What’s on this week: 3-9 June

What is it about cars and rock & roll that makes them a match made in heaven? Autoworld’s show One, two, three, four – Cars and Rock & Roll explores how Rock & Roll and hitting the open road were both emblematic of emancipation and freedom. It’s only natural that cars featured in music lyrics as well as musician’s lifestyles (Oasis album Be Here Now, pictured main image). Using Pieter Rijckaert’s book Garage Rock as a common thread, Autoworld presents an imaginary circuit linking some 20 cars from the museum’s permanent collection that played a role in the history of rock. Information and a QR code in front of each car allows visitors to listen to the music associated with the vehicles. In a second display are a dozen or so emblematic cars from the Rock & Roll era, including a pink Cadillac, an Oldsmobile Rocket 88, a BMW507, a Lamborghini Miura and a De Tomaso Pantera. Until 26 June, Autoworld, Parc du Cinquantenaire 11

After a two-year absence, the Environment Festival sets up camp in new Tour & Taxis quarters for a bunch of fun and educational workshops and activities for all ages. Learn how to build an offshore wind turbine, your dream house out of giant Meccano or bamboo, pick up some upcycling, musical or circus skills, participate in individual and collective games, while enjoying concerts and brass bands. A Brussels Environment village is full of stands about biodiversity, waste, neighbourhood projects and animal welfare, among other topics, while food trucks will tempt you with delicious snacks and refreshments. 5 June 11.00-19.00, Tour & Taxis park, Boulevard du Jubilé (Molenbeek-Saint-Jean)

Argos presents an unusual group show, When the Angels From Above, featuring an international selection of artists. The focus on spirituality and healing revisits legendary gay cruising grounds, experimentation with psychedelic drugs and traditional medical practice in an animist community “in order to consciously navigate and intervene in hostile and violent public spheres”. Visitors are invited to enter a space of mutual exchange, anchored in the here and now. Founded in 1989, the arts space located in an industrial building in the Quais neighbourhood, was created to stimulate and promote the audiovisual art scene. Until 31 July, Rue du Chantier 13

Have you ever wondered what’s involved in the mundane act of turning on a fresh water tap? Find out about the water system in Brussels at La Fonderie, the museum dedicated to the city’s industrial past (pictured). Its exhibition Oh! Ca ne coule pas de source is a play on the French expression, meaning “It’s not obvious”. Tracing the access - or lack of it - to clean water from ancient times to the colossal public works of the 19th century, it highlights the daily toil of chemists, water tasters and hydrant and sanitation workers to bring us clean water. Climate change and new pollutants present them with new challenges. The exhibition includes videos, spoken testimonies and fun immersive experiences. Additionally, there are lectures, family days, guided and audio tours. Until 26 June, Rue Ransfort 27 (Molenbeek-Saint-Jean)

The National Bank of Belgium (NBB) celebrates the 50th anniversary of its contemporary art collection in this joint exhibition with Banco de España, (UN)COMMON VALUES Two Corporate Collection of Contemporary Art. Artworks by 43 international, Belgian and Spanish artists show how artists in its collection have reflected on changes in society, mirrorring the perceptions of each generation, embracing or questioning the often chaotic world around us. Shown in the bank’s grandiose but sober modernist counter, they have been selected from the 2,000 strong collection. It’s only the second time that works will be on display to the public (free entrance; guided tours also available). Until 18 September, Berlaymont 14

A salon devoted to the string instrument, The Violin Begins is a concert performance with musician Peter Sheppard Skærved (pictured). Playing two unique historic instruments by the ‘father of the violin’, Andrea Amati and his son, Girolamo, he presents an evening of music and words dedicated to the history of the instrument. They range from colour pieces by Lübeck-born Thomas Baltzar to deeply moving pieces from the 1685 ‘Klagenfurt Manuscript’. Alongside them are miniatures by dozens of composers with whom he collaborates, including new works composed during the pandemic lockdown. 9 June 18.30, Full Circle, Chaussée de Vleurgat 89 (Ixelles)

The monthly Brussels Artisan Market returns for its third edition at Community hub Be-Here on Saturday. City artisans will be selling their wares, including jewellery, textiles, plants and cosmetics. There’s also an array of original food and drink options and the free event is family-friendly with a bouncy castle and a magician. 4 June 11.00-19.00, 4 Rue Dieudonné Lefèvre (Laeken)

Discover the Ancient Art of Korea at this talk (in French) by YOU Hong-june, focusing on frescoes. It’s presented in two parts: The Ancient Kingdom of Koguryo (37BC-668AD) and the History and Typology of the Reproduction of Koguryo Funerary Wall Paintings. The free event is organised in collaboration with KU Leuven (reservation recommended). 8 June 18.00, KU Leuven Brussels Campus, Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères 26

