Culture.


Martin Banks has been a journalist for over 40 years, working in Brussels since 2001 where he has covered EU politics, initially for European Voice and more recently for The Parliament Magazine plus a raft of other titles. He also writes about other topics including culture and travel. Prior to coming to Belgium he had worked in regional (including a 6 year stint as Chief Reporter for the 2nd biggest selling regional in the UK) and national journalism in the UK since 1980.

10 December 2021

Festivals hope to “shine a light” this Christmas in Belgium

News about the Omicron variant has cast yet more gloom and dismay and thrown Christmas plans into disarray for countless people. The developments threaten to scupper […]
9 December 2021

10 books to buy as Christmas gifts

The Holiday Season is around the corner and the pace of our day-to-day responsibilities will hopefully start to slow down. We will have more time to […]
8 December 2021

Do you know the story of the bunker where Churchill hid during World War II?

Protecting the leaders, the decision makers, has always been a priority objective in any war. At the same they have to be in communication, close to […]
8 December 2021

Dutch are the best non-native English speakers in the world

For the third year in a row, Dutch people were ranked as the best non-native English speakers. The results were presented by a report by EF […]
6 December 2021

10 Surprising facts about Christmas in the Netherlands

The Netherlands, like every other Christian country in the world, has its own traditions. Some are similar if not identical to those of other countries. Some […]
6 December 2021

5 books to gift to the travel lover in your life

Christmas is coming, that’s for sure. Temperatures are dropping, the days are getting shorter quickly and one look at you town square should suffice to tell […]
6 December 2021

Stromae announces 3 concerts in Brussels, Paris, and Amsterdam

Stromae has announced that he is finally making his return on stage after 3 years. The popular singer known for the hits “Alors on danse”, “Papaoutai” […]
6 December 2021

Should the Netherlands and Belgium ban ‘Black Pete’?

Every year, the Christmas season in the Netherlands and Belgium is marked by discussions about the controversial tradition of “Zwarte Piet” (Black Pete).  Even this year, […]
2 December 2021

5 incredible ice festivals

1. Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, China Harbin in north-east China has been host to the biggest ice festival in the world since 1963, with […]
30 November 2021

3rd Edition of the Kazakh Film Festival to be held in December

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Independence of Kazakhstan, the 3rd edition of the Kazakh Film Festival will be extending its borders beyond France. This […]
24 November 2021

Top 5 pavilions currently on display at Expo 2020 Dubai

Dubai Expo 2020 is open to visitors. The Expo is the first world’s fair to be held in the Middle East and the first global event […]
23 November 2021

Do you know the history of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center?

Many people have seen it, whether in person or on TV, the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center is a recognizable image of this time of year, […]
18 November 2021

Best Little Italy neighborhoods in the US

Italians are one of the largest ethnic groups in the United States. The Italian community has managed to preserve its culture by establishing neighborhoods filled with […]
16 November 2021

These are the most common second languages spoken around the world

Spanish in the US and French in Canada, Turkish in Germany. There’s a chance you might have guessed those are the second most spoken languages in […]
16 November 2021

3 Korean locations you might recognize if you’ve watched ‘Squid Game’

Every day, millions of series and movies are being watched all over the world. With streaming platforms like Netflix an Apple TV, it was never as […]
15 November 2021

New Azores travel documentary premieres on TV5 Monde dazzling marine life lovers

On Tuesday November 9, 2021, TV5 Monde premiered a new episode of the Embarquement TV series showcasing the wonderful marine world of the Azores. The documentary […]