What’s on this week: 14 to 20 June

The city of Brussels launches a free and vibrant cultural programme in Brussels Park, encompassing dance, music, cabaret, cinema and games all under the banner of Vaux-Hall Summer. The renovated historic building  – located behind Théâtre du Parc – hosts the evening events weekly from Thursday to Sunday. Coming up this weekend are inclusive dance and music courtesy of Créahlbxl & friends, complete with workshops & a live DJ (Fri & Sat 18.30-23.00). 13 June to 25 August, Vaux-Hall, Rue de la Loi 3, Brussels Park

Brussels’ big bike event, the BXL tour sees racers set off from Place de Palais and cycle to the Atomium where a festival village awaits. The tour promotes mobility and inclusivity with various racing categories: Master for more experienced cyclists; Cyclo 40km race, Ride 32km race; and Paracycling 40km race for wheelchair racers. The On the Road training programme focuses on women cyclists. The event continues with concerts, bicycle demonstrations and more, plus snacks and refreshments. Motorists in the capital should note that some major roads will be closed between 7.00 and 13.00. 16 June 9.00-18.00, start: Place des Palais; finish Atomium (Laeken)

Brussels’ summer roller parade kicks off on Friday evening (now cancelled), and the fun also wheels into other cities around the country, including Hasselt, Leuven and Namur. Check out the agenda for dates. The free parades, accompanied by music, are for rollerblades, bikes, longboards, skateboard and even electric bikes. Beginner and advanced riders welcome. Don't forget safety gear and water! Check the website for updates in case of bad weather. 14 June to 13 September, Friday 20.00, Place Poelaert

“The best photos are the ones I have not yet taken,” said Paris-born American Elliott Erwitt (1928-2023). This iconic photographer is honoured in a major retrospective with more than 215 photos, mostly in his preferred black-and-white format. Aiming to “stir some kind of emotion,” especially humour, and enable people to “see serious issues in a non-serious way”, Erwitt’s extensive oeuvre features intimate family memories, photojournalism, architecture, street photos and publicity. Special sections focus on beaches, cities, women, abstraction, museum watching and dogs. A prolific film maker, Erwitt also snapped celebrities including the Kennedys, Marilyn Monroe, Charles de Gaulle and Barack Obama. Until 5 January, 5 Grand Place

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Sustainable Neighbourhood Contracts (SNCs), Urban forms of Brussels’ renovation  at Halles de Saint-Géry evaluates thr urban renewal policy. It aims to solve complex issues by engaging residents, local users and socio-economic stakeholders. The many big winners include Forest’s Divercity – the wasteland turned neighbourhood centre, Molenbeek’s Libelco shed – now a park, playground and local meeting point, and multiple pocket parks, with Brussels’ first cycle highway to come. In the words of Molenbeek’s Khalid Bhenani, these seven-year schemes aim to bring people together. Upstairs in the main exhibition space, New Ways of Living explores how Brussels wants to make the city affordable, detailing myriad forms of community living alongside radical housing projects, past and present. Until 28 August/29 September, Place Saint-Géry

Happy 25th birthday Magritte house! The beautiful home of René Magritte and his adored wife Georgette first opened its doors as a museum in 1999, showing his living quarters on the ground floor and several of his works and advertising posters upstairs. The museum is now celebrating with two exhibitions on Magritte’s friendships. The first is with Jane Graverol (1905-1984), who met Magritte in his rue Esseghem studio and remained friends ever since. Fifteen of her surrealist works she considered “waking, conscious dreams” including ‘La Mauvaise Etoile’ and its eery tiger (pictured) are displayed in this charming house next to the fascinating Museum of Belgian Abstract Art, whose wealth of surrealist works are perfect for Surrealism’s centenary year. Until 20 October, Musee Magritte (House), Rue Esseghem 135 (Jette)

In honour of the 125th anniversary of World Art Nouveau Day, The Nine clubhouse hosts a special Art Nouveau Day Dinner. Join the women’s club for a luxurious three-course meal and welcome bubbles, while enjoying the original period features of the clubhouse and garden. Guest speaker Dorka Demeter will illuminate the role of women in Art Nouveau, focusing on female artists and the portrayal of women as central motifs. Guests are invited to dress in ‘Downton Abbey chic’. The event is open to members and non-members. 14 June 19.00-22.00, Rue Archimède 69

