The building at Place du Vieux Marché aux Grains 5 in Brussels was once a showroom for the Cristallerie Val Saint Lambert, a Belgian glass company famous for its crystal vases and ornaments. Founded in 1826, the factory is still based on the banks of the River Meuse in the industrial city of Seraing.
The showroom in central Brussels closed in the 1960s. It is now home to the Flemish cultural centre De Markten. The handsome interiors are now used for performances, exhibitions and readings, while the cafe on the ground floor is a popular meeting place for intellectuals, artists and journalists who live in the neighbourhood.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
