Comic strips
Belgium is the birthplace of the comic strip and no fan of the art should miss a pilgrimage to Brussels.
Comic strip museums and documentation centres
There are no fewer than four comic strip museums in Brussels:
- The Opens in new windowBelgian Comic Strip Center: 4,200 m² of exhibition space and a documentation centre in an imposing art nouveau building (Rue des Sables 20, 1000 Brussels)
- The Opens in new windowMaison de la bande dessinée (FR) close to Brussels-Central Station (Boulevard de l'Impératrice 1, 1000 Brussels)
- The Opens in new windowMarc Sleen Foundation and Museum: one of the biggest names in Flemish comic strip art (Rue des Sables 33-35, 1000 Brussels, opposite the Belgian Comic Strip Center)
- Opens in new windowMuseum of Original Figurines (FR/NL) (MooF) , (Boulevard Auguste Reyers 32, 1030 Brussels)
Comic strip tour
Comic strip characters are immortalized on Brussels murals.
Enjoy the Opens in new windowhuge murals depicting comic strip characters that grace a large number of walls in the various Brussels communes.
For Opens in new windowmore information and a map visit the visit.brussels website.
The Tintin company has also put together a Opens in new windowTintin Walk, which takes you deep into the world of the famous Brussels reporter and his creator Hergé.
The City of Brussels (one of the 19 communes of the Brussels-Capital Region) has Opens in new windowrenamed a host of streets after comics characters (FR).
Comics festivals
Brussels makes good on its boast to be the comic strip capital of the world by hosting a number of comics festivals.
- Opens in new windowThe Ganshoren-Brussels Comic Strip Festival (FR/NL) (May-June)
- Opens in new windowFestival Cultures Maison (September)
- Opens in new windowBrussels-Belgium Comic Strip Festival (FR/NL) (October)
- Comic strips are also represented at the Opens in new windowFoire du Livre (FR) (March)
- For an up-to-date list of Opens in new windowfestivals, signings and activities (FR) see the Brussels BD Tour website
Where to buy comic strips
If you are a comic strip fan looking to bolster your collection, the four museums mentioned above each have their own comic-book shop. You could also visit one of the Opens in new windowmany specialised comic-book shops in Brussels (FR/NL). Most of them are on Boulevard Anspach and Boulevard Lemonnier or on Rue du Midi.
A Opens in new windowcomic book market (FR/NL) is also held on the first Sunday afternoon of every month inside and outside Halles Saint-Géry (depending on the weather). You can pick up new and second hand comic books there. Simply curious or avid collector, you’ll not want to miss the Opens in new windowonline auction site (FR) entirely devoted to the world of comics.
- The Brussels BD Tour website is the place to go for news about Opens in new windowcomics, sales and exchanges (FR).
Informations pratiques :
Contact us
Belgian Comic Strip Center
Rue des Sables, 201000 Brussels
- Phone: + 32 (0)2 219 19 80
Contact us
Maison de la bande dessinée - Jijé
Boulevard de l'Impératrice, 11000 Brussels
- Phone: +32 (0)2 502 94 68
Contact us
Marc Sleen Foundation and Museum
Rue des Sables, 331000 Brussels
- Phone: +32 (0)2 219 19 80
Contact us
Museum of original Figurines (MooF)
Boulevard Auguste Reyers, 321030 Brussels
- Phone: + 32 (0)2 726 58 31
Good Brussels deals:
- The Opens in new windowBrussels Card gives you discounts on museum tickets and free public transport.
- The pages "Brussels for free" list all free activities in the capital.