Winter exhibitions: Catch up on these art and family shows over the holidays

During the dark days of the cold season, seek solace at this selection of exhibitions from around the country.

BRUSSELS

Hanging since December in the Maison du Roi museum is an exceptional 1530 tapestry that was originally woven in an atelier in the centre of Brussels. Once gracing the House of Lords in England, it has returned home thanks to an unprecedented philanthropic collaboration led by the King Baudouin Foundation. The wool, silk and gold Renaissance masterpiece of King Solomon inviting his mother Bathsheba (pictured above) to share his throne is on display for two years before being placed in reserve for conservation reasons. Grand Place

A perfect prelude to Brussels’ Year of Art Deco 2025, this immersion in the style that dominated the interwar period is staged in the stunning Villa Empain, dating itself from the 1930s. Echoes of Art Deco presents not only the geometric patterns, beautiful stained glass and stylish buildings that characterise the movement, it also recounts ‘Art Deco’ life through originally decorated and furnished rooms complete with ‘roaring’ 1920s flapper dresses, gramophones and books. Also showing is the exhibition Alechinsky, pinceau voyageur , dedicated to the Brussels-born abstract artist that is a fascinating insight into his inspirations from travels abroad (until 16 March). Until 25 May, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 67 (Ixelles)

What does war have to do with the arts? You might think very little, but consider how much art is looted, the techniques used to create propaganda and the innumerable artworks that try to capture the bloodshed of battle. Bellum et Artes at the House of European History considers these connections by examining the Thirty Years’ War, one of Europe’s most devastating and deadly conflicts. Some 150 objects demonstrate the horrific mechanics of warfare, the displacement of artworks, the migration of artists and the road to peace, with links to present-day Europe. Until 12 January, Rue Belliard 135

For the first time, some 100 original plates from the famous Belgian comic strip Boule & Bill by Belgian illustrator Jean Roba are on show for the first time at. The unprecedented retrospective marks the 65th anniversary of the birth of the two comic heroes, known in English as Billy & Buddy. Until 25 January, Huberty & Breyne gallery, Place du Châtelain 33 (Ixelles)

Three brilliant exhibitions ensure Bozar is a winter art beacon. Hans/Jean Arp & Sophie Taeuber-Arp. Friends, Lovers, Partners presents the work and mutual influence of the pioneering avant-garde German, French, Swiss couple (until 19 January). Relationships are also at the heart of Love is Louder with 120 Belgian and international works dating from the late 1960 to today. They focus on intimacy and romance; kinship and friendship; and community and solidarity (until 5 January). It’s accompanied by Bozar Video Arcade, a video game space focused on the topic of love. The Archaeology of Beasts by Kuwaiti visual artist Monira Al Qadiri subverts the cultural history of Ancient Egypt to address societal issues withtwo dynamic sculptures, an immersive video installation and a VR experience (until 9 March). Rue Ravenstein 23

How is a great work of art created? That’s the question the Royal Museums of Fine Arts explores in Drafts. From Rubens to Khnopff. Some 100 works of art, dating from the 15th to the 19th century, immerse visitors in the creative process of iconic artists such as Rogier van der Weyden, Rembrandt, Rubens, Jordaens (pictured), Ensor, Magritte, Khnopff, among others. Until 16 February, Rue de la Régence 3

Several generations of artists and activists defending democracy are showcased in the itinerant exhibition Changemakers at the Brussels Parliamentarium. Art and politics converge as work by European artists from the second half of the 20th century - from the European Parliament’s Contemporary Art Collection - is juxtaposed with contemporary artivists who participated in Pop the vote! Culture on the Ballot. Until 16 February, Esplanade Solidarnosc 1980, Rue Wiertz 60

We think of Belgium’s wolves as wild animals, but the more foxes we see rummaging through trash bins, the less we think of them that way. And what about us? Are we wild? Maybe we are to the wolves and the foxes. Certainly our children can be pretty wild. Such questions will be explored at the new exhibition Wild? at the Natural Sciences Museum. It will also confront you with how humans – always a threat to the rest of all living things – are now threatened themselves. Until 31 August, Rue Vautier 29

The spirit of travel and adventure is brought to life at an exhibition celebrating the beauty of the railway world. Creations by big and lesser-known names from comic strip genius André Franquin to grandiose architect Santiago Calatrava are shown alongside the museum’s designer François Schuiten’s Type 12 train prints, stunning works by surrealist train Paul Delvaux and the story of Victor Horta’s checkered journey to build Brussels Central station. Two original 1930s deep blue and green carriages designed by Henry van der Velde and lovingly restored are additional highlights. Until 11 May, Place Princesse Elisabeth 5 (Schaerbeek)

