What’s on this week: 4 to 10 April

How did the skateboard achieve evolve into its iconic shape? That is a key question raised in the Design Museum’s new exhibition Skateboard that explores the development of skateboard design over seven decades. It features some 100 legendary boards from handmade 1950s models to Damien Hirst limited edition pieces. For museum director Arnaud Bozzini, the exhibition offers “a historical, social and cultural approach to skateboarding and its practice”. Complete with talks, film screenings and the chance to meet key figures from the Brussels skate scene, you can also practice the sport on a specially built museum garden skate ramp. Until 14 September, Place de la Belgique (Laeken)

The D Festival expands its usual focus on contemporary dance to incorporate urban dance forms such as hip hop, krump and stepping. Over four evenings at Marni and Senghor, it showcases choreographers and dancers primarily from Brussels. On the programme: Briana Ashley Stuart, Hendrick Ntela, Remy Mpuki, Anna Karenina Lambrechts, Mercedes Dassy, Silvia Pezzarossi and Karine Ponties. 3-11 April, Marni (Rue des Vergnies 25) & Senghor (Chaussée de Wavre 366)

Showcasing the local music scene, the Belgian Jazz Festival takes over the city’s legendary and intimate Vaudeville theatre for the weekend. Open to all musicians residing in Belgium dedicated to jazz and impro, it includes familiar names. The Don Marsh Trio, Anne Wolf Quatuor and Bruno Castellucci Quartet perform on Friday evening; the Afy Quartet, Bam Trio and Reggie Washinton Trio on Saturday. 5-6 April, Théâtre du Vaudeville, Galerie de La Reine 13-15

For their spring concert, the Choirs of the European Union and the Ensemble Orchestral de Bruxelles perform works by 19th century French and Belgian masters Charles Gounod and César Franck. They are joined by soloists Julie Gebhart, Markus Ennsthaller and organist Shadi Torbey, all under the direction of Dirk de Moor. 6 April 17.00, Eglise Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg, Place Royale

Discover the incredible richness of the Brazilian rainforest in the event exhibition Amazônia by renowned French-Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado at Tour & Taxis. Showcasing more than 200 large-format photographs, it offers an immersion into a world that is both diverse and fragile. The presentation also incudes testimonies by indigenous communities. A specially created sound piece by pioneering French composer Jean-Michel Jarre adds to the experience. 4 April to 11 November, Avenue du Port 86C

Don’t miss one of Brussels’ most fun cinema capers – the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival – for freaky sci-fi, horror and grind, as well as art exhibitions, a make-up contest, bodypainting showcase, Bloody Date Night, a Future Frights focus and the (in)famous Vampire Ball. Among the highly-anticipated screenings at Brussels Expo are US comedy horror Drop, Death of a Unicorn and psychological thriller The Surfer, while guests include directors Danny Boyle and Asif Kapadia. A special focus on Canadian and Mexican films, two Korean dramas and four silent screenings also feature. As ever, an extremely lively audience can be expected at all of the festival’s showings. 8-22 April, Palace 10, Place de la Belgique 1 (Laeken)

The Nocturnes programme of late-night openings in city museum enters its final weeks; a a last chance to dive into the capital’s rich cultural offering. Every Thursday, a different set of institutions host tours and events, from workshops and film screenings to torchlit walks. On 10 April, it’s the turn of northern suburb locations Hotel Van Eetvelde, Maison Autrique, Charlier Museum, Spontaneous Art Museum, Beer Museum of Schaerbeek and La Maison des Arts to welcome visitors. Until 24 April, Thursdays 17.00-22.00, museums across the city

Billed as “one of the most profound statements on life and death ever set to music”, Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem is being performed by the Brussels Choral Society and Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra this Saturday. Written in memory of Italian humanist Alessandro Manzoni and first staged in 1874, Milan, it is the most performed choral work apart from Mozart’s Requiem. The 90-minute, seven-part oeuvre for four soloists, double choir and orchestra is also called “one of the most captivating Verdi operas that is not an opera”. 5 April 20.00, NOVUM (Théâtre du Collège St Michel), Rue Père Eudore Devroye 2 (Etterbeek)

Identity, politics and religion are key in Scéal Eile: Irish Film Festival Belgium. The event officially opens in Brussels with Tim Mielant’s powerful Small Things Like These, highlighting the Magdalene Laundries’ horrors through the eyes of a quiet coal merchant (Cillian Murphy), with Emily Watson excelling as a chilling nun. The festival also features Paul Kennedy’s thriller Dead Man’s Money and the Oscar-winning short An Irish Goodbye. Two documentaries – The Irish Question, examining the prospect of a united Ireland, and Birdsong – ornithologist Seán Ronayne’s quest to record every bird species (nearly 200) in Ireland, complete the programme. 7-12 April, Brussels (Cinema Galeries & Aventure Cinema), Leuven, Ghent

