Station Brussels-Congress Brussels
After hours venue
Davy from Brussels
The hour is late. A group of people is standing in a darkened railway station. All are looking in the same direction. Are they commuters checking an information screen in order to catch their last train home? Nope: a bunch of them are dancing and the first train won't be arriving till the next morning.
Art center Recyclart organizes music concerts, art and photo expositions, lectures, workshops, performances, theatre, etc. in the peculiarly poetic Brussels-Congress train station. This station must be my favorite venue in Brussels.
This most quiet station is found underground. More particularly on the most congested train route in Belgium, right in-between the big stations Central and North. Built in 1952, it partly functioned as a giant air vent to let steam of the then still used steam trains escape from the train tunnel. Today, during weekdays, only a couple of trains stop here every hour. A small number of commuters working in one of the giant offices nearby quickly get off and on. After 19:00 and on weekends, the station is dead.
Except when an event is held! Then, the bar opens. The slightly decayed glorious modernist architecture and wooden wall-paneling turn into a venue hall. Light comes from the empty ticket offices, although these were closed down more than a decade ago. An underground evening takes shape in a faint hum and vibration of trains passing by...
Check out Recyclart's agenda to see if they have something planned in Brussels-Congress!
Brussels Spotter Davy
Our Brussels City Guide
Find your way with 295 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Loved it? Join us!
Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!
Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:
Discover all other hidden gems in Brussels
Brasserie Des Étangs
Kid-friendly
"Brasserie Des Étangs" is an upmarket brasserie that exploits one of the strong points of Brussels: the large number of parks in the heart of the city...
by
André
Corrado
Le New Chattouille
Cats' crib
"Le New Chattouille" in Brussels is the city's very own cat café! It's a bit expensive, but it's good for the kitties, and, who am I kidding, I love it too...
by
Davy
Verbeke
Woodpeck 47
Discover the Woodpecker Family
"Woodpeck 47", located a stone's throw from the Grand Place, has to be one of the best gourmet addresses in downtown Brussels!
by
Charlotte
Mewis
Chicago Trattoria
Your new fav Italian place
"Chicago Trattoria" is a modern Italian café serving original Italian cuisine, pizza and weekend brunch.
by
Charlotte
Mewis
Les Tissus du Chien Vert
A reference for fabrics
Opened over 30 years ago in the Canal District, 3-floor store "Les Tissus du Chien Vert" is a point of reference for textile lovers in Brussels...
by
Petra
Perazzini
Boulengier
A bakery with a Viennese look
"Boulengier" in Brussels is definitely my favorite bakery. I like the fin de siècle look of the shop-atelier with its marble counters and stained glass!
by
Petra
Perazzini
Gare Maritime
Old freight station back to life
"Gare Maritime" is one of those places that make you feel proud to be living in Brussels. It recently underwent full renovation and the result is remarkable...
by
Petra
Perazzini
Musée Van Buuren
Journey in a world of Art Deco
"Musée Van Buuren" in Brussels is a private house turned into a glorious museum full of art nouveau masterpieces! A true example of 'total art!'
by
Petra
Perazzini
MICA
A successful healthy food grocery
"MICA" in Brussels is a healthy food grocery store that doubles as an amazing restaurant! Among my favorites are the quinoa salad and the fish cakes...
by
Petra
Perazzini
Fosbury and Sons
Co-working and more
"Fosbury and Sons" in Brussels is a co-working in an impressive building from the '70s. It's worth seeing on the inside and out...
by
William
Mertens
Place d'Arezzo
Walk around Ixelles and Uccle
In the communes of Ixelles and Uccle in the south of Brussels you can find some very nice neighbourhoods that are worth a stroll, like "Place d' Arezzo"...
by
William
Mertens
Heading to Brussels?
295 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
... for just €9.99
Heading to Brussels?
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 295 Insider Tips
✓ Escape the Crowds
✓ Find Spots nearby
✓ Authentic Stories
... for just €9.99
City guides by those who know the city in and out!
Our Locals' Favorite Art & culture
Our team loves Brussels
Get to know our other Spotters from Brussels
As featured on:
