BRUSSELSBELGIUMEUROPE

FOCUS

Brussels Airlines, the company that took off from Sabena

CHRISTMAS

What to see, buy and eat this festive season

CULTURE

Georges Simenon, the man behind the manuscripts

UP MY STREET

Avenue Louise

DEC 2-15 2011ISSUE 7€4.95

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XELL

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NATOHERE TO STAY

Chief Rasmussen talks about the HQ’s future in Brussels

5 THE BULLETIN

Editeur Responsable /Verantwoordelijke uitgever: John Stuyck, A. Gossetlaan 30, 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden. Opinions expressed in The Bulletin are those of the authors alone. For reasons of space, street names in Brussels are given only in their French version.

7 News In Brief

12 Focus – Anders Fogh RasmussenWith its operations in Libya at a close, Nato’s Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen talks to us about defence tactics, diplomacy and dancing

18 Focus – Eco housingOnce considered too costly, eco housing is now on the rise thanks to regional governments offering financial incentives to homeowners. Emma Portier Davis investigates

21 Your Money

23 DigitalWhat’s new in the virtual world

24 The Brand – Brussels AirlinesHow Sabena’s successor broke into the cut-throat aviation business

27 Know-howOur guide to venues for a last-minute office party

29 Events In Brief

30 14 DaysThe Bulletin’s cultural highlights for the fortnight ahead – in Brussels and beyond

35 Offers to readers

38 FilmReviews of the latest films to hit the big screen, plus not-to-miss cinema highlights

39 TVEssential viewing on the small screen

40 Focus – Georges SimenonThe creator of Maigret comes under inspection at an exhibition at Brussels’ Museum of Letters and Manuscripts

44 Focus – Christmas cultural guideThe Bulletin’s friends and readers share their tips on what cultural events to see this yuletide

47 Lifestyle In Brief

52 Food – Love at First BiteOwner of Forest-based catering company LaBritannique, Alex Weston, gives us the inside scoop on his foodie favourites

54 Focus – Christmas gift guidePresent ideas for all the family, friends and significant others in your lives. Plus the best of online Christmas shopping

60 Up My Street

62 TravelWe whisk you off to the best Christmas market destinations in Belgium and beyond

64 Behind the Scenes

66 Community

71 Property76 Classifieds80 Jobs

82 Capital LifeA member of the international community opens up her diary for the Bulletin

Contents

Politics & Business

Culture & Events

Lifestyle & Community

1 2 3

p24 Brussels Airlines p37 Beyond Brussels p62 Christmas markets

DECEMBER 2 - 15 2011

Politics& Business

COALITION AGREEMENT MEANS GOVERNMENT “WITHIN DAYS” Belgium could have a government within days, according to putative prime minister Elio Di Rupo, after political parties clinched a deal on the 2012 budget (Di Rupo pictured centre at the post-budget press conference). The budget agreement, the last major hurdle to forming a gov-ernment among six Belgian parties, came hours after ratings agency Standard & Poor’s had downgraded Belgium’s credit to AA from AA+, pressing the country to act. Just days earlier, the coalition talks were plunged into uncertainty as Di Rupo tendered his resigna-tion from his six-month role in forming a government coalition. King Albert, however, persuaded Di Rupo to return to the negotiating table. Di Rupo then secured the deal that could end Belgium’s 18-month wait for a formal government. The country will also reform its employment and pensions regulations: the minimum age for early retirement will be raised to 62 by 2016, while Belgium’s controversial wage indexation policy – which gives unemployed people a percentage of their former salary indefinitely – will be revised.

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Breakthrough

24 POLITICS & BUSINESS THE BULLETIN

The airline industry is one of the cruellest and most competitive businesses in the world. For a traditional carrier to survive in the fragmented and aggressive European

theatre, it has to become an adaptable fighting machine that can grapple with the continual onslaught of rival companies and barrage of economic downturns and unexpected crises such as the SARS virus and Icelandic volcanic ash.

These are just some of the challenges for Brussels Airlines, the company that arose out of the demise of the country’s flag-carrier Sabena 10 years ago, following the largest bankruptcy in Belgian history. In order to survive, the new airline has had to pick its battles with aggressive low-cost companies while honing its flight operations and exercising extreme care in its choice of destinations. Now under the protective wing of one of Europe’s leading aviation alliances, the Lufthansa/Star Alliance network, it is proving that branding is a key to success. By selling a strong, simple message, it is slowly capturing the public’s imagination as Belgium’s leading carrier.

The Sabena anniversary has provoked national soul-searching, veering from nos-talgic reminiscences to candid diagnosis of its downfall. It has also raised many ques-tions, according to Brussels Airlines vice-president of communications Geert Sciot, but he insists that the company is “firmly looking forward” with long-haul expansion in the pipeline and a symbolic re-opening of a transatlantic route to coincide with the 10th anniversary of SN Airholding (Brussels Airlines’ parent company) next June. The new route to a US east coast destination, once covered by Sabena, is particularly poignant for

ex-Sabena employees who make up approximately half of Brussels Airlines’ 3,300 staff.

