Laughing matters: Where to enjoy English-language comedy in Belgium

Ten years ago, comedy in Brussels was in a bad way. There wasn’t much happening at all. Expats flocked to a theatre on Avenue Eugene Plasky for their monthly laugh, organised by Stand Up World, the only provider of English-language comedy in the city at the time. But answering the prayers of many a humour-starved expat, Belgium has since seen a rise in English-language comedy.

What was once a drought has now grown to an abundance, with well-known faces on the international comedy circuit popping up in Brussels and Antwerp on a regular basis, and up-and-coming comedians testing their mettle at local clubs.

English Comedy Brussels
With two shows a month and sometimes more, English Comedy Brussels is one to follow for the hard-core fan. It hosts regular shows in a low-key pub environment, making it Brussels’ closest thing to a New York-style comedy house. That’s not to say it doesn’t attract big names – it recently had internet sensation Paul Taylor with his show Franglais, and has boasted such headliners as Ardal O’Hanlon, Joe Rooney and Angela Barnes. With comics hailing from a range of countries, the club also reflects the trend of comedians performing in a language other than their own. As is fitting in a multilingual country like Belgium, and with such an international audience, many European comedians have turned to English to express themselves. Swedish comedian Magnus Betnér was a recent performer, and Franglais is performed in a mix of French and English. Shows take place at The Black Sheep near Flagey on Tuesday evenings.

Live Comedy
Another major player on the Belgian comedy scene that’s come into its own recently, this is where you’ll find the comedians who do sold-out stadium shows in the UK and the rest of the Anglosphere. Venues include the Arenberg and Stadsschouwburg in Antwerp, and Bozar in Brussels. Previous comic heavyweights have included Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan, with John Cleese and Irishman Dara Ó'Briain some of the big names to have performed in 2016.

Live Comedy Festival
The Live Comedy Festival is growing in popularity and has just completed its third year, at locations around Antwerp and Brussels. Bill Bailey, Reginald D. Hunter and Jimmy Carr were among this year’s big names; keep an eye on the website for details of next year’s event.

Rits Café
Rits Café on Rue Dansaert in Brussels is another place worth checking out for its English comedy nights held once a month at the cultural club of the RITCS School of the Arts. This student-run cafe has already attracted some big names this year including Canadian Phil Nichol and Scotsman Stephen Carlin, and looks like it will become a staple on the Brussels comedy circuit.

Stand-Up Antwerp
Comedy has continued to grow outside the capital, with Antwerp hosting its own comedy night at the Comedy Cellar in the city’s historic quarter. Established and run by British-born comedian Nigel Williams, who has made Belgium his home and performs in Dutch and English, it features English-language comedy on a monthly basis. Well-known comics are always on the line-up, with budding talent also getting the chance to try out new routines.

This article first appeared in The Bulletin's Best of Belgium 2016