What’s on this week: 20-26 April

With the beginning of spring comes the awakening of flowers. For three weeks every year, the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken are open to the public. Visitors can walk on royal ground as they gaze at the 19th-century architecture of Alphonse Balat (a mentor to Victor Horta) and visit the studio of Elisabeth of Bavaria, the Queen of Belgium for 25 years. But it’s the abundance of exotic plants and flowers – some 100 years old –  that take centre stage. Visitors get in for the democratic price of €2.50, kids are free. 21 April to 11 May, Royal Greenhouses of Laeken

Maybe you’ve said hello to them in passing, but other than that the local street sweeper is a stranger to us. The free photo exhibition Au fil des rues de Bockstael (Along the Streets of Bockstael) offers a glimpse into the life of a street sweeper in the Brussels district. Learn who they are, what their days consist of and how they view Bockstael. The photos reveal the faces, while text tells their stories. (In French) Until 30 April, Bibliothèque de Laeken, Boulevard Emile Bockstael 246

The Brussels International Guitar Festival & Competition is back for its seventh edition, offering the chance to see big international names in guitar music, from classical to pop and jazz. There are also master classes, lectures and a guitarmakers fair at Grand’Place. 20-24 April, Théâtre du Vaudeville, Galerie de la Reine 13

Be a part of the anti-litter and dumping movement during the 10th anniversary of Clean-up Day. Residents of Brussels-City are encouraged to clean up their sidewalk and neighbourhoods as a reminder that they are responsible for the maintenance of the pavement. Tents around the city offer games, shows and activities to teach everyone strategic ways of keeping the city cleaner. 21 April, Across Brussels-City

It’s a great week for indoor music festivals in the capital, as Belgium gears up for its onslaught of open-air summer music fests. Balkan Trafik! is a must for anyone who wants to head back out into a warm spring night with a bounce in their step. The annual festival celebrating the music and culture of south-eastern Europe – and their relationship with the capital of the EU – is an upbeat affair of blaring brass, urgent urban beats and siren songs. Check out opener Candan Ercetin, a Turkish-Albanian singer with an operatic set of pipes, or the always-lively Dubioza Kolektiv of Bosnia (pictured). There’s also dance, an exhibition, round tables, film screenings and food & drink. 19-22 April, Bozar, Rue Ravenstein 23

This may be the most fun 5k you will ever run in your life. Air Games is a race with a 100% inflatable obstacle courses that will put your skills to the test. You do not have to be an athlete to participate, just 12 years or older. Run, walk, go with the family, register with a group of friends … anything goes for this lively air-filled adventure. You can register in advance or on the day. After Brussels, Air Games moves to other cities, including Antwerp, Namur and Liège. 22 April, Parc de Laeken

It’s a sing-along! In Dutch! Before you scroll down, know this: Gelukkig zijn (Being Happy) was a massive hit musical that sold out cultural centres across Flanders and Brussels a couple of years ago. Staged by a theatre group that produces plays in easy-to-understand Dutch for those who haven’t quite mastered the language, its popularity among locals and expats alike surprised even the enthusiastic crowd of foreigners who starred in the show – a musical that had them singing Flemish traditionals like pros. Ancienne Belgique is now hosting the Gelukkig zijn Sessions, a series of sing-alongs featuring songs from the show. It’s good, clean fun. 25 April 25, 16 May & 13 June, Ancienne Belgique, Boulevard Anspach 110

Should you be looking for something to hang on those bare walls of yours but find gallery prices intimidating, check out this art exhibition and auction featuring works by refugee artists. All the proceeds from Peace of Art go to the citizen’s platform BXLRefugees. 20-22 April, Maison du Peuple, Parvis de Saint-Gilles 37

“Most movies are too long,” said the legendary director Sally Potter last year in defence of her 70-minute film The Party. You won’t get that feeling at the Brussels Short Film Festival, an annual celebration of the best local and international short films, all under 30 minutes. Each screening features five or more movies, and if you don’t fancy one, don’t worry, it’s just a few minutes before you’ll see the next. The programme is helpfully divided into several section such as national, international, must-sees (these three categories are where the best films lie), kids and free screenings. Should you be blessed with stamina, Night of the Shorts is great fun, as films are shown from 21.00 to 3.00. 25 April to 6 May, across Brussels-City and Ixelles

It’s the 25th anniversary edition of Les Nuits, Botanique’s wildly popular annual festival of alternative music in the broadest, most eclectic, sense. In very democratic fashion, the online line-up is alphabetical, burying giant names like Trixie Whitley and Charlotte Gainsbourg among some more mysterious offerings like Midget! and Pogo Car Crash Control. As usual, fans bought early, but there are still tickets left to what should prove to be great shows such as BRNSRPPRS – a merger between the synth-heavy psychedelics of Brussels band BRNS and the catchy indie pop of French duo Ropoporose – and Esinam, a local one-woman band of percussions, flute and piano. 25 April to 6 May, Botanique, Rue Royale 236 (Saint-Josse)

The One World international human rights documentary film festival has its homebase in Prague, but the Czech permanent representation hosts several screenings of its annual programme in cities around the world. In Brussels this week, the festival includes some fascinating movies, including The Cleaners – about the work of ‘content moderators’ at internet giants like Google, whose work it is to delete some truly horrifying digital discoveries – and Life After Torture: Four Stories as told by Eastern European citizens. Almost all of the screenings are free, but advance registration is required. 23 April to 3 May, across Brussels

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

With the warm spring weather this weekend, a trip to the beautiful Arthey Gardens in Rhisnes, located in the  countryside around Namur, is just the ticket for a lovely time. They will be holding the Festival of Edible Plants, a two-day extravaganza of information on local edible herbs, flowers and fruit and a wide variety of food trucks. Also concerts and hands-on activities such as an introduction to wild plant harvesting. 21-22 April, Rue d’Arthey 1, La Bruyère

There are some great cinema options this week in Brussels, with documentary and short films on the agenda (see above), but it’s this one a 25-minute train ride away that offers up full-length fiction. The annual Africa Film Festival in Leuven leans towards countries with a fledgling or struggling cinema scene, so it’s a valuable opportunity to see movies you won’t see anywhere else. It also has a strong line-up of guests and fringe activities. And if in fact you can’t make it to Leuven, the festival also hosts some of its films in Brussels – and more than 35 other cities. 20 April to 5 May, Cinema Zed and Kinepolis

Photo greenhouses ©Olivier Polet/Visit Flanders
Photo film ‘Girlhood’ ©Heleen Declercq