The beautiful Horta Museum is graced with the work of five textile artists who were all asked to decorate the walls with fabric. Smooth as Velvet is a collaboration with Arles-based Florence and Martine Moulis, who creates sabre-cut velvets, and Kortrijk’s Van Neder weaving mill. Take a tour of the boudoir, breakfast room, family room and kitchen and discover giant glass cubes filled with velvety red bobbins, specially decorated tram seats and even a velvet-curtained puppet theatre with tiny silver figurines. Until 30 June, Musée Horta, Rue Américaine 27 (Saint-Gilles)

Explore the role of trees in Schaerbeek and Brussels in a beautiful museum – the François Schuiten and Benoît Peeters-interior designed La Maison Autrique. Victor Horta’s first major building (1893) is the perfect home for Make Place for Trees. It also highlights local Schaerbeek life, notably cherry production and bow-and-arrow shooting. Treasures include Henri Stiellemans’ Square F Riga, pelota ball game, Georges Frederic’s Scènes schaerbeekoises, and, with trees taking centre stage, Eugène Thelen and Frans Bossaerts’ beautiful paintings of Josaphat park. Until 19 April, Chaussée de Haecht 266 (Schaerbeek)

WALLONIA

Liège

How well do we really know the oeuvre of Belgian 20th artist Paul Delvaux? As a Surrealist artist, his reputation has forever been eclipsed by his contemporary Magrite. Reputed for large-scale dreamy compositions of nudes and railway scenes in often bizarre and ambiguous settings, the The Worlds of Paul Delvaux is a retrospective that offers a deeper insight into his iconography and includes a multimedia approach to his life and work. Some 150 works span his artistic career, shown alongside paintings by his contemporaries and even Andy Warhol, one of the many creatives to be inspired by Delvaux’s artistry. Until 16 March, Parc de la Boverie, Liège

Ittre

Bright and beautiful, the paintings of Jo Delahaut (1911-1992), Belgium’s pioneering abstract artist, are a welcome tonic to combat winter gloom. They are on show alongside works he helped to promote, from artists including Pol Bury, Louis Van Lint, Marc Mendelson, Francine Holley and the museum’s namesake Marthe Donas. Jo Delahaut – passeur de l’abstraction (1947-1968) also highlights this Herstal-born artist’s educative role in defending post-war abstract art. Until 26 January, Rue de la Montagne 6, Ittre (Walloon Brabant)

Namur

Innovative artist and caricaturist Félicien Rops is renowned for his erotic and occult works and reputed for being the forefather of Belgian comic strip. In L’Album du diable. Les tentations de Félicien Rops, his satanic side is on devilish display as the museum dedicated to the Namur-born artist explores his highly fruitful years 1878 to 1882. This was a flourishing period for the artist, although this particular album dedicated to scandalous nudes never actually saw the light of day. Young audiences are advised to abstain. Until 9 March, Musée Félicien Rops, Rue Fumal 12, Namur

Mons

Surrealism: Upsetting Reality at the Fine Arts Museum looks at the movement’s history in Belgium through the prism of its relationships to society.  A wide panorama of paintings, writings, photographs and artefacts by more than 30 artists are on show, from René Magritte and Marcel Marien to Max Ernst and Rachel Baes. Together they reveal how surrealism in Belgium was centred around the “overwhelming object” as both a rejection of the art norms of the day and a search for its impact on reality. Until 16 February, Rue Neuve 8, Mons

Maestria is the new name for BeCraft’s applied arts award and is a must-see exhibition to immerse yourself in the creative and colourful world of contemporary crafts. This sixth edition at the Anciens Abattoirs in Mons gathers the best European artists practicing the art form. A total of 58 artists from 16 European countries exhibit some 100 unique works: arts and crafts with ceramics, glass, goldsmithing, wood, textiles, paper and contemporary jewellery. It celebrates designers who are breaking away from traditional codes to question the world while employing new materials and techniques. Until 16 February, Rue de la Trouille 17, Mons

La Louvière

A fabulous place to visit all-year-round, the Royal Museum of Mariemont’s seasonal exhibition Sensing the Buddha is an unprecedented and highly-accessible immersion into the fascinating world of Buddhism. The museum examines the multiple representations of Buddha, the rituals and the stories via a sensory journey that helps visitors understand and appreciate the symbolic figure. Among the exceptional collection of statues and objects are pieces that have not been displayed for 65 years. Allow time for a walk around the beautiful and inspiring park and gardens. Until 20 April, Royal Domain of Mariemont, Chaussée de Morlanwelz 100 (Hainaut province)

FLANDERS

Ghent

Leading German expressionists had plenty of inspiration – artistic, social and in terms of landscape – at home. But Erich Heckel spent the better part of World War I as an orderly for the Red Cross in East and West Flanders. A founder of the famed Brücke artist association, his fascination with Flemish landscapes and cities is reflected in many striking works of art. The exhibition Erich Heckel in Flanders highlights a lesser-known but intriguing period of this influential artist. Until 26 January, MSK Ghent, Fernand Scribedreef 1, Ghent

