earning her an additional world record for being the fastest woman to swim across False Bay.

10.  Heaviest weight lifted with teeth – Paris, 1990

Belgian stuntman Walter Arfeuille grabbed a world record on March 31, 1990 when he used only his teeth to lift 281 kilograms of weights off the ground and carry it across a distance of 17 centimeters. Lang leve België!

11.   Largest newspaper – Ghent, 1993

On June 15, 1993, Flemish newspaper Het Volk (The People) issued what is now the largest newspaper ever printed in history.

Each page measured 142 by 99.5 centimeters printed in color on thick, high-quality paper. The special edition sold about 50,000 copies.

12.   Flying the largest remote-controlled airplane – Moorsele, 1998

The largest model aircraft on record is a B-29 bomber with a wingspan of 8.8 meters and a body measuring 6.05 meters long and weighing 200 kilos.

Belgian plane enthusiasts Bart Vercruysse, Ignace Honore, and Pieter Lamaire spent three years working on the plane, which they called Dyna Might. They flew the model aircraft for the first time in Moorsele on June 2, 1998.

13.   Biggest beer selection in a single bar – Brussels, 2004

When it comes to beer, Belgium is tough to beat. And here’s yet another proof.

The Delirium Café in Brussels earned a world record for having the largest assortment of beer commercially available in one place. How many kinds exactly? The bar listed 2,004 in 2004.

Delirium serves beer brands from more than 60 countries, including Belgium.

14.   Most people doing a handstand simultaneously – Wevelgem, 2006

In 2006, Wevelgem set out to make a record for the highest number of people standing upside down together in a span of one minute.

Out of 450 participants, 399 made it. And that was more than enough for Wevelgem to set a world record handstand.

15.   First female wildcard player to win a tennis grand slam – U.S.A., 2009

During the 2009 US Open, Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters defeated Grand Slam finalist Caroline Wozniacki, becoming the first unseeded player and wildcard to win the Women’s Singles tournament.

All in all, Clijsters has won six Grand Slam titles, four in singles and two in doubles.

16.   Longest salami ever – Sint-Niklaas, 2010

Meat producer Cock’s Vleeswaren went as huge as possible for the celebration of the company’s 75th anniversary in 2010.

Using 10 150-kilogram containers of turkey and pork, the meat packers whipped up what is now documented as the longest sausage ever made.

The record-breaking salami measured 1,152 meters long and weighed 2,171 kilos.

17.   Most lights on a Christmas tree – Malmedy, 2010

Just how many lights can a Christmas tree take? As much as 194,672, based on the efforts of the Belgian foundation Kiwanis Malmedy Hautes Fagnes.

In 2010, the group wrapped a Christmas tree with 350 garlands, each measuring 3 meters long and carrying 576 lights.

18.   Largest number of grapes caught in the mouth – Vilvoorde, 2013

Joris Goens wowed Belgium’s Got Talent in 2013 when he demonstrated the much-beloved art of throwing food in the air and catching it with the mouth.

Goens scored a world record after managing to fit 223 grapes into his mouth in three minutes.

19.  Largest gathering of people making towel animals – Hasselt, 2017

Cleaning company Het Poetsbureau proved that towels are more than just for cleaning after organising a towel origami challenge in 2017.

Participants were given the task of folding a towel into the shape of a duck in two minutes. The result: 1,476 towel animals and an instant world record.

20.  Tallest waffle tower – Blankenberge, 2020

Last year, brothers Francis and Michel De Buck snagged the record for the highest tower of waffles in the world. They stacked about 30 waffles up to 91.5 centimeters high, beating the previous record of 87 centimeters.

Source: Guinness World Records

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“Scratch a Belgian and you will find a Surrealist,” wrote British travel writer Antony Mason in his book, Xenophobe’s guide to the Belgians.

There’s no way to prove that scientifically. But if you use your powers of observation, you will no doubt gather enough visual data to corroborate the theory.

Surrealism is so much a part of Belgium’s character that when Belgians are doing something surrealistic, they probably aren’t even aware of it. They’re just being, well, Belgian.