The history of the current company is itself not without turbulence. When Sabena was grounded on November 7, 2001, the then Verhofstadt government feared that European and international organisations would pull out of the country. Captains of industry Etienne Davignon and Maurice Lippens were called upon to save Belgium’s aeronautical sector and re-connect Brussels with other European capitals and regions. Providing employment for Sabena staff was also a priority to avert a social catastrophe. The pair brought together some 40 industrialists, major compa-nies and the Belgian regions to create SN Airholding with the clear aim of creating a profitable company, something that had eluded Sabena for many years. It launched SN Brussels Airlines in spring 2002. The new company decided to concentrate on its core busi-

ness – flying – and that remains largely true today, explains Sciot, an aviation enthusiast and former journalist who has written two books: De Crash van Sabena and Air Nostalgia.

In May that year, the airline reconnected with Africa – “the best decision ever made,” according to Sciot. “In Belgium there was a lot of pessimism around the

failure of Sabena and the future of the new airline, while in Africa the name remained strong.” The continent for historic reasons had also been Sabena’s lucrative speciality.

The airline code SN was deliberately maintained for trade recognition, while routes were ‘cherry-picked’ in order to drop loss-making destinations.

By 2004, the f irst profits were posted and in

The Brand – Brussels Airlines

Dog-fight in the skies As Belgium’s leading carrier prepares for a cost-cutting Christmas, we trace how this small airline fought off competition to become a serious player in the aviation businessby sarah crew

BRUSSELS AIRLINES

FOUNDED November 7, 2006STARTED OPERATIONSMarch 25, 2007PARENT COMPANYSN Airholding SA/NVLufthansa (45%)GLOBAL NETWORKStar AllianceMARKETING LOGO‘Experience our passion’

25 POLITICS & BUSINESS DECEMBER 2 - 15 2011

2006-2007, a strategic merger with the low-cost Eu-ropean carrier Virgin Express resulted in the current company name Brussels Airlines. The next major step came in 2009 when German carrier Lufthansa bought 45 percent of the company with a call-up option for the remaining 55 percent, available for four years from 2011.

“At the moment we’ve received no indication that this will change,” explains Sciot. “We are obviously work-ing closely together and coordinating all our flights.” In the face of global consolidation and domination of the European skies by three key players – British Airways-Iberia, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa-Star Alliance – Brussels Airlines was attracted to the last for its frequent-flyer benefits (essential for maintaining customer loyalty) and multi-hub, multi-brand policy as exhibited by the network’s takeover of Swiss and Austrian Airlines. “It really is one of the nice examples of airline integration,” he adds.

Despite passenger growth in 2011 of 20 per-cent, the company will close the year with a reported record €70 million loss, the re-sult of the soaring price of aviation fuel and

operating difficulties in Senegal and the Ivory Coast. With 50 European and 21 African destinations and a fleet of 47 aircraft, Brussels Airlines has yet to match the scope and size of the former Sabena network, and the company recently announced that it was retiring three planes from its fleet and cutting some European destinations over the winter to trim costs. But the busi-ness plan remains to expand long-haul activity with two Airbus 330 aircraft being added for the transatlantic route and African network. So optimism persists, as-sisted by a rise in passenger numbers and an increase in company turnover of 12 to 14 percent compared to 2010.

Part of the company’s new marketing strategy has been to reinforce the Belgian brand, particularly when it comes to in-flight catering. “We try to have a typical Belgian dish on all flights, such as a chicory gratin, or chicory with salmon for Muslim destinations. Pas-sengers are also pleased to discover Belgian wines are

Optimism is in the air at Brussels Airlines, as both passenger numbers and turnover rise

“We have really invested in Belgian products, as we are the first ambassador for our country”

26 POLITICS & BUSINESS THE BULLETIN

served, along with water, beer, chocolates, cheese and desserts such as speculoos mousse,” says Sciot. “We have really invested in Belgian products as we are the first ambassador for our country. When passengers board the aircraft, there is a video of Belgium filmed from the air by Wim Robberechts.” Where financially viable, the personnel’s uniform is sourced and produced by local companies, such as the men’s shoe selection by Tongeren company Ambiorix, the women’s uniforms by Xandres, and from 2012 Bellerose will produce the men’s uniforms.

The merger with Virgin Express resulted in a raft of ticket fares, including the low-cost b.light, prov-ing that in periods of economic uncertainty airlines need to remain affordable. A brand also needs to be instantly recognisable; Brussels Airlines’ stylised b logo, a series of ellipses that represent the airline’s

network and runway ground lights, seems to have struck home with passengers. As a marketing tool, the lower-case b has proved flexible, extending to all company products, such as the inflight magazine b.there!, charity work b.foundation and b.house, a new marketing event which runs at selected international fairs. “We take over an empty building and fill it with Belgian produce,” says Sciot.

One of the company’s continuing challenges is competing with low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair operating out of Charleroi Airport, but based in Dublin for tax reasons. Sciot is naturally critical of the tax concessions available at some of Belgium’s regional airports. “All we are asking is a level playing field,” he insists. Brussels Airlines’ response is to offer its own weekend trips with passenger-friendly departure and arrival times “flying somewhere to somewhere”.

While the collapse of Sabena remains mired in controversy, with court cases still pending as ex-Sabenians continue to seek justice,

the 10th anniversary has also been the occasion to step back in time with the nostalgic exhibition at Cinquantenaire Museum Le progrès venait du ciel/De Toekomst kwam uit de lucht.

