Brussels: Return to the Future in Belgium

Explore this incredible city! The ambience and openmindedness of belgian culture will make you feel 20 years ahead in the future. Nico is one of our fondest hosts and as a mister of the week he promotes his city's venues. Just by reading his words you'll get the feel, Brussels is crazy-fun, diversified and progressive. Enjoy!

What makes your city a favorite gay destination?

Brussels offers a rich mix of architecture, culture and nightlife, including a gay nightlife with small bars and big parties for all kinds of gays. As it is a European capital as well, you are able to hear a lot of different languages and most locals are fluent in at least two or three of them. By the way, Dutch, French and German are all official languages. Brussels is small and easy accessible, most highlights are at walking distance.

What is the best gay event that takes place in your city?

I volunteer at a unique queer film festival called Pink Screens every November, that is my favorite event, no doubt about that! It has weird stuff, short movies, documentaries all transgressing the heteronormality. But I want to mention here that we also have a big LGBTQ pride in May, and every month there is a party called La Démence, who brings gays from all over Europe and the Middle East to Brussels by bus or plane. It offers electro music and lots of hot guys.

What is your favorite gay establishment to grab a bite for lunch? a nice dinner?

The gay area has Plattesteen brasserie and the Fontainas bar, and both are fine for a bite, however I would recommend to go a bit outside that scene and visit Houtsiplou at Place Rouppe, a brasserie with local Belgian cuisine and a wide range of burgers, including vegetarian ones. The place has friendly staff, and funny and colored walls with lots of comics representing the highlights of Belgian history and culture.

Best gay bar for a cheap beer?

Le Belgica is a perfect place to start. It’s a small bar in the Rue Marché au Charbon, a street full of gay bars, each with their own crowd. Twinks, hipsters, bears, … The Rainbow House has decent pints as well and in the summer none of it matters really, because everybody is having their beer outside in the streets anyway.

Best gay bar for a refreshing cocktail?

You can try your luck in Fontainas Bar for the classic cocktails, but if you prefer original cocktails, you should definitely head to Life is Beautiful, in Dansaertstraat near the canal. It’s very close to a microbrewery called the Beer Project where you can taste locally brewed beer before or after your cocktail. Life is Beautiful isn't a gay bar, but as most bars in Brussel, you can come as you are... gay or straight.

Which famous gay person is from your city?

Belgium has a lot of locally famous gay people including a previous prime minister, but none of them live in Brussels. But we have gay icons like Plastic Bertrand who had a huge hit with “ça plane pour moi” in the late 70s. And we have Tintin, born and raised in Brussels, and a classic closet case. I cannot confirm nor deny the rumors about his sexuality.

Ready to go dancing--what is the best gay dance club?

There is only one real club, and that’s La Demence which I mentioned before. Personally, I prefer the smaller parties that take place in different venues every time: CatClub, Brussels Jardin, Vicuna, Los niños, Dansez-Vous Français?...  All of them are a nice mix of gay and straight. Finally, a few times a year there is a party organized by Merhaba, the arab gay association. Check it out!

Which gay bar offers the best happy hour on a Wednesday?

I have no clue about that, but drinks are very cheap so there is really no need for happy hours.

Where to start a gay tour in your home city?

A good place to start any tour is at the Grand Place, the city center. It's part of the Unesco world heritage and the starting point of the Sandeman’s New Europe Tours. I recommend all my guests to start with this 3 hour walking tour. It’s a timesaver, it’s both interesting and funny and you are just expected to tip at the end. It’s not a gay tour but you will walk past the gay bars and you’ll get to see Manneken Pis, our famous statue of a peeing boy. If you are more into balls, you can visit the Atomium. It has 9 of them!

Best place to socialize with the local gay community? / Best place to be surrounded by the local gays?

Outside in the streets! Preferably the Marché au Charbon area. If you are up from some local drag queens, you also might consider paying our local star Maman a visit. She has a bar and there are shows at Chez Maman every weekend.

How gay-friendly is your home city? / What is gay life like in Brussels?

I’m proud to live in Brussels. Belgium has adopted gay marriage in 2003, gay adoption in 2006 and it has a whole framework of anti-discrimination laws set in place. There also is a new legal framework for transgenders since 2017, which makes Belgium a great country to live in. Brussels has gay bars, gay nightlife, three gay/queer film festivals (!) and a sports association called Brussels Gay Sports which has thousands of members and a yearly international sports tournament.

A gay place for brunch on weekends?

In the summer you just pick a spot in the sun in the Royal Park. In wintertime, or if you just prefer a restaurant, you can go to Plattesteen, Houtsiplou, Fontainas, …

What are your favorite gay venues in Brussels?

All of the above! And the room in my apartment that I'm offering on misterb&b :-)