What other country has the spunk to tell the world, “Behold one of our national icons: a tiny, naked boy who does nothing but urinate all day in public,” and not give a hoot how the world will take it.

This is, after all, the nation that gave birth to surrealism masters like René Magritte and Paul Delvaux or avant-garde painters like James Ensor who specialized in bizarre themes like fighting skeletons and grotesque masks.

But Belgian surrealism does not only show itself in bold and garish ways. More often than not, it hides within the subtleties of everyday life.

If you don’t look hard enough, you may easily overlook those quiet expressions of delightful absurdity that could add a ton of humor and spice to your day.

Here are some tips on how and where to go hunting for signs of Belgian surrealism the next time you take a walk around Brussels or any part of Belgium.

1.    Watch the sidewalks closely

Something’s bound to jump out at some point, whether it’s a plant padlocked to the front wall of a house, a sidewalk garden, or a faucet jutting out of a sidewall.

Belgians are quite deft at improvising, and how they address some of life’s most mundane problems can be downright surreal.

In 2006, Brussels-based artist David Helbich began taking pictures of insanely devised makeshift solutions to everyday situations in Belgium.

The project went viral in 2009 and eventually led to the publication of Belgian Solutions, a collection of more than 300 images proving how crafty Belgians can be at problem-solving.

Who says you can’t hold an art exhibit on a lamppost?

2.    Keep an eye out for lampposts

In Belgium, lampposts and basically any kind of street pole can perform a number of roles.

You would be wrong to think the only purpose of their existence is to shine a light on the street.

Nope. They can also masquerade as sign hangers, bulletin boards, bike stands, and venues for art exhibits.

In a country where surrealism is a way of life, any object can serve more than just a single function. Count on the Belgians to make something interesting out of anything ordinary.

3.    Check out the windows

Windows are another ripe stage for Belgian surrealism. What kind of trinkets are people placing on their window sill for the world to see?

Take a peek at the glass screens you pass by along the street and see what peeks right back at you.

Plants and flower pots are the most common choices. But every once in a while, something unexpected just might peep out from behind those panes.

French photographer Jean-Luc Feixa made it a personal mission to capture queer and quirky window displays in Belgium.

After hunting for months, Feixa came up with a collection of 160 wonder-inducing photographs now featured in his book, Strange Things Behind Belgian Windows.

4.   Pay attention to the architectural mishmash

Various styles of architecture from different time periods have no problem existing side by side in many parts of Belgium.

Classical, Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco, Art Nouveau can all live harmoniously in one place. Sometimes, two divergent styles can even exist in one building.

Take the Grand Place, for example. How we gush over and gawk at this magnificent structure, which actually combines two disparate architectural styles.

In Brussels, there are several spots in the city center that will expose you to buildings both old and new, ancient and modern all in one sitting. It’s like traveling through time without actually traveling through time.

On one of your strolls, take notice of architectural styles that don’t seem to belong or as if they just popped out of nowhere.

Such sightings are so common in Belgium that if you stay in the country long enough, you may eventually cease to notice them.

But take another look around you. Doesn’t the architectural mishmash make you feel like you’re in a weird wonderland or some scene from a Michel Gondry film?

5.    Don’t ignore the mailboxes

Now, this is where some real surrealistic action could be taking place, and you don’t want to miss any of them.

Where people are habitually surrealistic, you can expect to see something unfamiliar in anything as familiar as a  mailbox.

In his book, You’ve Got Mail, Dutch photographer Peter Schouten compiled more than a hundred snapshots of the zaniest and most bewildering letterboxes ever seen in Belgium.

Just steal a glance at what type of receptacle your neighbors are using for their post. You could be in for a real treat.

So what’s the best way to make sure those Belgian moments of amusing incongruity won’t escape you?

Let’s hear it straight from Maestro Magritte: Be on the “lookout for what has never been.”

The post How to spot Belgian surrealism when it’s hiding in plain sight appeared first on Brussels Express.

In 1432, Flemish painter Jan van Eyck applied the finishing strokes on a painting that he began six years earlier with the help of his brother, Hubert.

This was no ordinary painting. The artwork was a single collection of 26 individual paintings organized into a polyptych that measured 15 by 11 feet.

