What to do in Brussels in March Winter’s not quite over yet (witness the March sleet), but spring is already in the air on March 20. In this month of mixed weather, the editors of Bruxelles Secrète are redoubling their inventiveness and surprises to get you out of the winter blues for good, with a whole host of outings and activities. From International Women’s Rights Day to festive evenings and colorful exhibitions… March is brimming with ephemeral events, each more sunny than the last!
1. Get in the spirit with the Van Gogh exhibition
Sunflowers, the ultimate symbol of spring! Barely installed in the fascinating Galerie Horta, a stone’s throw from the Grand-Place, the exhibition “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” is already shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited cultural events of the season. With virtual reality, a 360º digital show and a sound and light show, the works of Vincent Van Gogh take on a whole new dimension! Bonus: a whole new format awaits you, with a second room dedicated to the origins of the Dutch painter. You can take part in a new immersive journey through his most iconic paintings. Exclusively, you’ll discover them as you’ve never seen (or touched) them before! Visual, aural and tactile, this multi-sensory experience promises to overwhelm all your senses…
2. Let yourself be captivated by the Magnetic Flow experience
Magnetic Flow is an immersive exhibition of sound and light, cables and welds, which is currently mesmerizing curious Brussels visitors. An exhibition by day, DJ sets by night– with a great line-up – this multidisciplinary experience, masterfully led by Scale, a collective of multi-talented artists, promises to captivate you! Open your eyes and ears, it’s happening at LaVallée. And don’t delay – you only have until March 19 to visit the exhibition!
3. Fire up the dance floor with Fiesta Latina
There’s nothing like a Fiesta Latina in the colors of Río carnival to counter the winter blues and brighten up the gloom of Brussels! Just the thing: the capital’s most caliente festival, Fiesta Latina, is back from March 17 to 19 for a carnival edition! And it’s all happening at Tour & Taxis! Over a total of 5,000 square meters, you’ll find three stages of pure madness, where you can party non-stop to the best Latin rhythms! The Main Stage, the Rio Sensation Mini-Stage and its many musical bars are sure to be the ones you won ‘ t want to miss!
4. Furniture hunting at Brussels Design Market
Come to the Gare Maritime Tours et Taxis on March 18 and 19 for another edition of the Brussels Design Market, or design heaven in Brussels! Whether you’re looking for a specific piece of furniture for your home, or simply some interior design inspiration, the Brussels Design Market is a must-attend event. With over 100 exhibitors from Belgium and beyond, it’s the perfect market for any decorating enthusiast. Vintage, retro, 60s or Bauhaus, there’s something for everyone.
5. Discover LEGO® art with The Art of the Brick
Who hasn’t played with LEGO®? It’s simple: the little brick has cradled our childhood, just like Nathan Samaya‘s. In The Art of the Brick, the American artist invites us to (re)discover this universal game, and learn about LEGO® art. Critically acclaimed, this fascinating exhibition presents no fewer than 70 mind-boggling sculptures, made exclusively from over 1 million bricks. The Arnolfini couple, Michelangelo’s David, Rodin’s The Thinker… some of the world’s greatest masterpieces are brought to life in previously unimaginable 3D. To see it with your own eyes, come to Grand-Place ! In fact, following the enormous success of the experiment, it has been extended until May.
6. Introduce youngsters to art history with Great Art for Great Kids
At last, a 100% child-friendly art exhibition! In this exhibition, the greatest masterpieces of Art History are reinterpreted in a junior version. Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl as a pig, Van Eyck’s Man with a Red Turban as a fox, Edvard Munch’s Scream as a panda… Next door to Grand-Place, Great Art for Great Kids introduces the youngest visitors to art through a series of 62 paintings, fun activities and a comprehensive audio guide to help them identify all the artistic movements. Good news: following its success, the exhibition has been extended until May 21!
7. Test Reset Immersive, between exhibition and virtual reality
Reset Immersive is an unclassifiable project that invites you to rediscover Brussels through the prism of virtual reality from February 22 to May 14, 2023, in a renovated 1800m² space in the heart of the historic center (7 rue de la Banque). This new kind of exhibition will feature a series of works of art never before seen in the capital. Video mappings, projections, bespoke soundscapes, VR… Spring being the season of renewal, in March we invite you to completely reset your vision of art!
8. Remake all the James Bond films with Bond in Motion
The world’s most famous spy is back in Brussels with Bond in Motion, a huge exhibition offering total immersion in the 007 universe. To mark the 60ᵉ anniversary of the saga, and to the delight of young and old alike, over 45 vehicles from the EON Productions archives (including the centerpiece: the famous silver Aston Martin DB5), and original objects and sets are brought together for a plunge into the James Bond imagination. Come to Brussels Expo (Palais 1) at Heysel for a truly Bond-like experience!
9. Marvel at the Candlelight concerts
Queen, Hans Zimmer, Adele, ABBA… The best contemporary artists are brought to life in sublime candlelit concerts at such exceptional venues as the Atomium, the Centre Culturel d’Auderghem and the Delta de Namur. This is the magical concept behind the Candlelight evenings, the scouts of the Brussels night who surprise as much as they enchant!
10. Visit Swedish Ecstasy
Until May 21, the spotlight is on C.F. Hill, Ernst Josephson, Hilma af Klint and other visionaries of the Far North at Bozar. This cultural venue is staging a brand-new exhibition bringing together some of the major artists on the Swedish art scene through a series of texts, drawings, paintings… And an exclusive VR installation representing Hilma’s vision.
11. Strengthen friendships with The FRIENDS™ Experience
I’ll be there for youuuuuu! The friendliest gang on the small screen lands in Brussels from March 31 at Brussels Expo with a never-before-seen immersive experience. With friends, recreate the sitcom’s most iconic scenes thanks to a series of identically reproduced sets. The mythical orange sofa, Central Perk, the purple door to Rachel and Monica’s apartment, Chandler’s (and Joey’s!) recliner… Bring your favorite “lobster” with you and try out The FRIENDS™ Experience together. Ticketing is now open!