The Sonamos Latinoamérica Festival at Muziekpubliek embarks on a musical journey into the poetry and rhythms of Latin American folklore. Performing artists include Brazilian cavaquinho virtuoso Matheus Donato, the Argentinian folk and tango El Revire Duo, Dariana Lopez and Daniel Uzcategui from Venezuela (pictured) and all-female Afro-Ecuadorian and Latin American band Karina Clavijo y la Diversa. 9-12 April, Rue des Chevaliers 4 (Ixelles)

The Arts Society Brussels explores the origins of the ancient flower in its talk: The Divine Sunflower in Art and Culture  Twigs Way recounts how it originated in the temple of the Aztecs before arriving in Europe as the flower of the Greek sun god. The artist Van Dyke famously depicted it in his self-portrait, while Van Gogh devoted myriad canvases to its intense colour. Poetry and passion complete the exploration with the sunflower tours of Oscar Wilde and the Sunflower Sutra of the Beat Generation and Alan Ginsberg. 9 April 20.00, Town Hall, Avenue Paul Hymans 2 (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert)

Coming up The International Study Group (ISG) dedicates its April talk to the capital’s musical heritage. Head of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels Library Dr Hugo Rodriguez reveals the collections in: Stories, Secrets and Treasures of the Royal Conservatory Library. Guests welcome: €10 payable on entrance. 14 April 10.00, Chateau Malou, Allée Pierre Levée 2 (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert)

Book now Royal Greenhouses As this splendid spring display is only open to the public for a few weeks a year, it’s necessary to snag tickets early. In a tradition dating back a century, thousands of varieties of plants and trees, including rare species from the collection of King Leopold II, are on show. The former monarch commissioned the classical-style greenhouses and winter garden, which was designed by illustrious Belgian architect Alphonse Balat in 1873. Take advantage of long and short walking routes around the park of the royal residence. 26 April to 20 May, Avenue du Parc Royal 61 (Laeken)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

The 22nd edition of the Floralia extravaganza promises millions of seasonal bulbs with staggered blossoming periods brightening up the 14-hectare grounds of this atmospheric red brick castle. Pride of place goes to tulips, hyacinths and daffodils, while visitors can also admire a 1,000m2 greenhouse, several gardens, a flower labyrinth and an indoor flower exhibition that changes weekly. Additional attractions include Maya the Bee days with family entertainment on 5 & 6, 12 & 13 and 19 to 21 April, as well as a Venetian Parade (date yet to be confirmed). 4 April to 2 May, Isidoor Van Beverenstraat 5, Groot-Bijgaarden (Flemish Brabant)

After being spotlighted in the Oscar-winning film The Brutalist, the University of Liège shows off its own striking architecture in the exhibition, Brutalism in ULiège. Its black and white photographs are by city architect and photographer Pierrick de Stexhe, author of the recently-published book Brutalism in Belgium. When the university relocated to new quarters in Sart-Tilman in the 1960s, it resulted in a new campus designed by Charles Vandenhove and Claude Strebelle. The minimalist concrete buildings fitted harmoniously into the green woodland setting. Until 18 April, Faculté d’Architecture, Boulevard de la Constitution 41, Sart-Tilman, Liège

Miguel Díaz Vizoso. De La Louvière à Peyo presents the work of the Belgian-Spanish comic artist, internationally renowned for his Smurfs drawings. Díaz Vizoso is an admirer of Idel Ianchelevici, the artist honoured at the MiLL Museum that hosts this exhibition. The Moldova-born artist was responsible for the local sculpture L’Appel. Other invited artists also reveal how they were inspired by this powerful symbol of the Hainaut city. Until 10 August, Place Communale 21, La Louvière (Hainaut)

A clutch of global acting stars await at Facts Comic Con, the biggest fandom festival dedicated to comics and pop culture in Belgium. Elijah Wood, Jonah Priestley, Andrew McCarthy, Ben Barnes and Evanna Lynch are just a few of the stars present at this deep dive into fantasy, superhero and sci-fi series and movies. It also explores video games, board games, cosplay and of course graphic novels and comics. 5-6 April, Flanders Expo, Maaltekouter 1, Ghent

If you’re visiting the Belgian coast, consider a detour to this beautiful exhibition, Pilgrimage. Journey to the realm of Magritte and Delvaux – Koen Broucke. The latter is an artist and historian who walked in the footsteps of the masters to create a series of paintings to illustrate Lisbeth Claus’ book Rendez-vous with Georgette Magritte and Paul Delvaux. 5 April to 11 May, Kapel Rozenkrans, Albert I laan, Oostduinkerke

Discover more upcoming events at The Bulletin's events page.

Photos: (main image) Design Museum ©Felix Speller; Laeken ©Karin Borghouts; Indiens Marubo Vallee de Javari Etat de Amazonas Bresil ©Sebastiao Salgado; Brutalism at ULiège ©P de Stexhe; Lectures d'enfance ©Miguel Diaz Vizoso; ©Koen Broucke