What’s on this week: 7-13 April

Wolvendael Park welcomes families to an annual Easter egg hunt with a difference. After partnering with a chocolate egg supplier who’s fairtrade and sustainable, children are invited to search for biodegradable discs that can be swapped for real organic chocolate eggs (reservation not necessary). 8 April 14.00-18.00, Rue Rouge 47 (Uccle)

The Easter bunnies are scampering around BELvue museum, but to track down the precious chocolate treats, children need to unlock a code by completing a series of missions all around the museum. Don’t forgot your basket! (From three to 12 years). 9 April 11.00-18.30; 10 April 9.30-17.00

Chalet Robinson in its idyllic island setting in Bois de la Cambre offers an Easter brunch and egg hunt on Monday. Children can go looking for plastic eggs that will be exchanged for chocolate ones, while adults can track down a gift card offering a free brunch. 10 April 10.30-12.30 & 13.00-15.00, Sentier de l’Embarcadère 1

Coudenberg Palace stages its habitual family Underground Treasure Hunt over the holidays. The multilingual activity (Fr/NL/Eng/Sp) is suitable for five to eight year-olds accompanied by an adult. It’s an opportunity for everyone to explore Brussels’ unique medieval site. The Charles V-themed hunt sees every child equipped with a backpack containing all they need to complete the missions: treasure map, fancy dress, puzzle and flashlight. And there’s a gift for each one at the end of the game. Until 16 April, Place des Palais 7

Calling all gourmets! Renowned Saint-Gilles deli Fernand Obb hooks up with two other Brussels artisan companies, Laurent Gerbaud chocolatier and the Brasserie Cantillon for the third edition of its Easter shrimp croquette hunt. One hundred golden tickets are being distributed around 10 landmark places in the capital. They guarantee the lucky winners the choice of a shrimp or cheese croquette, a selection of Gerbaud chocolates or a bottle of Cantillon classic gueuze. Register on Fernand Obb’s Instagram account or Facebook page to obtain the pre-hunt clues. 9 April, 12.00-20.00, Brussels city-centre and Saint-Gilles

After 20 years in the capital’s cultural scene, the Bâtard Festival – a gathering of emerging and avant-garde artists – returns for its first performing arts session this year. Magic Cells is a multi-disciplinary affair encompassing theatre, dance, film and other live performances, including a late-night closing party, dubbed Supersour Bubblebrew, hosting several live DJs. Last year’s shows were all sold out so don’t wait too long to get your tickets! Until 7 April (two shows each evening) Beursschouwburg 20-28 Rue Auguste Orts; 8 April (closing party) Le 125 - Artist Commons, 125 Rue de Trone (Ixelles)

Can't get enough of clowns, acrobats and jugglers? Then you will love the return of Hors Piste at Les Halles de Schaerbeek. For its 12th edition, a full programme of nine performances incorporating music, dance and circus style performance art is on offer. The stage becomes a character in its own right, one that interacts directly with the human performers. The popular festival explores plenty of new and dramatic compositions this season. Until 5 May, Rue Royale Sainte-Marie 22a (Schaerbeek)

A new concert series by Bozar focusing on a single instrument, Kora Days, honours the emblematic Western African instrument. Legend has it that the kora was the instrument of a female genius living in the caves of Missirikoro in Mali. For this first edition, in the company of leading players such as Bao Sissoko, Sona Jobarteh (pictured), Momi Maiga, Seckou Keita and Mbady Diabate, discover how far the kora has come without ever breaking the link with the ancient tradition of the Mandingo griots. 13-16 April, Rue Ravenstein 23

Pull out your vampire teeth and walk like a zombie, the film festival dedicated to horror, sci-fi, fantasy and black comedy is back in town. BIFFF (Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival) is so big it cannot even be staged in cinemas, so it takes place at Brussels Expo. That’s because alongside movies there are awesome activities like a make-up contest, exhibitions of weird art, Pix’Hell gaming, the world famous Vampire Ball and many marauding characters to delight and disturb you. More than 100 films include a special focus on Spain and South Korea – two of the greatest producers of art house horror. Be warned: a BIFFF audience does not sit quietly in their seats. 11-23 April, Palais 10, Brussels Expo, Avenue de Miramar 11

Performing in Brussels in an exclusive concert this Saturday is Re-Ghoster Extended. This quintet of talented musicians from around the world have been making musical waves over the last four years. The group was originally created in 2018 after a chance encounter between three of them: percussionist Nicolas Field (UK/CH), pianist Thomas Florin (CH) and Italian electronic wizard Valerio Tricoli (replaced on this occasion by Jérôme Noetinger, Fr). In 2021, trumpeter Nate Wooley (US) and vocalist Fritz Welch (US/UK) joined them and ‘Extended’ was added to their name. Currently preparing to release a new album, don’t miss this showcase of their experimental music. 8 April 21.00, Mill, Rue Gabrielle Petit 4 (Molenbeek)

For the annual Nocturnes, six Brussels museums will be opening their doors to the public every Thursday evening for the special price of €5. In addition to exhibitions and collections, there will be guided tours, VIP access and a selection of workshops. As part of this year’s Art Nouveau theme in Brussels, each museum is either an Art Nouveau house or features an exhibition focusing on the theme. The programme is open to visitors who have the Art Nouveau Pass. Holders of a museumPASSmusée will also be able to visit other partner museums. 13 April-18 May, Thursday 17.00-10.00, various museum in Brussels