For the story of Sabena is also a remarkable social history of flying and aviation in Belgium, shown via a parade of uniforms, propellers, jet engines and col-lectors’ items, from posters to original rattan seats. From trailblazing flying in the interwar period and the glamour of the 1950s, to the jetsetting 1970s, the company was a standard-bearer for 20th-century style and modernity and transcontinental travel. There are also reminders of Sabena’s security record, of which the company could be justifiably proud – no accidents between 1961 and 2001. At the heart of the exhibition is the museum’s collection of uniforms dating from 1947, showing how the link between fashion and flying soared in the 1950s. The Belgian company turned to many French designers for its chic livery, including Christian Dior and Louis Féraud, before turning to home stylist Olivier Strelli.

Sabena launched its inaugural flight in 1923 from Evere to the English town of Lympne in a De Havilland DH-9 aircraft and quickly marketed itself as a speedy and stylish alternative to steam boats and trains, al-though a return ticket from Brussels to London in 1928 cost the equivalent of about €450 today. Early competi-tion and fixed ticketing tariffs led to innovations such as the provision of fine dining on board – the first hot meal was served in 1948 – and in seating design, particularly after the introduction of a tourist class in 1952.

Sabena’s special relationship with the African con-tinent began in 1925 with the first flight to the Congo, in what was to become the company’s most fruitful asset. Thousands of Africans were to associate the aircrafts’ blue and white livery with Belgium, and

colonial Belgians who climbed aboard its planes felt they were already ‘home’. The need to provide for ex-pat families saw the launch of ‘nursery’ flights where childcare-trained hostesses looked after travelling children, while for those early transcontinental pas-sengers, flying between the Congo and Belgium was a bumpy and adventurous four-day ride in aircraft ranging from the three-engine Handley-Page to the iconic Douglas DC aircrafts.

The transatlantic route was opened in 1947 and during a brief period sleeping berths were available on the New York route in DC-6s.

While flying remained the privilege of wealthy and colonial travellers, the public’s fascination with aviation saw the national airport at Zaventem become a popular family day out, with mini golf and guided tours.

Although Sabena was much maligned in its latter years, this exhibition serves not only as a timely memo-rial, but a fascinating reminder of the company’s role as a pioneer of aviation.Until February 26, www.mrah.be

Flying pioneer Sabena

27 POLITICS & BUSINESS DECEMBER 2 - 15 2011

Everybody say office party!Our guide to cracking festive venues

Know-how

Ah, the office Christmas party. The most keenly awaited, yet fraught, social event in the work calendar. Will you embarrass yourself by mistaking the CEO for a waiter, or end up sitting next to the person you’ve spent the last 364 days avoiding? And will it be turkey for dinner again? If you’ve been co-opted

into organising yours this year and you’ve left it horribly late, don’t despair. Remember, the simplest ideas are often the best when it comes to parties. A mass, uncoordinated slither around the Christmas market ice rink, fuelled by mulled wine and giant hotdogs doesn’t take much organising, and might go down better with the troops than an overly formal seven-course tasting menu. But if you’re looking for something with a bit more ‘wow’ factor, here are a few alternative suggestions to help you to avoid ending up with, well, a turkey.

The FlatIf you’re more into drinking and dancing than sitting and eating at your Christmas party, why not try The Flat? The clue is in the name: it’s a bar/club laid out and furnished like someone’s apartment, albeit a very stylish, spacious one, conveniently located at Porte de Namur.

That means you can have your drink sitting in the kitchen, lying in the bed, or even in the bath if the mood takes you. It’s like a house party where someone else is in charge of clearing up in the morning, and where the host just happens to serve great mojitos. The stock market-style display of fluctuating drinks prices on flat-screen televisions adds an extra frisson to offering to buy your colleagues a round.

There’s no charge to reserve single rooms (accom-modating 20-30 people) or even the whole first floor (80-100 people), just a minimum drinks order per person of €7.50. The Flat can also offer an Italian-style antipasti buffet courtesy of local restaurant Cose Cosi. For the terminally disorganised party planner, between 18.00 and 20.00 there’s no need to reserve, and no minimum drink order, something to keep in mind for last-minute catastrophes.

Nemo 33In the unlikely surroundings of the Drogenbos retail park, Nemo 33, the deepest diving pool in the world, is definitely a venue with a difference.

Although you probably can’t take the whole office right down into the abyss (only certified divers can at-tempt the full 35 metres), Nemo 33 does offer hour-long ‘introduction to diving’ sessions for groups. Even if you don’t dive, it makes a brilliantly unusual underwater-themed party venue: the ‘Decompression’ room has a real French navy 1956 decompression chamber placed on top of the bar, and the ‘Yellow Submarine’ has, you guessed it, a full-sized sub hanging from the ceiling. Smaller groups can simply reserve a table in the Club House bar and restaurant overlooking the pool, which is fully licensed and serves very decent Thai food.