Belgian artist Joris Van de Moortel defies categorisation, mixing all his artistic practices like a cultural alchemist. The exhibition Hell on Earth: In Search of Pur, Nur and Fur features his sculptures, paintings and films, but he will also bring it all to life with live music and performance. Also for the occasion he will release a second version of his tarot cards, a second volume in his comic series Mat & Babelarrio and a double album on vinyl. Until  2 March, Smak, Jan Hoetplein 1, Ghent

East Flanders

Margaret: The Emperor’s Daughter Between Power and Image looks at the life of Margaret of Parma, the result of Charles V’s brief affair with Johanna Van der Gheynst, a servant in the house of the Governor of Oudenaarde. Unlike other more modern monarchs we could mention, Charles – already Holy Roman Emperor – acknowledged his daughter, and she went on to lead a fascinating life of royal intrigue and spirited independence. Until 5 January, MOU Museum, Stadhuis, Markt 1, Oudenaarde

Emile Claus is arguable the country’s greatest impressionist and life and work are being celebrated this year, the 100th anniversary of his death. A highlight is Emile Claus: Prince of Luminism, which brings together dozens of his masterpieces. Until 26 January, Mudel, Lucien Matthyslaan 3, Deinze

Hasselt

Scottish artist Lucy McKenzie is based in Brussels and is finally getting her due at this first institutional solo exhibition in the country. She created several new pieces at the request of Z33, further developing her look at mass media and the internet’s effect on folk culture and leisure, as both respond to the shifting patterns of political and social change. Z33 also shows the work of Moldovan artist Anna Godzina, whose Zen-inspired installations spin, tick and curl. McKenzie until 23 February, Godzina until 1 December, Bonnefantenstraat 1, Hasselt

Antwerp

As Ensor Year continues, Antwerp’s printing museum gets in on the act with Ensor’s States of Imagination, an exploration of how the famed Ostend artist created his prints. Inspired by masters like Rembrandt, he spent years learning to etch, ink and transfer his images to parchment and coloured satin. He then embellished them with pencil, chalk or watercolours, uncovering unexpected details and adding depth to his famous large crowds. Until 19 January, Museum Plantin-Moretus, Vrijdagmarkt 22, Antwerp

Anti-Fashion is the first major solo exhibition in Belgium of the work of Cindy Sherman. The show dives into the legendary American photographer’s attention to fashion in creating the characters in her famous self-portraits. A festive opening weekend includes an upcycling workshop, live music and speed-dating with Sherman’s characters. Until 2 February, FoMu, Waalsekaai 47, Antwerp

The city’s Fine Arts Museum holds the largest collection of words by James Ensor in the world, so it certainly did not plan to be left out of Ensor 2024, a year of special activities marking the 75th anniversary of the death of the famous surrealist Belgian artist. In Your Wildest Dreams: Ensor Beyond Impressionism is a retrospective and so also includes works borrowed from other museums, which come together to showcase the artist’s colourful universe of visions, masquerades and satire. Until 19 January, KMSKA, Leopold de Waelplaats 1, Antwerp

West Flanders

Producing his work in the first half of the 20th century, Constant Permeke was a leading Belgian expressionist. His paintings often take centre stage, but the museum dedicated to this Ostend artist is putting some 40 of his sculptures on show in the exhibition Down to Earth. To put it all into context, works by several of his contemporaries are also here, including French artist Aristide Maillol and Russian-born sculptor Ossip Zadkine. Until 21 April, Permeke Museum, Gistelsteenweg 341, Jabbeke (West Flanders)

Photos: (main image) SMAK Gent Joris Van de Moortel; Tapestry - Maison du Roi - Brussels Museums; Echoes of Art ©Deco Fondation Boghossian/Silvia Cappellari; ROBA Boule et Bill, 60 Gags de Boule et Bill numero 4 tome 4 page de garde ©Jean Roba Studio Boule et Bill 2024; ; Bozar Love is Louder ©Julie Pollet; Peter Paul Rubens Le triomphe de la foi catholique; Changemakers Leander Kampf; Smooth as velvet Horta museum ©Thomas Lancz; La tentation de saint antoine ©KBR; Delvaus La Boverie ©Tempora cdbcreation; Surrealism exhibition Mons: Marcel-Louis Baugniet, René Magritte, 1967; Maestria, Resting Rock ©Espersen Maria Bang; Erich Heckel cvg  ©Kunst Bonn sabam Belgium 2024; SMAK Joris Van de Moortel; Emile Claus ©MSK Gent; Ensor ©'Pride' 1904, collection PF; James Ensor The Intrigue, photo by Rik Klein Gotink Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp; ©Permeke Museum Archive, Mu.ZEE Ostend