Calling any girls or women who fancy a game of cricket! The Royal Brussels Cricket Club is holding a Ladies Cricket Day at its pitch and clubhouse in Lasne on Sunday. The fun day full of cricket, cocktails and BBQ is open to all ages and levels, as well as anyone who’d like to learn the sport. Contact Nicky Thrupp: nixthrupp@gmail.com, 0472.09.81.33. 5 June from 11.00, Chemin des Messes, Lasnes

The second Shakespeare Summer Festival is already underway with performances of Macbeth (pictured), plus a series of one-act plays by members of the Brussels Shakespeare Society. The company’s traditional mid-festival Sunday Social gathering on 5 June is free for all ticket holders. Meet the theatrical troupe and enjoy performances by fellow youth theatre groups and a Shakespeare-themed karaoke. Until 11 June, Espace Lumen, Chaussée de Boondael 32-36 (Ixelles)

Book now A Summer’s Evening at Corroy This evening with Charlotte Brönte recounts the story of the famous British writer and the period of her life spent in Brussels. The romantic story The Professor was inspired by her experience in the city, first as a student of French and later as a teacher of English. The performance is staged at the medieval castle near Gembloux. An optional buffet dinner will be served afterwards. 11 June 19.00 (doors open at 18.15), Château du Corroy

Outside Brussels

British grocer Stonemanor is getting ready for a right royal celebration at its Platinum Jubilee Garden Party on Sunday. The store is inviting customers to the regal knees-up in its garden and carpark, where it will be serving free cream teas (chocolate flake ice-creams for kids) and running a trifle contest. There’ll also be live music playing all day, a bouncy castle for the little ones and a Grenadier Guard wandering around for photo opportunities. The Simply British Fish and Chip Truck will be dishing up the popular and classic fast-food.  5 June 11.00-16.00, Steenhofstraat 28, Everberg

This first festival in the Walloon capital devoted to African multidisciplinary arts focuses some activities on the Congo, in honour of its recent 60th anniversary independence celebrations. NA!FRICA’s originality also lies in its accent on North/South cross-cultural artistic ties, showcasing the influence of artists, musicians and filmmakers originating from the southern continent. While Saturday’s programme is devoted to the sounds and words of Africa, Sunday’s line-up centres on the rumba. 3-5 June, Le Delta and CaV&Ma, Namur

Take an enchanting walk through the rolling hills of Condroz and Marche-en-Famenne in this countryside art tour. Sentiers d’Art reopens for the season with a 140km circuit of nature rambles around the region’s pretty villages. Some 50 artists have created installations with materials that reflect their surroundings: branches, rocks, leaves, straw, etc. Over time, each work changes as its biodegradable matter slowly decomposes, taking on another ephemeral form. While the 140km circuit is signposted with a red rectangle, the 12 trails (7-16km) aren’t marked, so pick up a map, available for €3. Maison du Tourisme Condroz-Famenne, Place Monseu 23, Ciney (Namur)

The riverside Boverie park is transformed into a giant outdoor gastronomic picnic thanks to Les Epicuriales de Liège this weekend. Setting up camp in front of the Boverie museum and at the foot of the Belle Liègoise footbridge, the gourmet gathering offers visitors an opportunity to wander from one culinary stand to another, all filled with delicious dishes prepared by restaurants in the province. A gastronomic menu by top chefs is also available each evening. 2-6 June, 12.00-midnight, Parc de la Boverie, Liège

Book now Waterloo Battlefield Tour is a special guided tour to mark the 207th anniversary of this history-changing skirmish on the outskirts of Brussels. Organised by the Royal British Legion Brussels, it will explain why the battle took place and how it unfolded, as well as examining its consequence. The tour includes a visit to Hougoumont, where historical re-enactors in a bivouac camp will bring alive the action. 18 June 10.30-16.30, Route du Lion 1815, Braine-l’Alleud

Are you on the lookout for some new vintage clothing? Dutch vintage store Throwback Classics is coming to Belgium for the first time, setting up shop in Leuven for two days with flannel shirts, leather jackets, t-shirts, sweatshirts, tracksuit jackets, denim and more. To add to the fun, all the clothes are sold by the kilo at either €25 or €30. There’s 3,500 kg of threads from Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Fila, Ralph Lauren and Helly Hansen among other brands. To make sure things don’t get too crowded and cut-throat, customers must reserve space in a timeslot and racks are continuously refilled so a later timeslot doesn’t mean picking through leftovers. There’s also a raffle, which could see you walking away with a totally-new wardrobe. 4-5 June, Hal 5, Diestsesteenweg 104, Leuven

The Ghent University Museum (GUM) is out to smash stereotypes with its exhibition Phallus. Norm and Form: exhibition of genitalia. Presenting a dialogue between science and art, it features the work of national and international researchers as well as artists. The aim is to challenge the prevalent idées fixes on genitalia, which have been around since the beginning of mankind, from prehistoric caves to today’s social media. Why is male genitalia extensively discussed in scientific research and the female counterpart is much less represented? Are sex toys the result of scientific research? The exhibition answers some of these questions and raises others, while offering a series of striking visuals. Until 8 January, GUM, KL Ledeganckstraat 35, Ghent