Nemo 33 offers a vast range of packages for events, with or without diving. Indicative prices for an introductory dive range from €45 to €70 per person, and room hire from €250 for the smallest private room. to

THE FLAT12 Rue de la Reinette Tel 02.502.74.34 0495.903.203www.theflat.bemeeting@theflat.be

NEMO 33 333 Rue de Stalle Tel 02.333.38.35www.nemo33.comevent@nemo33.com

KOKOB10 Rue des Grands Carmes Tel 02.511.19.50www.kokob.beinfo@kokob.be

KoKoBThere’s something instantly cheering about downtown Ethiopian restaurant KoKoB, which may or may not be related to their excellent, rum-heavy cocktails. The music is good, the serving staff are friendly, and the instant intimacy of eating with your fingers and sharing food with your colleagues using injera – a giant spongy millet pancake – is a perfect ice-breaker.

On top of that, the food is delicious: a range of cleverly spiced meat, seafood stews and pulse dishes, with excellent sides and salads. KoKoB is a particularly great venue for vegetarians, sparing them the predictable 500 variations on mushrooms and goat cheese.

Group menus range from €20 to €44 per person (from €27 a head, they include an aperitif, wine and wa-ter), and the function room has a capacity of 45 seated, or 90 standing.

At the time of writing, all venues still had availability for a range of dates in the weeks before Christmas, but they book up fast, so don’t delay.

Dive in at Nemo 33 for an of f ice party with a dif ference

More guides on www.thebulletin.be

DECEMBER 2 - 15 201129 THE BULLETIN

Culture & Events

IT’S BRUGES OR BUST this week for dance fans. This fifth edition of Bruges’ annual international contemporary dance festival is curated by the acclaimed British-Bengali dancer-choreographer Akram Khan (above), who has designed a programme richly spiced with classical Indian dance and its modern variants performed to live music by peerless specialists. Dancers from Japan, Canada, South Africa and Taiwan are on the roster, too, and the grand finale is a Bollywood Ball for kids. Khan himself performs the Belgian première (Dec 10) of Confluence, his fourth collaboration with Anglo-Indian musician Nitin Sawhney, and will discuss (Dec 4) the inter- and cross-cultural themes of ‘his’ December Dance. It isn’t all theory: “My mum played Tom Jones LPs on one side of the living room while my dad watched Bollywood films on the other,” Khan says. Concertgebouw and Stadsschouwburg, Bruges, until December 11, www.decemberdance.be

Dance fusion

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36 CULTURE & EVENTS THE BULLETIN

DECEMBER 9-11

Salon du vin et de la gastronomie

With Christmas around the corner, there’s no better way to imbibe the festive spirit than at this annual get-together of passionate winegrowers and regional food producers from home and abroad. Cheese, charcuterie, olives and foie gras are some of the culinary specialities on offer, along with 500 wines to sample. Quality and variety remain the theme for the 100 exhibitors partici-pating in the fair’s 21st edition. Seasonal atmosphere and gift ideas guaranteed.Namur Expo, Namur www.salonduvindenamur.be

UNTIL DECEMBER 31

Christmas markets

Why fight it? ’Tis the season of Christmas cheer, so embrace the chance to stock up on crafty, foodie presents from around the world. It also offers an excuse to fill up on warming mulled wine, local liqueurs and a tantalising range of regional and seasonal bites; ice-skating rinks and kiddies’ rides at the bigger markets will help all the family work up a hearty appetite. Almost every town and city across the country contributes to the yuletide heritage. Our favour-ites include the artisan-themed market at Durbuy, every week-end throughout December, the complete Christmas packages at Liège and Bruges, and the German-themed events in the eastern cantons which offer a fairytale experience in the full European tradition.Across the country, www.wallonie-tourisme.be www.toerismevlaanderen.nl

BEYOND BRUSSELS Belgium-wide highlights

More on www.thebulletin.be

Event

UNTIL DECEMBER 9

0090 Kunsten Festival

Annual multidisciplinary festival featuring works by cutting-edge Turkish artists (0090 is Turkey’s international dialing code) and by Belgian artists who have developed work while in Turkey. Festival regulars Mustafa Kaplan and Filiz Sizanli are back with a new piece, Eskiyeni; playing keyboards and synths, Gaye Su Akyol and Tugçe Senogul show why they’re big in Istanbul’s underground music scene; two new theatre pieces, Mesut Arslan’s Ve Veya Ya Da and, pictured below, Sahika Tekand’s How to Forget in 10 Steps (Anti-Prometheus), along with Brussels-based choreographer Meg Stuart’s dance Off Course, which was made in Istanbul, are among the festival’s Belgian premières; visual artist Caner Aslan’s show is on view until December 18. Monty, Antwerp, www.0900.be

DECEMBER 14 & 15

Lemi Ponifasio/Mau

Samoan-born, Auckland (NZ)-based cho-reographer Lemi Ponifasio creates, with his company Mau, performances infused with the drama and intensity of ceremonies and rituals of indigenous peoples of the South Pacific. Visually powerful, rhythmically hypnotic, his dance theatre pieces tackle critical contemporary issues with a time-less urgency. Birds with Skymirrors, shown at the Edinburgh Festival last year and in Brussels earlier this month, is a cry to pre-serve Earth’s natural environment. Don’t pass up this chance to see it in Antwerp. Incidentally, ‘Mau’ means ‘revolution’. deSingel, Antwerp, www.desingel.be

