What’s on this week: 17 to 23 October

More than 100 activities by local artists showcase city culture in the annual Museum Night Fever. For the 18th edition, one ticket provides access to 34 museums – plus two afterparties – with endless fun entertainment cooked up by each one for the evening. Music, food and performance are all on the programme, described as ‘the coolest cultural event of the year’ by organisers. Find out what goes on behind the scenes of famed opera house La Monnaie (pictured), discover the art of archery at the Musée des Arbalétriers, get a tattoo at the KBR museum or dance the night away in the underground ruins of the Coudenberg Palace. A shuttle bus conveniently helps you get from one venue to the other. 19 October, across Brussels

Already attracting some 6,000 visitors since opening two weeks ago, Train World’s new exhibition Belgian Railways Under Occupation: Between Collaboration and Resistance is a fascinating and important look at how the national rail network continued to run trains in Belgium’s interest in the Second World War, while also participating, despite considerable resistance, in deportations to Germany and to the concentration camps. Part of the SNCB’s commemorative activities, this exhibition, free for the under-18s, comes with a wealth of educational and other activities. Until 28 June, Place Princesse Elisabeth 5 (Schaerbeek)

The Oxalys Festival presents three classical music concerts featuring repertoire from the Belle Époque (1870–1930). In the intimate setting of La Tricoterie, listen to the Oxalys chamber music ensemble perform fresh interpretations of works by Richard Strauss, Mendelssohn, Tournier, von Einem, Bax et Ben-Haim, as well as pieces by lesser-known composers Victor Vreuls, Louis Kéfer, Charles Bordes and Alexis de Castillon in dialogue with Schumann and Ysaÿe. 17-19 October, Rue Théodore Verhaegen 158 (Saint-Gilles)

The ANTE Festival concludes this weekend with its exploration of19th architectural highlights in the capital. Via guided tours and talks, you can explore a plethora of styles from neoclassical and eclecticism to neo-Gothic, Neo-Flemish Renaissance and Neo-Egyptian. Among emblematic sites exceptionally open to the public are ULB’s Bâtiment A (pictured), Château Tournai-Solvay and Villa Bloemenberg. 18 & 19 October, across Brussels

Welcome to the Kingdom of Beldavia! Visitors to the interactive digital action-exhibition at La Fonderie follow the experience of migrants as they attempt to navigate the barriers to setting up a home in this imaginary offbeat country as either an economic migrant, political refugee or part of a family reunification. The experience is based on testimonies of migrant families in Belgium. Beldavia has been created with the assistance of nonprofit organisations, including La Rue, Quizas and Lire et Ecrire. 16 October to 28 June, Rue Ransfort 27 (Molenbeek)

The pop culture show Made in Asia at Brussels Expo offers an immersive experience for all fans of manga, anime, video games and cosplay. Guest of honour for this autumn edition is an iconic figure in Japanese pop culture, the mangaka Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. Activities and highlights include cosplay, a Korean Alley, a Harajuka area, and of course, a food alley filled with exciting Asia street food outlets. Note: admission is free for children under 11 years old. 18-19 October, Place de la Belgique 1 (Laeken)

How do animals and humans defy gravity and soar above the clouds? The exhibition Flight at the Natural Sciences Museum traces their fascinating journey, from hummingbird to drone, peregrine falcon to the Concorde. Discover how nature meets technology, along with the diversity of things that can fly. Youngsters can also have a go at making their own paper airplane soar. 17 October to 9 August, Rue Vautier 29

The fifth edition of the Slow Ways Weekend invites walkers to stroll through the capital’s car-free paths and passages. Discover hidden alleys, secret paths, cultural and architectural sites, garden cities, footbridges and overlooked tunnels. Some 22 tours explore green parks, secluded city districts and graffitied walls. This year, the event is part of the Month of the Pedestrian, celebrated throughout the country in October. “Slow ways greatly contribute to the walkability of the city thanks to their safe, quiet, and pleasant nature. And yet, they often remain unknown or neglected,” says Arne Robbe of the organisation walk.brussels. Warning: Tours are filling up fast! 18-19 October, across Brussels