Do you feel lonely even when you are surrounded by people? This happens in the corporate world more often than we think, which is why it is the topic of the next BIC workshop. Why People Feel Lonely at the Top is led by business coach Richard Gordon Kelly, who will talk about connecting to community, clear communication and establishing a balance of work and play. 12 April 18.45-21.00, Timesmore, Boulevard St Michel 47 (Etterbeek)

Book now: ECC’s The Boss of it All  The English Comedy Club presents a stage adaptation of Lars von Trier’s hilarious send-up of office politics The Boss of it All. When the owner of an IT company in Denmark decides to sell, he is forced to produce the American who he long ago invented as the real owner so he could blame unpopular decisions on someone else. He hires an actor, who naturally knows nothing about IT. 20-22 & 26-29 April, The Warehouse Studio Theatre, Rue Waelhem 69A (Schaerbeek)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

It might be chilly, but that hasn’t stopped spring flowers from popping up by the millions at the castle in Groot-Bijgaarden. It’s the 20th anniversary of Floralia Brussels, an eye-popping display of bulb varieties, planted by hand to create the most dazzling effects. Tulips are the star of the show, but there are many blooms to behold on the grounds and its greenhouses.
Until 4 May, Isidoor Van Beverenstraat 5, Groot-Bijgaarden

Nostalgie radio station organises Easter egg hunts each year in Brussels and Wallonia. While the one in the capital is full, places remain for the free activity in Tubize, Enghien, Ciney, Huy and Ottiginies. The chocolate hunts are organised in three different areas: for younger children accompanied by an adult; for six to nine year-olds; and nine to 12 year-olds. Nostalgie partners with Intermarché supermarket to offer the family event. 8-10 April, locations around Wallonia

One Easter activity destined for adults as well as children is the third hunt for the Lutgarde! Bottles of the local beer are hidden all around the grounds of Aywiers Abbey as well as traditional chocolate eggs. The former is of course reserved for over 18s (€12), while the latter is free for children. There’s musical accompaniment throughout the day to add to the festive atmosphere (reservation necessary). 10 (sold out) & 11 April 11.00-18.00, Jardins d'Aywiers, Route de l’Etat, Lasne

Christian Clauwers is known as a storytelling photographer, documenting the world’s oceans and polar regions and the vulnerable – often conflicting – relationship between humans and nature. The exhibition Awareness: A Matter of Time looks at the precarious situation of wildlife, including penguins, whales and seals. It also gives visitors the chance to see the lovely interior of the Bornem Abbey. Until 11 May, Kloosterstraat 71, Bornem (Antwerp province)

There are two great events at the Alden Biesen castle during the Easter school holiday. The magical Lumineus sees living trees and light installations peppering the grounds against a backdrop of live music. The International Storytelling Festival, meanwhile, is largely aimed at schools, but two public performances are fantastic for teenagers and adults: Papa Echo! is in English and features the world-renowned storytellers Phil Okwedy (pictured) and Peter Chand presenting stories from Africa and India. The Story Carousel is a kaleidoscope of tales in English, Dutch, French and German. Lumineus 8 April 19.30 ; Papa Echo 21 April 20.00 ; Carousel 22 April 20.00, Kasteelstraat, Bilzen (Limburg)

The centre of Namur will be hopping every Sunday afternoon thanks to a new concert series Musique en Dimanche honouring local musicians of various stripes. It kicks off this weekend with Dixieband The Collegians and continues until September with rock, pop, rap, jazz, manouche and Latino rhythms on the menu. 9 April 11.00-12.00, Le Kiosque, Place Maurice Servais, Namur

Can art open doors to mathematics, physics and philosophy? For Michelangelo Circo the answer is clearly in the affirmative. The artist’s large-scale sculptures are being shown across Belgium this year and are on public display in Namur’s city hall gardens, Jardins du Maïeur, until June. These huge and impressive metal artworks are constructed from CorTen, a steel material often used in modern architecture, and when it oxidises, creates a textured and rusty finish. This, along with the artistic form, enables the artist to transfer his visions of time, space and our origins. Until 1 June, Tuesday to Saturday, Rue de Fer, Namur 

New classical music work, Le Désert, by Baudouin de Jaer and Stéphane Arcas, explores an intriguing and contemporary theme. Three soldiers - two women and one man - are confronted with varying scenarios and locations as they embark on an existential search in hostile and contrasting environments. A CAV&MA production with Ensemble BESIDES directed by Diego Borrello. 12 & 13 April 20.00, Namur Concert Hall, Rue Rogier 82, Namur

Photos:(main image/illustration) Easter egg hunt in Koekelberg ©Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck; BELvue Museum children's activity; Bâtard Festival, Ainhoa Hernández Escudero © Thomas Landen; Hors-Piste ©Wilmer Marquez; Sona Jobarteh ©GR-DR; BIFFF ©Laurent Gimp; BIC Lonely (c)Timon Studler, Unsplash; Floralia Brussels ©Aloha Fred, Visit Dilbeek; Awareness ©Christian Clauwers; Storytelling ©Simon Gough Photography; ©Michelangelo Circo