La Bellone
Maison du Spectacle

Unknown to most tourists, La Bellone is a beautiful arts centre hidden away in Brussels.

A secret hidden by its modern theatre front door and the surrounding buildings, La Bellone is one of those spots known by locals and photographers for its hidden beauty. La Belllone can be found in the historic and trendy centre near Rue Antoine Dansaert, the upcoming fashion street, and the beautiful cathedral of Sainte-Catherine. What a mix!

Art lovers shouldn’t miss this area anyway, but La Bellone is the cherry on top. If you’re here in Brussels for beautiful architecture or for the arts, La Bellone should be on your list. Drop by for theatre shows, artsy talks and writers meetings.

Head down the long corridor found on 46 Rue de Flandre into La Bellone into the inner courtyard. In moments, you’ll discover one unique piece of Brussels’ architecture. Named after the Roman goddess of war, Bellona, who still watches over the theatre. Her statue lies in the centre front of the beautiful theatre, right behind the stage.

• All the art you need: Local theatre shows galore. But La Bellone has a bit more than theatre too. Other arts are welcome here as well. Writers are invited to book talks to show off their latest releases. Usually in French, nonfiction and fiction writers gather to introduce their works. Artists are interviewed and put on exhibits. There’s a little bit of everything for art lovers. See what’s on!
• Origins: how did this beautiful hidden part of Brussels come to be? It was designed by the architect Cosyn, who also made the Maison des Boulangers in the Grand-Place of Brussels (what used to be the Baker’s Guild). When designing La Bellone, Cosyn was inspired by the Battle of Zenta in 1697 hence the appearance of the goddess of war on the building.