Visiting WIELS ‘en famille’ is always a treat but especially so on the twice-monthly family fun days, where enthusiastic guides take you through one of the exhibitions, offering exciting activities and stories. Currently showing at this wonderful former brewery with beautiful rooftop views is performance art and fascinating glass installations (pictured) from Dutch/American artist Alexis Blake (born 1981) and films and theatrical creations from Belgium’s Joseph Kusendila (born 1985). From June 21, you can also see the paintings of Germany’s Jane Euler (1982)’s ‘Oilopa’ (oil/Europa) paintings, displaying a fantasy, Europe-based world. Family Fun Days: 16 June and every 1st and 3rd Sunday, exhibitions until 11 August and (Jana Euler) 29 September, WIELS contemporary art centre, Avenue Van Volxem 354 (Forest)

The eighth edition of Midsummer Mozartiade kicks off for a week-long series of musical performances, principally in the historic Théâtre Royal des Galeries (Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert). This year’s opera is the rare Mitridate, re di Ponto under the direction of Thibaut Lenaerts and staged by Eric Gobin. Also taking to the stage is Missa Brevis and young conductor Gabirel Hollander for a chamber music concert of sacred music by Mozart, Haydn and Belgian composer Fabian Fiorini. The festival includes a free concert at Notre-Dame du Finistère on 20 June at 19.30. 17-23  June, Galerie du Roi 32

The sounds of summer: Fete de la Musique celebrates the solstice with dozens of musical concerts and DJ sets across Brussels and Wallonia. Since 1985, the French-community festival has promoted its artists and musicians in indoor and outdoor venues in each of its provinces. In the capital, Cinquanteanire park is the main hub (21 & 22 June) with French artists La Femme and Flavien Berger joining local talent, while a food truck, bars and kids’ activities will keep crowds happy. Other musical activities can be found in the Marolles, the Grand Hospice and the Sablon as well as the Woluwes. Check out the vast programme and peruse this map! for more information. 20-23 June, multiple locations in Brussels and Wallonia

Book now The American Club Brussels (ACB) is in full festive mode with its annual Ommegang dinner in the Roy d’Espagne overlooking the Grand Place and the colourful procession (pictured) and show on 5 July (a few places remain). It then joins forces with the American Women’s Club of Brussels for Independence Day Celebrations at the Quartier Leopold Brasserie in Place Luxembourg on 7 July. 5 July (Grand Place) and 7 July (Place Luxembourg)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Brussels Urban Archaeology Days is a key event this weekend, boasting exhibitions, guided walks and family activities in iconic sites like the Coudenberg and Rouge Cloître. Not to be outdone, in Bruges, the garden of the beautiful St Godelieve Abbey (pictured) that’s currently under renovation, is welcoming the public through an archaeology pop-up house. In The Garden of the Past you can see myriad videos on archaeology in Flanders, take archaeological photos, see archaeologists work and sieve soil and wash the finds yourself. You can even ask the Archaeological Intelligence’ (AI) expert all your archaeological questions. This perfect family activity is open Wednesday to Sunday and every day in July and August. Until 13 October, Sint-Godelieve abbey, Boeveriestraat 49, Bruges

Scaling the ancient walls of Namur’s citadel and other lofty sites are some of the best rescue workers from around the world this weekend. After pitting their skills at the Atomium on Thursday and the Strepy-Thieu boat lift on Friday, it’s the turn of the Walloon capital to stage the international challenge GrimpDay on Sunday, where they will carry out various rescue exercises and scenarios. Teams are competing from some 20 countries, including China, Japan, the US and Belgium. Until 15 June 8.30-16.00, Avenue Jean Premier & Passage de l’atelier

The Hainaut community of Saint-Ghislain celebrates it annual world folklore festival with guests from around the world. For the first time, Japan is represented, joining groups from New Zealand, Mexico, Bolivia and a host of European nations. On the programme are concerts, dance, gala balls and plenty of regional gastronomic delights. 17-23 June, Rue de Chièvres, Saint-Ghislain, Hainaut

Celebrate International Yoga Day (21 June) a few days early in Mechelen. At the town’s meditation centre a “beautiful morning” awaits where you can enjoy yoga exercises, practise Sahaja yoga meditation, listen to traditional live music and “feel the connection and inner peace with yourself and others”. Other yoga events in Flanders include, on 16 June, Antwerp’s special yoga morning and music at Wilrijkse Plein Sportscentrum and, on 21 June, Ghent’s celebration with two free sessions in the Koning Albert park. International Yoga Day was created by the United Nations on 11 December 2014, in recognition of its universal appeal. 10.30-14.00, 15 June, Yoga Studio, Lange Hofstraat 20, Mechelen.

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

Photos: (main image) Vaux-Hall; Roller parade ©Bel-Picture Geoffrey Hoyoux; Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, USA, 1957 ©Elliott Erwitt/Magnum Photos; Jane Graverol ©SABAM 2024; Midsummer Motzartiade 2023 Cosi fan tutte