Even by today’s advanced standards and sophisticated tastes, what Jan van Eyck accomplished would have been considered one hell of a painting.

It had to be that fabulous because the work was commissioned for the Church of St. John the Baptist in Ghent. And not just for a wall or some obscure section of the building, but for the altar itself.

The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, more famously known as the Ghent Altarpiece, took the world of art by storm soon as it was unveiled.

The revolutionary artwork was the first to demonstrate the remarkable potentials of oil painting. It inspired the birth of Renaissance art and planted the seeds that would later blossom into the artistic movement called Realism.

What Jan van Eyck could never have foreseen was that one day, his masterpiece would achieve the kind of fame reserved only for the most pilfered and abused work of art in history.

Belgium is the rightful owner of the much-coveted painting not just because it was made in Ghent, but also because its creator was born in Maaseik, a medieval town now part of the Belgian territory.

He did not know it yet at the time, but Jan van Eyck was destined to be Belgian by way of historical developments and the redrawing of borders in Europe.

The world’s most plundered work of art

Today, the Ghent Altarpiece resides in St. Bavo’s Cathedral, which took the place of St. John the Baptist’s church in the 16th century.

From then until now, the polyptych altarpiece has kept its place as one of the most precious creations of humanity.

So precious in fact that many have attempted and succeeded to kidnap the painting and hold it for ransom.

According to art historian Noah Charney, the Ghent Altarpiece has been the target of 13 crimes and seven thefts ever since it was installed.

Since the 16th century, parts of the painting have been taken, recovered, and retouched several times.

Napoleon’s men lifted some of the panels during the French Revolution. German forces looted the painting during World War I. And the Nazis joined in during World War II.

Although much of the painting has been recovered and restored over time, the artwork which had been broken over and over again remains broken to this day.

The Ghent Altarpiece is still missing a panel, which was stolen in 1934 and later replaced with an imitation.

What is it about Jan van Eyck’s painting that arouses awe and incites greed?

Let’s explore the anatomy of the Ghent Altarpiece and discover the immortal treasures housed within its panels.

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Every winter, snow inspires a flurry of creativity. Snow artists transform tons of ice into masterpieces.

It was no different this year despite the pandemic and the lockdowns. Proof that nothing can suppress art and ingenuity.

As German visual artist Gerhard Richter once said, “Art is the highest form of hope.”

Here are some of the world’s most stunning snow creations this year. Which one is your favorite?

Footprints in the snow, Finland

Eleven pairs of feet stamped their way into conjuring this amazing snowshoe art in a golf course near Helsinki.

It took all of two days to complete this artwork, which measures about 160 meters or 525 feet in diameter.

Shoot prints in the snow, Germany

German street artist Alexander Friedrich, who goes by the name Autark, unleashed his creative juices on this parking lot in Berlin.

More than a hundred leaf patterns were carved into the snow to bring out this lovely work of art.

Flower prints in the snow, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Miles of intentional walking forged this snow masterpiece at the Natural Bridge State Park in Massachusetts.

Artist Danielle Galietti used her feet to draw sinuous floral and lace patterns on the snow, which she considers a giant canvas.

Ginormous snow sculptures, China

Snow art rises larger than life at the annual winter festival in the Chinese city of Harbin.

The international event features some of the world’s largest ice and snow sculptures.

Ice hotel, Canada

In Quebec, a hotel made of ice and snow opens its doors to visitors from January to March.

The only ice hotel in North America, Hôtel de la Glace is constructed out of about 500 tons of ice and over 40,000 tons of snow.

Frosty statues, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

Every February, the city of Lake Geneva turns into an outdoor museum of snow art.

Teams of snow artists flock to the city to participate in the U.S. national snow sculpting championship.

The sculpture above was among the winners of this year’s competition.

Geometric snow art, Sweden

Art and geometry dance together in this snow sculpture by German designer Franziska Agrawal.

The artwork is one of the frozen figures on display at the Kiruna Snow Festival.

The post When snow turns into art: 7 snow masterpieces from around the world appeared first on Brussels Express.

If you want to witness snow in all its glory, the most ideal place would be somewhere dark.

