CULTURAL LIFE IN BELGIUM
An eminent guardian of the European artistic heritage, Belgium holds a unique place in the history of European culture. More than any other
country in Europe, it bears the trace of continuous interaction between Germanic and Roman cultural influences. Belgium's cultural development cannot therefore be separated from the role it has played over the centuries on Europe's
political and military stage. However, Belgian culture has always retained a character all its own. Painting The country is also represented in the world's great museums by more recent painters
such as surrealists René Magritte and Paul Delvaux, Jean-Michel Folon, Pol Mara, Fernand Knopff, Henri Evenepoel, James Ensor, Rik Wouters, Constant Permeke and the Latem School, Octave Landuyt, Félicien Rops and the Cobra movement
with Pierre Alechinsky, Christian Dotremont and others. For centuries, the artistry of the Belgians has also been evident in fine tapestries and in lace work. At the beginning of the 20th century, the "Art Nouveau"
style reached new heights in the decorative arts in Belgium with the work of architects Victor Horta and Henry Van de Velde. Literature Music The musical life of Belgium is enriched by Brussels' Royal Monnaie Theatre, one of the most important opera houses on the continent. The Queen Elisabeth International Music
Competition attracts talented young musicians from all over the world while the annual Festival of Flanders offers the same draw for music lovers. The country is regarded as the world carillon capital, with the International Higher
Institute of Carillon Music in Mechelen. Dance in Belgium, formerly represented by The "20th Century Ballet", directed by Maurice Béjart, is today in the capable hands of Anne-Teresa De Keersmaeker's company
"Rosas", and dancers Wim Vandekeybus and Marc Vanrunxt who have been highly successful on international stages from New York to Paris. Cinema Comics Daring and inventive designs and materials are the hallmark of young Belgian couturiers such as Dries Van Noten, Martin Margiela, Dirk Bikkembergs, Walter Van Beirendonck, Gérald Wathelet and Ann Demeulemeester, who are ever
present at the leading fashion shows and fairs. Elvis Pompilio enjoys unparalleled success as a creative milliner. Jewelry designers such as Wouters and Hendrickx and Nadine Wijnants, as well as the Antwerp diamond trade have
achieved worldwide recognition. Gastronomy
Belgium has a strong pictorial tradition which goes back to the transcendent realism of the 15th
century Flemish "Primitives"; paintings by Jan van Eyck, Quinten Metsys, Hans Memling, Rogier van der Weyden and Dirk Bouts are among the most prized works in museums around the world. Realism also characterized the work
of 16th century Pieter Bruegel while the 17th century saw the flourishing of baroque genius Peter Paul Rubens and his pupil Anthony van Dyck.
Belgium has a rich literary tradition. Maurice Maeterlinck was awarded the
Nobel Prize early this century, and who has not heard of Georges Simenon's immortal brainchild, Inspector Maigret. Other famous names include Emile Verhaeren, Charles De Coster, Henri Michaux, Hendrik Conscience, Guido Gezelle,
Hugo Claus, Louis-Paul Boon, Fernand Crommelynck, Pierre Mertens, Michel de Ghelderode, John Flanders, Françoise Mallet-Joris, Louis Scutenaire, Johan Daisne, Gerard Walschap, Francis Danemark, Conrad Detrez, Jos Vandeloo, Charles
Plisnier, ...
From the 14th century polyphonists to present day pop singers, a number of Belgian musicians have achieved world fame. Pianist, organist and composer César Franck is renown as is Belgium's
19th century violin school with Eugene Ysaye, Henri Vieuxtemps and Charles de Bériot. Adolphe Sax gave the world one of its most popular wind instruments, the saxophone. Well-known Belgian jazz musicians include Toots Thielemans,
René Thomas, Jacques Pelzer and Philippe Catherine. Belgium had also been immortalized by the Brussels born singer-songwriter Jacques Brel. The contemporary "Soulsister" and "Technotronic" are among Belgian
groups that have been hits in the United States.
Belgian cinema is represented by the avant-garde
documentary school of Charles Dekeukeleire and Henri Storck. The work of André Delvaux, Roland Verhavert and Harry Kümel is gradually creating a tradition emulated by successive generations of filmmakers: Benoît Lamy, Jean-Jacques
Adrien, Jaco Van Dormael and his much-mimicked film "Toto, le Héros", Chantal Akerman and Marion Hänsel. Recently the films "The Music teacher" and "Farinelli", by Gérard Corbiau, and
"Daens", by Stijn Coninkx, have received Oscar nominations. Many Belgian animated films are also of exceptional quality. Picha and Raoul Servais are unmistakably masters of this genre, and in 1987 Nicole Van Goethem
received an Oscar for the animated film "Een Griekse Tragedie" ("A Greek Tragedy"). Nor should we forget the great success being enjoyed in Hollywood by Belgium's Jean-Claude Van Damme.
The names of Belgium's comic strip heroes speak for themselves: Tintin, Willy and Wanda, Spirou and Fantasio, Blake and Mortimer, Nero, Lucky Luke and the Smurfs. These are the creations of artists Hergé, Willy Vandersteen,
André Franquin, Edgar P. Jacobs, Marc Sleen, Morris and Peyo. These, and many others, have helped lay the foundations of Europe's comic strip culture and an inspiration to younger artists such as Ever Meulen and François Schuiten.
Belgian gastronomy is not to be outdone. Belgium has more than 350 varieties of beer. From golden lager to rich abbey-brewed beers, no country in the world can boast so
many different varieties of the frothy brew. All gourmets will be delighted by Belgium's numerous cheeses. For those with a sweet tooth, there are incomparable Belgian "pralines", or chocolates, a refined treat which
gourmets are crazy about. "Witloof" (Belgian endive) is Belgium's white gold. Brussels sprouts, mussels and waffles are also typical, and several restaurants can boast of belonging to the world's elite.
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