DECEMBER 6-9

L’Opéra du Pauvre

First fully staged production of the late anarchist poet/singer/composer Léo Ferré’s only opera, which he himself performed solo in 1983. Dark temptress Night is brought to trial by the hypo-critical forces of light, and you can guess who comes out the more truthful and, ultimately, appealing. Jean Paul Dessy conducts his Mons-based Ensemble Musiques Nouvelles in a score that mixes pop, jazz and early 20th-century classical strains; Thierry Poquet directs. Théâtre Le Manège, Mons www.lemanege.com Théâtre de la Place, Dec 20-22, Liège www.theatredelaplace.be

Performance

Lemi Ponifasio’s ‘Birds with Skymirrors’

Sahika Tekand’s ‘Anti-Prometheus’ in 0090 Kunsten Festival

37 CULTURE & EVENTS DECEMBER 2 - 15 2011

BOOK NOWOur future favourites

JANUARY 11Maria João Pires & Antonio Meneses – Rare appearanceOne of the highlights of Bozar’s Europalia programme is the prodigious Portuguese pianist playing alongside renowned Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses. Having performed with the most prestigious orchestras and recorded with the illustrious label Deutsche Grammophon, she here applies her serious dexterity and emotional profundity to Schubert, Brahms and Men-delssohn. Bozar, Brussels, www.bozar.be

FEBRUARY 29 Snow Patrol – Scaling chartsThe indie rock band is a familiar face in Belgium, having notched up appear-ances at Werchter, Pukkelpop and Forest National. Now the Glasgow-based boys from Northern Ireland present sixth album Fallen Empires, billed as a change of direction, but still delivering the anthem-style ballads that have ensured international attention since 2003. Lotto Arena, Antwerp www.proximusgoformusic.be

MARCH 4 & 5 Sting – Back on stageWith a solo career span-ning a quarter of a century, the singer-songwriter and sometime environmental activist hits the road with the Back to Bass European Tour, which celebrates some of his biggest hits, including Desert Rose, Every Breath You Take and Fields of Gold. The renowned perfectionist will be charming audiences two nights in a row in the intimate setting of this Brussels venue.Cirque Royal, Brussels www.proximusgoformusic.be

APRIL 12 Emilie Autumn – Anarchy QueenThe American glam-rock singer and violinist returns to Belgium with her all-female backing band The Bloody Crumpets. The outspoken musician, who has toured with Courtney Love’s Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, is reputed for her range of wild musical styles and stage personas. Vk*, Brussels, www.vkconcerts.be

Snow Patrol with latest album ‘Fallen Empires’

Music

Visual

DECEMBER 15

Matthias Goerne

A Baroque Christmas pro-gramme that’s hard to beat: top German baritone Mat-thias Goerne and the Chamber Orchestra of Basel, conducted by Julia Schröder, perform two religious cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach and another by his prolific contemporary and compatriot Christoph Graup-ner (his Christmas Cantata) plus a Bach concerto for oboe, violin and strings and Tele-mann’s overture for trumpet, oboe and strings. Divine.de Singel, Antwerp, www.desingel.be

DECEMBER 2-6

Lineart

This big international showcase of ethnic, modern and contempo-rary art hardly sets the gold standard for art fairs of its type, but it attracts hundreds of galleries from Europe and beyond, and there are signs that it is coming up in the world. The current, 30th an-nual edition’s special photography section and impressive lecture series are bound to add ballast and attract specialists. Flanders Expo, Ghent, www.lineart.be

Work by Sacha Goldberger, on show at Lineart

44 CULTURE & EVENTS THE BULLETIN

1 Belgian rock band Puggy is pure Brussels: bassist Romain Descampes is French, vocalist Matthew Irons English, and drummer Egil ‘Ziggy’ Franzén Swedish.

CHILLY GONZALES Best known for his collaborations with fellow Canadian Feist (or with fellow oddball Katerine), Gonzales has recently re-booted his solo career, set a world record for the longest solo-artist performance of all time (27 hours and 3 minutes!) and started....rapping. He’ll play in front of a seated Orangerie, doing what he calls a Piano-Talk-Show, mixing up his crazy piano skills and vast musical knowledge with strange and humorous lyrics. Not to be missed if you’re looking for something different to do on the day before the day before the day before Christmas.Le Botanique, 236 Rue Royale, Brussels, Dec 22 www.botanique.be

CINEMATEK If you feel the need to get away from your in-laws or the rest of the overjoyed population during these festive times, the Cinematek offers the comfort of a dark retreat. On Christmas Day you can see Mary Poppins, The Yellow Submarine and Amarcord, and between features find entertainment in the small film museum. End the evening sipping a mighty Belgian Christmas beer in a typical Brussels bar around the corner. ’Tis the season.9 Rue Baron Horta, Brussels, www.cinematek.be

CASCADEUR Cascadeur is a friend of ours and a fellow Casablanca Records artiste. Don’t let his big crash helmet fool you. His music is very sensitive and elegant. A lot of this has to do with his unusual voice. We’ve had the chance to play shows with him and can tell you first-hand that his live sets are impressive. He has an uncanny ability to transport you into his own dreamlike universe. Le Botanique, 236 Rue Royale, Brussels, Dec 14, www.botanique.be

URBAN SURVIVORS Touching exhibition resulting from a collaboration between MSF and the NOOR photography agency. Five photographers from around the globe have documented life in some of the poorest places on earth, as well as the work that MSF is doing there. All five Belgian branches of Fnac are participating. At the Brussels branch you can see Alixandra Fazzina’s shots taken in Karachi. Fnac, 17a-20 Avenue de la Toison d’Or, Brussels, until Dec 31 www.urbansurvivors.org