The Brussels international film festival for children and teens is an autumn half-term staple. This year, Filem’on adopts the theme ‘Boundless’, letting imaginations run wild with more than 100 groundbreaking or uplifting movies. The programme is brimming with imaginative animations, inspiring fiction and captivating documentaries from every part of the globe. There’s also workshops and multi-day film courses. Prices are extremely democratic and there’s always something appropriate on the bill, which is designed for two to 16-year-olds. 22 October to 5 November, across Brussels

For one weekend only, Greenpeace and Tempora, the organiser of the exhibition Amazônia, collaborate to raise awareness of the environmental issues threatening the Brazilian rainforest. The show by renowned late French-Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado at Tour & Taxis (until 11 November) presents more than 200 large-format photographs of a diverse and fragile world. During the special event, Greenpeace teams inform visitors about the issues facing the Amazon and the challenges of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference. A portion of the weekend's proceeds will be donated to Greenpeace to support its efforts to preserve the Amazon. 18-19 October, Avenue du Port 86C

Billed as “a love letter to Brussels”, Knocked is an original musical inspired by 100 years of Belgian history. Performed in English in a charming theatre in Forest, seven people tell their stories “from a typical Brussels doorstep” on the stage. The show is the first creation of Brussels Musical Creatives, a company set up in 2024 to “champion and showcase new musical theatre writing and talent”. With a sell-out run the last time it came to the capital, snag some tickets sooner rather than later! 23-25 October, Théâtre l’Improviste, Rue de Fierlant 120 (Forest)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Leuven M hosts the first Belgian solo show of internationally-acclaimed Polish-German artist Alicja Kwade. The exhibition Dusty Die demonstrates how her sculptures and installations blur the lines between art and science. Through reflections, repetitions and a blend of natural materials and everyday objects, she invites viewers to examine how they perceive, make sense of and structure the world. The show is part of KU Leuven’s 600th anniversary celebrations, which focus on reflection. Until 22 February, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28, Leuven

Alongside the flagship Mons show David Hockney. The Song of the Earth, the city’s fine arts museum presents local artist Kevin Douillez's exhibition Voyages d'un geste. His exploration of painting as an instinctive language results in raw, spontaneous gestures that trace interior landscapes. Another parallel show complements the Van Gogh paintings presented in the Hockney exhibition. Dutch artist Emmy Bergsma’s I ask the plants is a series of charcoal works that she created during a residency at the Maison Van Gogh in nearby Cuesmes. Until 25 January, Rue Neuve 8, Mons

An international reference for digital culture, the KIKK Festival in Namur showcases new creative technologies. For its 14th edition, the festival explores the musicality of the world and society in a dual programme for professionals and the public that includes conferences, workshops, a demo market, kids’ activities and a city-wide art trail (KIKK in Town). The latter is a festival highlight and features robot musicians that make the organ of the Saint-Loup church vibrate, among some 30 immersive installations by artists such as Zimoun, So Kanno and Ban Lei. 23-26 October, Place d’Armes (market), Théâtre de Namur, Le Delta, Galerie Beffroi, Le Pavillon and other venues

German artist Michael Beutler collaborated with 50 students of architecture (UHasselt) and product design (LUCA School of Arts, Campus C-mine) for his exhibition at Z33. Monumental installations employ simple materials such as paper, cardboard and textiles, crafted with his own hand-made tools. Each work is created in in situ, in dialogue with the space and his large team. Z33 also shows the work of Genk-born artist Mounir Eddib in the series Taliswoman, transforming the town’s former mining site into places where untold stories continue to haunt. Beutler until 22 February, Eddib until 14 December, Bonnefantenstraat 1, Hasselt

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

Photos: (main image) Museum Night Fever 2024 La Monnaie ©Marin Driguez; ULB Batiment A ©EB/Lara Herbinia; Beldavia ©Be_Culture; Filemon ©Olivia et le tremblement de terre invisible; Indiens marubo vallee de javari etat de amazonas Bresil ©Sebastiao Salgado; courtesy Leuven M; Kevin Douillez ©Be_Culture; ©KIKK Festival/Ban Lei; courtesy Michael Beutler Z33