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!
Find your way with 293 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
At Crèmerie Saint-Guidon all the delicacies are personally selected: Brussels salted cheese and the famous ‘pottekees’; large eggs and delicious bread...
by
“The Wild Lab” in Brussels makes perfect vegetarian breakfasts for those lazy mornings…
by
"Chicago Café" is my favorite brunch spot in Brussels! They offer all-day breakfast & brunch and I recommend coming with friends - the portions are huge!
by
"Chez Richard" in Brussels is a truly local bar in a building from the 1890s! The terrace is always packed with good people. Try their 'fricandelle'...
by
"Gare du Midi market" is the famous Sunday morning market in Brussels. There is plenty of choice and prices will start dropping to almost zero at 13:30...
by
Dishes come with bold and rich flavors, which blend different cultures and cuisines. Our choices fell on some mezze, including a tasty paprika hummus...
by
Standing in front of what looked like an open garage, a busy wine bar like no other was waiting for me. Looking at it, I was mesmerized...
by
"Kunstenfestivaldesarts" Berlin is an international art festival I volunteer for each May which gathers some of the best contemporary artists around.
by
"Place Sainte-Catherine" is one of Brussels' most characteristic zones, and although tourists love it, locals love it even more for its versatility!
by
"Jardin des Sculptures" in Brussels is a little green oasis that forms a perfect combination of nature and arts. A true hidden gem...
by
"Cement Truck" by Wim Delvoye is a unique piece that's a scaled-down model of a cement truck constructed in the Flemish Baroque style. An ode to opposites!
by
293 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 293 Insider Tips