Just the ticketTreat yourself over the holidays to Belgium’s rich cultural offerings. Need inspiration? Find it here, in the holiday plans of some of the Bulletin’s friends and neighbours

Focus

“Flemish art is among my favourites and I greatly admire the Groeninge Museum’s collection”José Manuel Barroso

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45 CULTURE & EVENTS DECEMBER 2 - 15 2011

3 José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission

IMPERIAL TREASURES: FLEMISH MASTERPIECES FROM VIENNA’S KUNSTHISTORISCHES

MUSEUM Flemish art is among my favourites and I greatly admire the Groeninge Museum collection. I will certainly visit this exhibition because it is not often that we can see all those masterpieces together.Groeninge Museum, Bruges, until Jan 15, www.imperialtreasures.be

BRAZIL.BRASIL AND ART IN BRAZIL 1950-2011 AND TERRA BRASILIS I have a deep personal attachment to Brazil. At the inauguration of Europalia, I saw that Brazilian President DilmaRousseff was moved when I referred to Brazil as a ‘cultural volcano’. And that is what this country really is. Building on its amazing cultural diversity and vitality, it has not only a great heritage but also one of today’s most vibrant cultural scenes.Bozar, until Jan 15, and ING Cultural Centre, 6 Place Royale, Brussels, until Feb 12, www.europalia.eu

CENDRILLON JULES MASSENET’S OPERA IN A NEW PRODUCTION BY LAURENT PELLY As part of the regular audience of La Monnaie, I share the pride and delight that come with its being named Opera House of the Year. I intend to see Cendrillon before Christmas. La Monnaie, Place de la Monnaie, Dec 9-29, www.lamonnaie.be

CESENA I strongly recommend this production by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, which I saw at La Monnaie in November. She is always exploring new possibilities in contemporary dance. deSingel, 25 Desguinlei, Antwerp, Dec 17-20, www.desingel.be

4 Architect Christian Kieckens lives and works in Brussels, and teaches in Antwerp

DONALD JUDD FURNITURE The endless beauty of Judd’s thinking about form and abstraction, now available in an unlimited edition of furniture.Greta Meert Gallery, 13Rue du Canal, Brussels, until Jan 14, www.gretameert.com

OBJET PRÉFÉRÉ Exibition in a gallery that has everything to recommend it: concept, space, choice of objects, nice back garden, great owner.Galerie Valerie Traan, 12 Reyndersstraat, Antwerp, until Jan 21, www.valerietraan.be

COCA-COLA 125 years of well-thought-out industrial design for a single product that’s known by 95 percent of the world’s population.Design Museum, 5 Jan Breydelstraat, Ghent, until Feb 26 http://design.museum.gent.be

OCCUPIED Looped projection of an outstanding film by an outstanding conceptual artist, Peter Downsbrough, in a 1940s railroad station. Brussels-Congrès station, 40 Boulevard Pachéco, Brussels, until Jan 25 www.jonction.be

DIRK BRAECKMAN Braeckman’s monumental photographic oeuvre gives onto a closed world, suggesting stories without illusionistic references. Museum M, 28 Vanderkelenstraat, Leuven, until Jan 8, www.mleuven.be

GALLERIET Small space dedicated to Danish-Flemish design, which has its roots in the industrial heritage of nearby Winterslag. More than an exclusively object-centred gallery, Galleriet has devised its programme with regard to the diversity of the local population.128Vennestraat, Genk, www.galleriet.be

2 Marie Pok, Director of Grand-Hornu Images architecture and design centre

BRAZIL.BRASIL AND ART IN BRAZIL 1950-2011 It’s the last chance to visit these major Europalia exhibitions about art in Brazil, a country with a rich history and major developments in contemporary art and design right now!Bozar, 23 Rue Ravenstein, Brussels, until Jan 15, www.europalia.eu

OBJET PRÉFÉRÉ BY FABRICA This exhibition is about the favourite objects of staff members at Grand-Hornu, where I’ve seen it several times. But I want to see it again in this really nice gallery, which commissions special works from designers and architects. I’m sure the team of Fabrica will make a special and very good installation there. Valerie Traan Gallery, 12 Reyndersstraat, Antwerp, www.valerietraan.be

WALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK: DREAM THE WORLD AWAKE

Antwerp is a great city. While I’m there to see Objet préféré, I’ll also visit the Walter Van Beirendonck retrospective. I think Walter is the greatest of our fashion designers.MoMu, 28 Nationalestraat, Antwerp, until Feb 19, www.momu.be

ARSÈNE 50 With a family and busy professional life, it isn’t always easy to plan theatre outings in advance. I prefer to buy tickets on the spur of the moment and at half-price. The selection at Arsène 50 is quite good and includes small productions that are well worth discovering.

BIP, 2-4 Rue Royale, Brussels, www.arsene50.be

GEORGES DANDIN IN AFRIKA

This is one play I’m going to be sure to re-serve seats for in ad-vance. Théâtre Le Public, 64-70 Rue Braemt, Brus-sels, until Dec 31, www.theatrelepublic.be

TOEGEPAST 16: LES NOU-

VEAUX An annual show of young

designers with new ideas in graphic de-sign, textiles, jewellery, etc.

