What’s on this week: 10-16 September

Whether you like to draw yourself or like to look at drawings, you’ll find something to delight you during Brussels Drawing Week. Get tours of exhibitions by artists themselves, attend the unveiling of a mural devoted to three key women from art history or hear a talk on the role of drawing in the creative process. There are also performances and workshops for both kids and adults. 14-19 September, across Brussels

European Mobility Week kicks off on 16 September, with the big event being, of course, Car-Free Sunday. It’s the one day a year when the entire Brussels-Capital Region is closed to motorised vehicles. Check next week’s agenda for more details! Mobility Week 16-22 September, Car-Free Sunday 19 September 9.30-19.00

Belgium’s love affair with comic strips culminates in the Brussels Comic Strip Festival, featuring exhibitions, workshops, tours, games, conferences and signing sessions with local and international artists. 10 September to 10 October, across Brussels

The Horst Arts & Music Festival distinguishes itself by throwing art and architecture into the mix. It takes place both indoors and out, on a former military site, overgrown and gone wild. You’ll find specially developed, innovative dance floors to go along with the stellar line-up of electronic musicians. 10-12 September, Asiat, Mechelsesteenweg 255 (Vilvoorde)

Anyone who hails from Peru or Chile (or who has been there) will be happy to hear that this week is devoted to its regional spirit. Pisco Week Belgium sees the brandy incorporated into all kinds of new and creative cocktails around town. Keep a watch on the website for participating bars. 13-19 September, across Belgium

Climb up on a big wooden cable reel and pick up the phone for Panorama Ring Ring, during which writers will tell you a story about the distant urban landscape in front of you. It’s one of the creative activities that make up Sous Les Pavés, Het Strand / Onder de Stenen, La Plage, a festival that searches beneath the drab concrete and paving stones of the northern quarter for Brussels’ super-diverse life in all its forms and colours. 9-11 September, across northern quarter

The first edition of Bozar Rooftop sees DJs and other electronic musicians taking to the roof of the landmark building over two weekends. The first two nights are already sold out, so act quick for a ticket to see Chris Ferreira, Wutangu and more on Sunday night. Or check out week two. 9-12, 16-18 September, Rue Ravenstein 23

Sulaiman Addonia came to Brussels by way of Eritrea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and London. His story is fascinating, as is the way he tells it. The same can be said of his second novel Silence is My Mother Tongue, the story of young siblings surviving a refugee camp – something Addonia understands all too well. The book has just been translated into Dutch, and Addonia discusses it with several other writers at this literary event at Muntpunt (In English and Dutch) 10 September 20.00-22.00

Doppelgänger leads visitors along an art parcours staged in abandoned shop windows and public space. Staged in Dansaert, young artists have responded to the state of alienation they have felt over the last 18 months, when they felt almost invisible, certainly economically. Until 26 September, across Dansaert

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Like Wallonia and Brussels, Flanders has a regionwide celebration of classical and new music, with different editions in cities and regions. The Ghent Festival of Flanders is one of the most intriguing, with a healthy dose of jazz and world fusion, a ‘morning dew’ concert in a hidden garden, a bit of dance and a concert for babies. Don’t miss Odegand, a day long series of short concerts in venues across the city centre. Choose a route to see three, then take to boats to enjoy surprise evening concerts along the canal. Until 26 September, across Ghent

Theatre festival in Flanders are often elusive for those who don’t understand Dutch, but Love at First Sight is super English friendly, with several productions either in English or with no words at all. It is devoted to works by young creatives and includes a virtual reality production, ‘eco science fiction’ and dancers who are either positively or negatively charged. Lots of cool stuff to discover. 16-25 September, across Antwerp

Book now: Guided Tours for Internationals  Flemish Brabant’s brilliant tours in English are back. Discover beers, castles, foodie Leuven, Tervuren Park and other sites in the region’s green belt surrounding Brussels. They are all led by locals but aimed at the capital’s international community. These tours were quite popular the last time around, so reserve your spot now. 18 September to 17 October, across Flemish Brabant

Photos from top: Eleven Steens’ ‘Un merveilleux sentiment d’étrangeté’, 2021, courtesy Brussels Drawing Week; courtesy Horst Arts & Music Festival; courtesy Kaaitheater; ©Bart Dewaele; ©Damian Posse