No, we don’t mean a place that’s bleak or shady but one where heavier shades of color like blue or brown dominate.

Snow becomes fully visible when it lands on a dark-colored surface. The contrast between light and dark is what makes those tiny ice crystals shine like magic.

In and of itself, snow isn’t really all that remarkable. But against a deep-shaded background, it reigns supreme.

Notice how on a snowy evening, everything looks bright outside. The whiteness of snow lights up against the sea of darkness.

To appreciate the beauty of something, you have to be able to see it in the first place. And snow resting on a cream-painted sidewalk is hardly noticeable.

And that brings us to why Brussels lends itself so fabulously to snow…

If you’ve lived in this city long enough, you would agree that it is rather grey. And not just because of the weather.

Brussels isn’t the kind of place that is saturated with warm and vibrant hues.

If you take a closer look, you will notice that the colors prevailing in the city are often of a cooler and more subdued nature.

Even the redness of a brick structure or the beigeness of a building facade is usually of a shade more sober than flashy.

So when it starts to snow, Brussels can really transform into a winter wonderland.

All those grey and somber colors provide the kind of backdrop that snow needs to come into full view.

White and green go well together

The abundance of nature is another feature that makes Brussels so compatible with snow.

Green spaces span more than half of the capital region’s territory. Parks of all sizes are everywhere, and most streets are lined with trees and grass verges.

Snow becomes all the more pronounced against the green shades of foliage or the brown barks of a tree.

Not all places look great in a gown of snow. Brussels may be grey, but she definitely shines on a snowy day, and we’ve got pictures to prove it.

Prepare to be dazzled.

Abbaye de la Cambre Gardens in Ixelles

Place du Luxembourg in the European Quarter, Brussels City

The ageless and ever formidable Atomium (more photos here)

Jardin du Roi, Ixelles

Petit Sablon, Brussels City

View from Pont Gray along Avenue de la Couronne

Ixelles Ponds

Mont des Arts

Brussels Park

St. Michael and St. Gudula Square

Bois de la Cambre

And this is what King Leopold II looks like with a snowy beard (in case you were wondering)

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Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could meet some of your favorite figures in history, people you only read about in books? There’s no way that can happen now unless you hire a medium to summon the dead, or worse, you’re high. But there may be a next best option.

I am a huge fan of Victor Horta, the Belgian architect who revolutionised late 19th century architecture by applying the concept of Art Nouveau to building design. He passed away in 1947, but there’s one place I know where I can visit him anytime.

Tomb hunting around the Ixelles Cemetery

Horta is buried at the Ixelles Cemetery, one of the historic burial sites in Belgium. Hidden behind a massive bush in a discreet section of the cemetery, his grave isn’t easy to find. Almost as if the father of Art Nouveau architecture didn’t want to be disturbed by fans and members of the press.

For a man who left behind a glorious architectural legacy, Horta’s tomb is quite plain and unremarkable. Perhaps he wanted to keep it simple, and to be buried alongside fellow illustrious Belgians was enough of an honor in itself.

Where many of Belgium’s who-was-whos are buried

The cemetery of Ixelles is the final resting place of more than 60 distinguished Belgians and Brussels residents. Among them, the chemist Ernest Solvay, who founded the International Institutes for Physics and Chemistry, microbiologist and Nobel laureate Jules Bordet, painter and sculptor Constantin Meunier, praline inventor Jean Neuhaus II, media mogul Emile Rossel, and novelist Charles De Coster, who laid the foundations for native Belgian literature.

Several former mayors of the Ixelles municipality are also buried in the cemetery including Eugène Flagey, Fernand Cocq, and Adolphe Buyl. A section called Pelouse d’Honneur is dedicated to more than 400 soldiers and victims of the First World War.

A separate area called Parcelle des Anges is devoted to children while the Parcelle des Etoiles is reserved for infants lost during pregnancy. A burial ground for animals is located at the far end of the cemetery.

Dating back to 1877, the 15-hectare necropolis designed by Edmond Le Graive and Louis Coenraets is one of the oldest in the Brussels-Capital Region. More than a burial site, it is also a museum and a park. The tombs are clustered into several patches of land lined with trees and decorated with more than 700 monuments and sculptures made of bronze, blue stone, and marble.