Always great! Z33, 33 Zuivelmarkt

Hasselt, until Feb 5, www.z33.be

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DECEMBER 2 - 15 2011

Lifestyle & Community

BELGIAN BEER GUIDE: If your knowledge of Belgian beer starts at Stella Artois and ends at Duvel, shame on you. There are well over a thousand varieties of Belgian beer available and 1,131 of them are featured in the latest version of All Belgian Beers by Hilde Deweer. This trilingual Belgian beer encyclopaedia, published by Stichting Kunstboek, is now in its second edition and features 500 more beers than the 2007 version. Each beer is listed in alphabetical order and features a colour picture of both its unique glass and bottle, plus information in English, French and Dutch on everything from the beer style to the taste notes and serving suggestions. The perfect Christmas gift for beer lovers and Belgo-philes alike. All Belgian Beers is available for €35 from all good bookshops. www.stichtingkunstboek.com

Bottoms up!

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47 THE BULLETIN

60 LIFESTYLE & COMMUNITY THE BULLETIN

It’s probably no coincidence that Gyle Waddy lives off Avenue Louise, one of the best fashion streets in Brussels. In another life, the jazz singer and music teacher used to work as a model. Born

in Philadelphia 68 years ago, he studied dance and theatre at the City College of Dance in Los Angeles and the Carnegie Hall School of Dance in New York before taking up work as a model to make ends meet. His career took him to Milan, where he worked for Versace and Valentino. In 1979, he moved to Brus-sels to live with his partner and a year later, he was featured as the first black model in women’s magazine Flair before going on to model for Antwerp fashion legend Walter Van Beirendonck. In 2000, Gyle and his partner Felix moved to a new place just off the Louise Square in an area known as ‘le goulet Louise’, or the Louise bottleneck, because of the traffic. “It’s a great apartment and I’ve just turned one of the rooms into my music studio, where I give singing classes.”

The prestigious Avenue Louise – named after King Leopold II’s oldest daughter – is about 3km long, and connects Louise Square all the way to the Bois de la Cambre. It was constructed in 1847 as a promenade, and while the first part of the Avenue is paved with noth-ing but expensive shops such as Louise 54, Max Mara and JM Weston, Gyle knows a few good places to get something to eat after working up an appetite shopping. “One of my favourite places to go is l’Atelier de Jean (20 Rue du Grand Cerf). It serves a lovely mix of French and Italian cuisine at a decent price. I’m particularly fond of its grilled fish. A few doors up, Restaurant JB is known for its typical Belgian food but it isn’t cheap.” However, the restaurant, run by Freddy Van Ruysken-svelde and his two sons since 1987, is worth a try for its sauces alone, even if the roast partridge, which is one of their specialities, will set you back €40. But not all the eating options in the area are so pricey. “One of my food sins is to take home some baked chicken at Hector’s (6 Avenue de la Toison d’Or ),” Gyle admits.

For other cheap eats, he suggests The Coffee Club (131 Rue de Stassart) where “they serve a lovely English and American breakfast. And for sandwiches and tea, we tend to go to La Crémerie de la Vache (6 Rue Jean Stas).” If you just want to stop for a drink, Gyle recommends

the spacious Brasserie Poelaert (2 Rue des Quatres Bras). “I also like MacSweeney’s pub (26 Rue Jean Stas), with its cosy wooden compartments. Cocktail bar Mini Louise (3 Rue Jourdan) is great too.”

As an ex-model, Gyle still enjoys window shopping at the fancy boutiques in and around Avenue Louise. The area has recently seen a number of high-profile openings, including luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo (53 Boulevard de Waterloo), French fashion outlets Bel Air, Maje and Sud Express (all in the Louise Gallery), American hipster clothes store Urban Outfitters (6 Place Stéphanie), the newly renovated Senteurs d’Ailleurs with its high-end perfumes, potions and lotions (1A Place Stéphanie), and fresh handmade cosmetics shop Lush (52 Avenue Louise). “When I go shopping, though, I prefer to check out the DOD outlet stores (www.dod.be) in and around Avenue Louise. They have great stuff at reasonable prices.” Another shop in the area that Gyle is particularly fond of is cooking supply store Dille & Kamille (16 Rue Jean Stas). “I love cooking. Back in 1981 I even wrote a vegetarian cook book,” Gyle reveals. “It never got published, though – and I am no longer a vegetarian!”

As a musician with five albums in his cata-logue (his latest, Tell Me the Meaning, is out now on Elyts Music and is available on iTunes), Gyle says he wishes there was

more of a musical presence in the area. “Things used to be different though – there was the Golden Gate music club in the Louise shopping gallery,” he remembers. “And I also used to work as a choreographer for a strip club off Place Stéphanie. But the only musical reference I can think of now is multi-media shop Fnac (17 Avenue de la Toison d’Or).” But even if there aren’t any obvious sources of musical inspiration, the area itself remains quite special to Gyle. “There’s some-thing liberating about the open space of the Louise and Stéphanie squares, and of course the vast view from Place Poelaert. The Egmont park with its lovely l’Orangerie tearoom next to The Hotel (38 Boulevard de Waterloo) is a fantastic green spot as well. You could almost forget that you are in one of the busiest areas of the city.”

