Pick the right room at the Ancienne Belgique
- Brussels, Belgium
- Posted on
- 1 photo
Photo: Nenea hartia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About this tip
The Ancienne Belgique on Boulevard Anspach is the city's best-known pop and rock hall, with a 2,000-capacity main hall praised for its acoustics. A scaled-down version called the ABBox holds about 800 and the ABClub about 250. Choose the club to catch emerging acts up close, and check the official agenda, which the city lists for the whole of 2026, before booking.
Where
Pick the right room at the Ancienne BelgiqueAncienne Belgique, Boulevard Anspach 110, Brussels
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new tab)More Tips & Traps in Brussels
18 posts from Local Friends and travelers who know the city.
TipSleepBase yourself in Dansaert and Sainte-Catherine
Brussels, BelgiumDansaert and Sainte-Catherine sit just west of the old town, a few minutes on foot from the historic center but far less touristy. Rue Antoine Dansaert has cafes, bars and restaurants, and a Metro stop is close to the hotels around Sainte-Catherine. Small B&Bs and boutique stays are the usual choice, so you can walk…
TipEventsFree jazz on the squares at Brussels Jazz Weekend
Brussels, BelgiumBrussels Jazz Weekend brings free concerts to open-air stages at the Grand-Place, Place Sainte-Catherine and Place de la Bourse, with more sets in partner cafes and venues nearby. The 2026 edition ran over a May weekend from Friday to Sunday. Wander between stages instead of claiming one spot, and slip into a cafe…
TipEventsBelgian Beer Weekend on the Grand-Place
Brussels, BelgiumEach year in early September the Grand-Place turns into an open-air tasting room for the Belgian Beer Weekend, run with the country's brewers. The 2026 edition had more than 500 beers from 49 breweries. Entry is free and tastings are paid for with coins, so plan a small budget and share pours. Go on Friday evening or…
TipShopWednesday market and apero at Place du Châtelain
Brussels, BelgiumEvery Wednesday afternoon, Place du Châtelain in Ixelles fills with stalls of local produce, organic food, street food and oysters. The market returned to the square in early 2025 after two years of works, with tables scattered for eating on the spot. Arrive after lunch, graze your way through the stalls and stay for…
TipShopSunday morning at the Marché du Midi
Brussels, BelgiumOn Sundays the Marché du Midi spreads through the streets around Gare du Midi, one of the biggest multicultural markets in Brussels. Go in the morning for the best selection, bring cash and your own bags, and look at the stalls selling North African spices and groceries. Street snacks such as merguez are easy to find…
LV TipMusic & NightlifeLive jazz in a brick cellar at the Music Village
Brussels, BelgiumTucked in a brick-walled basement a few steps from the Grand-Place, the Music Village is a jazz club with live music six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday, around 300 concerts a year. The room is small and candlelit, so you sit close to the musicians even if you are no jazz expert. Check the club website for the…
TipPhotography & ViewsSunset over lower Brussels from Place Poelaert
Brussels, BelgiumPlace Poelaert looks out over the lower town, and on clear days you can pick out the Atomium and the Koekelberg Basilica on the horizon. Locals gather here when the sun comes out, and the view is best around sunset. A public lift run by the transit operator links the square with the Marolles below, so you can ride…
TipPhotography & ViewsShoot Mont des Arts from the top of the steps
Brussels, BelgiumClimb to the top of the Mont des Arts steps, toward Place Royale, instead of shooting from the garden below. From up there the geometric gardens lead the eye to the Town Hall tower and the Grand-Place roofs. The sun does not drop over the skyline from this angle, so go for the late warm light that turns the city…
Know Brussels well?
Share a tip, or warn travelers about a trap. It only takes a few minutes.