As we remember our beloved departed on All Souls’ Day, this moment could also be an occasion to pay tribute to some of the icons of Belgian history. Visiting their grave is the closest you’ll ever get to being in their presence. 

If you have some time, why not do a little tomb hunting around the Ixelles Cemetery and say hi to some of the Belgian personalities you only read about in books? You can also visit other famous Belgians at the Brussels Cemetery in Evere, the Cemetery of Laeken, and the Dieweg Cemetery in Uccle.

The post Somewhere in BXL: The final resting place of many legendary Belgians appeared first on Brussels Express.

Remember, the Kingdom of Belgium has three official languages: Dutch or Flemish, French, and German. The French-speaking and Dutch-speaking Belgians often monopolize our attention. So for once, let’s put the spotlight on the lesser-known and oft-forgotten German-speaking Belgians. Here’s the score.

How many are they?

Not a lot compared to the millions of French and Dutch-speaking citizens of Belgium. In fact, they are considered the smallest autonomous community in the whole European Union.

The German-speaking Community a.k.a. the Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft (DG) is composed of approximately 78,000 inhabitants, which is far below one percent of the total population of Belgium.

Where are they?

They could be all over Belgium for all we know. But the official territory of the German-speaking Community is located in the eastern part of Belgium along the country’s borders with Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

The region encompasses 854 square kilometers of land within the province of Liège and consists of nine municipalities.

What are they like?

Hard to speak for all 78,000 of them, but the « Belgians of the east » often describe themselves as people who “work Prussian but live French.” That’s because they live along the fault line between the Germanic and the Romanic cultures. Their character is said to be a mixture of influences coming from Germany, the Netherlands, Flanders, Wallonia, and Luxembourg.

How old is the community?

As old as the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking Communities which are officially 39 years old based on the institutional history of Belgium.

The three language communities were established in 1980 during the second constitutional reform in Belgium. But they were first created as cultural communities under the first constitutional reform of 1970. Dutch, French, and German were declared the official languages of Belgium in 1966.

How does the community fit into the overall Belgian structure?

As complexly as Belgian systems go. What is Belgium anyway if not the land of political and administrative complexities?

First, let’s remember that apart from the three linguistic communities, Belgium also has three regions: the French-speaking Walloon Region, the Dutch-speaking Flanders Region, and the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region.

The German-speaking Community is an autonomous legal entity with powers over cultural matters, people-related concerns, education, and inter-community and international cooperation. 

However, in regional concerns such as housing and rural planning, the German-speaking municipalities fall under the jurisdiction of the Walloon Region. And for provincial matters, the community is part of the Walloon Province of Liège. How’s that for complicated?

Just like the two other linguistic communities of Belgium, the German-speaking Community has its own government and parliament. But unlike the Francophones and the Flemish who are often embroiled in political battles and bureaucratic labyrinths, the Germanophones live in a more peaceful and more organized world of their own.

The post The lesser-known and oft-forgotten Belgians appeared first on Brussels Express.

Somewhere in Brussels, there’s a park where art communes with nature and artists find a haven of inspiration. It’s tucked away in the municipality of Watermael-Boitsfort on the southern end of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Parc Tournay-Solvay is home to the European Space for Sculpture, an association dedicated to promoting the work of contemporary visual artists from member states of the European Union. Every year, the association invites an artist from the country occupying the Presidency of the Council of the EU, which rotates among EU countries every six months.

“If you know the art of other countries, you will know their culture better. And the better you know their culture, the better you know the people.”

“We try each year to invite European artists to use this park as a wonderful place to create. We love that they create. Our purpose is to put the accent on man, nature, and art,” says Olivier Thuysbaert, chairman of the European Space for Sculpture.

Since its foundation in 1989, the association has been based in Parc Tournay-Solvay, one of the most remarkable and historically-rich parks of Brussels.

In the late 19th century, the stretch of land belonged to the Solvays, one of the prominent Belgian families in Brussels at the time.