Up my Street

And all that jazzSinger Gyle Waddy lives close to one of the most sought-after addresses in Brussels – Avenue Louiseby katrien lindemans photos by dieter telemans

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

PROPERTY

Apartments on Avenue Louise are very spacious, and therefore quite pricey. Renting an apartment of 100m2 can easily cost €1,500 a month. And to buy, prices per square metre start at around €3,000, according to estate agents Agence O (www.ocestbeau.be)

TRANSPORT

Public transport is plentiful at the beginning of Avenue Louise. As well as Villo rental bikes, there’s a stop on metro lines 2 and 6, and tram lines 92, 94 and 97. Finding a parking spot isn’t easy, but there are a couple of underground car parks nearby

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS

A mix of affluent Belgians and Eurocrats with a bit of social housing mixed in, although not so many families as most of the properties have no garden

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For shopping, eating, drinking and events on Avenue Louise, visit www.brusselslouise.be

61 LIFESTYLE & COMMUNITY DECEMBER 2 - 15 2011

1.AVENUE TOISON D’OR

Nearby shopping street where you’ll find everything from Tommy Hilfiger to Hema2.MACSWEENEY’S

Popular Irish pub offering raucous Saturday night fun and tasty Sunday morning breakfasts 24 Rue Jean Stas3.SHOWING OFF

Belgians are usually a discreet lot but some throw caution to the wind on Avenue Louise

4.DILLE & KAMILLE

Only Brussels branch of the charming Dutch home store 16 Rue Jean Stas5.URBAN OUTFITTERS

Newly opened American fashion store 6 Place Stéphanie6.L’ORANGERIE

For brunch, lunch or afternoon tea in the stunning surroundings of the Egmont Park www.restauration-nouvelle.be

IN & AROUND

Avenue Louise

Gyle says: “From fancy boutiques to a photocopy shop, the area has got just about everything. It’s like a city centre away from the actual city centre of Brussels. I love the open space and the diversity of people. The traffic maze of the Louise roundabout and tunnel are a nightmare, though.”

More guides on www.thebulletin.be

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Boulevard de Waterloo

Avenue de la Toison d’Or

Place Stéphanie

R. J. Stas

Place Poelaert

Avenue Louise

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82 LIFESTYLE & COMMUNITY THE BULLETIN

CAPITAL LIFE Your city, your agenda

Fashion designer Céline De Schepper, 23, moved to Brussels from Sint-Niklaas to study fashion.

My diary

Why did you decide to study fashion?I originally wanted to be a fashion journalist but I wanted to experience fashion for myself rather than just writing about it.

And why Brussels?I saw an end-of-year show at La Cambre and I was completely blown away. It was very creative

but at the same time wearable. I also liked their personal ap-proach; they only select 24 or 25 students per year as opposed to 60 or 70 students at Antwerp.

Antwerp is known as Belgium’s fashion capital; do you think Brussels offers any competition?The more I talk to people the more I realise that people are starting to turn their heads towards Brussels – not just in fashion but also music and arts. I feel like Brussels is starting to offer a counter-balance to Antwerp. You can really feel the evolution.

What defines Brussels style?It’s quite open so I can’t really point out a specific style – it’s a little bit Berlin, a little bit Lon-don. But ultimately it’s about freedom of expression – people can wear what they like here.

What’s next for Céline De Schepper?Well, you can find some of my pieces at Hunting and Collecting and also JOPA Editions, but I only graduated this year so I’m still thinking about my next move. Either I will go to Paris and work for a fashion house or I will continue with my collabora-tions and projects here.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 15

GOUPIL LE FOLWhere time stands still and

provides an ideal moment to sit, relax and talk with some

friends while enjoying the mu-sic of Jacques Brel and a glass of

fruit wine. 22 Rue de la Violette

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 14

SUBMARINEA little escape from reality with

this gem of a film from British director Richard Ayoade.

Cinema Arenberg, 26 Galérie de la Reine, www.arenberg.be

MONDAY DECEMBER 12

PASTEL DE NATAWhen I was in Lisbon I ate lots

of custard tarts but the best pastel de nata are made at a great

Portuguese bakery here in Brussels.

Le Petit Forcado 190c Chaussée de Waterloo

FRIDAY DECEMBER 9

JOPA EDITIONSI’m presenting a limited-edition collection of wooden bracelets and handbags exclusively at JOPA Editions.28 Rue Lens www.jopaeditions.com

SUNDAY DECEMBER 11

BOZARI like spending Sunday after-noons in Bozar, discovering the exhibitions. This time: Roman Polanski. 23 Rue Ravenstein,www.bozar.be

SATURDAY DECEMBER 3

PEINTURE FRAÎCHEIn search of some new art books, a stop at my favourite bookshop.10 Rue du Tabellion

TUESDAY DECEMBER 6

HUNTING AND COLLECTINGThis shop has an amazing se-lection of designers and design objects – including some of my pieces! Plus a great atmosphere.17 Rue des Chartreux www.huntingandcollecting.com

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7

CHATELAIN MARKETA little gourmet food shopping in my old neighbourhood. I’ll have a hot piadina and a fresh vanilla waffle while searching for my dinner ingredients.Place du Châtelain

Brazilian photography on show at Bozar

From Céline De Schepper’s Sadness is a Colour collection