Art and culture in Brussels

Brussels Art & Culture Trail

Brussels' creative heritage spans from the Old Masters at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts to the contemporary murals of the Comic Book Route. This trail features the city's iconic 'peeing' statue trio—Manneken Pis, Jeanneke Pis, and Het Zinneke—alongside architectural landmarks like the Art Nouveau Musical Instruments Museum and the neo-Renaissance Stock Exchange. It includes the Belgian Comic Strip Center, the city's history at the King's House on Grand Place, and world-class opera at the Royal Theatre of the Mint.

Brussels Art & Culture Trail — Map

byantovez / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Brussels Stock Exchange

Historic stock exchange building known for its neo-renaissance and eclectic architecture, now housing a museum dedicated to Belgian beer and featuring a panoramic roof terrace.

Parsifall / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

King's House

Historic neo-Gothic building housing a museum dedicated to the heritage, history, and art of the city, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Ramón / CC BY-SA 2.0

C

Belgian Comic Strip Center

The Belgian Comic Strip Center is a museum in central Brussels, Belgium, dedicated to Belgian comics.

Denise Kinet / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Musical Instruments Museum

The Musical Instruments Museum is a music museum in central Brussels, Belgium.

Warburg / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium are a group of art museums in Brussels, Belgium.

Chadi Jabbour / CC-BY-SA

F

Peeing Dog Statue

Het Zinneke, sometimes called Zinneke Pis by analogy with Manneken Pis, is a bronze sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium, erected in 1998.

Niels Mickers / CC BY 3.0 nl

G

Peeing Girl Statue

Bronze fountain sculpture depicting a girl urinating in a squatting position, located in a small alley. The artwork is wheelchair accessible and features a water basin often used for coin tossing.

EmDee / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Royal Theatre of the Mint

The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie is an opera house in central Brussels, Belgium.

Johan Bakker / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

Le Botanique

Le Botanique is a cultural complex and music venue in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Brussels, Belgium.

Centralebrussels / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

CENTRALE For Contemporary Art

Contemporary art center housed in the city's former first power station, hosting rotating exhibitions of visual arts by local and international artists.

Stefflater / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

Brussels' Comic Book Route

Brussels' Comic Book Route is a path composed by several comic strip murals, which cover the walls of several buildings throughout the…

Ferran Cornellà / CC BY-SA 3.0

L

Lucky Luke

Large-scale mural on Rue de la Buanderie depicting Morris’s famous cowboy and his horse Jolly Jumper as part of the city’s Comic Book Route.

Meyer Charlie / CC-BY-SA

M

Tintin - Kuifje

Famous mural on Rue de l'Étuve featuring Hergé's Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Snowy descending a fire escape, inspired by 'The Calculus Affair' album.

N

Astérix et Obélix - Asterix en Obelix

Colorful wall painting on Rue de la Buanderie depicting the iconic Gallic warriors charging toward a Roman legion, based on the series by Uderzo and Goscinny.

O

Smurf

Large-scale statue of a Smurf standing on a mushroom near the Central Station, celebrating the world-famous characters created by Belgian artist Peyo.

Istvan Vizi / CC BY 3.0

P

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

Bronze statues of Miguel de Cervantes' literary heroes, located in Place d'Espagne as a replica of the monument in Madrid's Plaza de España.

Oum Naïss / CC-BY-SA

Q

Élisabeth

Monumental statue of Queen Elisabeth, known for her patronage of the arts and the creation of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, located in the Albertine Garden.

Oum Naïss / CC-BY-SA

R

Albert Ⅰ

Large equestrian bronze statue of King Albert I, known as the 'Soldier King,' overlooking the Mont des Arts and the Royal Library.

UnknownUnknown author / Public domain

S

Manneken Pis

Bronze fountain sculpture depicting a small boy urinating, known for its cultural and historical significance dating back to the 15th century.

Other Lists

Brussels Essentials Brussels Comic Book Route Brussels Places of Worship Historic Sites of Brussels Parks and Gardens in Brussels Brussels Culinary Delights Brussels Culinary Highlights