The red brick neo-Renaissance style villa in the park was built in 1878 for the industrialist Alfred Solvay. His brother Ernest, the chemist who founded the Solvay Conferences on Physics and Chemistry, expanded the property in 1905.

The park, as it appears today, was designed by landscape architect Jules Buyssens in 1911 as a private garden for the Solvay family. Two ponds, a rose garden, an orchard, and a vegetable patch are among the notable features of the park.

The government of the Brussels-Capital Region acquired the seven-hectare property in 1980 and turned it into a public park the following year. The former stables of the estate were reconstructed in 1992 to include a building that now houses the Regional Center for Initiation to Ecology (CRIE).

The white villa, built in the early 20th century as a guesthouse for friends of the Solvay family, now serves as the headquarters of the European Space for Sculpture. 

With Finland currently presiding over the Council of the EU, Finnish environmental artist Antti Laitinen has been the featured artist at Parc Tournay-Solvay since July. In a participatory work of art called Nail Trunk, Laitinen is attempting to turn a fallen tree into a steel armor by hammering all day until the surface of the trunk is completely covered with nails.

“The idea started with a project two years ago, where I take the landscape but I try to break it a little bit, kind of taking the pieces away from the landscape to make it more loose. So it looks like a normal landscape at first, but then something is missing or something is different about it, » says Laitinen.

Every Sunday until the end of September, the public is invited to come to the park and join Laitinen as he pounds away at the tree. Hammers and nails are provided. Participants only need to chip in some time and energy.

“I think art is a very important link between people,” says Thuysbaert. “If you know the art of other countries, you will know their culture better. And the better you know their culture, the better you know the people. Art is a vehicle to know the other countries and the other people of the European Union.”

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This year marks the 21st celebration of BBW organised by the Federation of Belgian Brewers and the Knighthood of the Brewers’ Paddle. The grand beer party opened yesterday afternoon and will hop on until late Sunday evening.

Of course the Belgian Beer Weekend isn’t complete without its traditional lineup of activities. This is beer country and nowhere else will you witness such peculiar yet delightful rituals in honor of the brewing trade.

1.     Celebrating the patron saint of beer

Belgian Beer Weekend begins with a tribute to the patron saint of beer, who just happens to be… surprise, surprise… a Belgian.

St. Arnold a.k.a. Arnold of Soissons was born in Brabant in the 11th century. He was a monk who later became the bishop of Flanders. Story has it that he was a devoted brewer who urged local peasants to drink beer instead of water for its health benefits.

The annual celebration of the patron saint of beer is held at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels City.

2.   Consecration of beer

As part of the tribute to St. Arnold, the guild of Belgian brewers, known as the Knighthood of the Brewer’s Paddle, marches to the cathedral carrying a barrel of beer, which is then blessed by a priest.

The Knighthood of the Brewer’s Paddle, founded in the 14th century, is one of the oldest associations in the world. The guild represents the sacred traditions of the Belgian brewing trade, which has been going on for more than a thousand years.

3.  Knighting of exemplary brewers

Belgian Beer Weekend isn’t just an occasion for loading up on Belgian beer. Believe it or not, people actually get knighted in these events.

Every year, brewers who have made a notable contribution to the promotion of Belgian beer are admitted to the Knighthood of the Brewers’ Paddle in a ceremony held at the Brussels city hall.

4.   Procession of old-world brewery carts and beer wagons

The second day of Belgian Beer Weekend is a walk down history lane as medieval brewery carts and beer wagons roll through the streets of the city center. People come dressed in period outfits, and horses are meticulously brushed and braided for the procession.

Parade participants assemble at the Place du Nouveau Marché aux Grains at around 10 in the morning. The procession begins at 1:30 in the afternoon and culminates at the Grand Place. On Sunday, another parade takes place, this time led by brewers’ confraternities accompanied by several marching bands.

The most important ritual around Belgian Beer Weekend is of course the beer drinking, which goes on and on, BBW or not, in this famous beer country.

Let’s head on to the Grand Place and see what else is going on at Belgian Beer Weekend.

The post Blessing of beer and other fascinating rituals around Belgian Beer Weekend appeared first on Brussels Express.