While the spring weather in Brussels cannot be trusted, you can count on the Belgian capital to always have a varied selection of events and activities to brighten the weekend.
Whether you want to dance away the stress of the week, enjoy a day of culture, or get into the spirit of Easter, The Brussels Times has a few suggestions if you're still looking for weekend plans.
Music festivals & underground raves
BRDCST festival, multiple locations, from 3 April
The annual indoor music festival BRDCST is back in Brussels to give music lovers an experience that the organisers say will blur the boundaries of musical genres.
The multi-day festival has been shinning a spotlight on genre-defying artists since 2016.
Credit: BRDSCT/Facebook
This year's edition promises to bring diverse genres and groundbreaking artists from around the world to three different locations across the capital, namely Cinema Palace, Ancienne Belgique, and the Vanhaerents Art Collection.
Among the artists featured in the lineup are Brussels-based singer Fenne Kuppens, Galician bagpipe player Carme López, and the Japanese alternative rock band GEZAN.
Find more information here.
Belgian Jazz Festival, Tour à Plomb, 3 and 4 April
Whether you are a jazz enthusiast or are just curious to discover the genre, the Belgian Jazz Festival promises two days of some of the best artists in the Belgian scene.
Credit: Belgian Jazz Festival
The lineup includes solo acts, trios and quartets, and promises to offer a glimpse of the musicians shaping the genre in the country.
In addition to the two evenings of great jazz, the festival is also an opportunity to meet other jazz lovers in the capital.
Find more information here.
The Tunnels, Tunnel Cinquantenaire, 4 and 5 April
The Cinquantenaire tunnel complex will be closed off this weekend to make way for an electrifying underground daytime rave.
'The Tunnels' – a two-day, nine-hour party – was organised by two major players in the electronic music scene, Listen Festival and Hangar.
Credit: Hangar / Listen Festival
The line-up for this edition of the underground rave includes the Dutch DJ and producer KI/KI and "techno royalty" German producer and DJ Marcel Dettmann.
The raves start at 15:00 on both days and will feature performances on two different stages.
Find more information here.
Genre films on the big screen
Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, Brussels Expo, from 3 April
Over the last few decades, Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF) has become one of the most popular festivals for fans of genre films across the world.
For its 44th edition in Brussels, BIFFF's programme includes over a hundred features and shorts covering a wide range of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, thrillers and black comedies.
Credit: BIFFF
In addition to its fantastic film screenings, the programme also includes masterclasses, live debates, make-up competitions, art exhibitions, and a vampire ball.
Find more information here.
Art exhibitions & markets
Art-est sur image: Hors cadre exhibit, Chapelle de Boondael, until 4 April
The 'Art-est sur image: Hors cadre' art exhibition is a project organised by the La Forestière ASBL, a centre for adults with intellectual disabilities.
The exhibition aims to highlight "the talent, creativity and sensitivity of artists with intellectual disabilities" while promoting their social inclusion.
Credit: LAFORESTIÈRE
This year's art works will be on display at the Boondael Chapel in the heart of the Boondael district and will follow the theme 'the eighth wonder of the world'.
Find more information here.
Illustrators' market, La Tricoterie, 5 April
Several illustrators and visual artists in Belgium will showcase their work at La Tricoterie on Sunday in an illustrators' market.
The market will include micro-publications, fanzines, prints and original drawings and artwork selected by the participating artists themselves.
Credit: Maurine Larcher/La Tricoterie/Facebook
During the free event, visitors will have an opportunity to personally chat with the artists and find out more about the story behind their work.
Find more information here.
Easter weekend special
Easter cap hunt & chocolate-beer tasting, Belgian Beer World Experience, from 4 April
If you are looking for a unique way to celebrate the long Easter weekend, you might want to head to the interactive beer museum in the capital's city centre.
Until Monday, the Belgian Beer World Experience will bring a seasonal twist to its classic beer tasting by pairing each beer with Belgian artisanal chocolates that have been carefully shaped into "iconic beer crowns".
Credit: Belgian Beer World Experience
On Easter Sunday, the experience will also feature the return of the Beer Caps Hunt. Visitors are encouraged to try to find the five beer caps hidden throughout the museum for a chance to spin a 'Wheel of Fortune' for a prize.
The prizes include "exclusive goodies" and "delightful surprises", including a free beer to enjoy at the museum's rooftop bar.
Find more information here.
If you are looking for a more child-friendly Easter activity, check out The Brussels Times' guide for family fun during the Easter weekend.
