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.

18 January 2021

Royal British Legion Brussels history unveiled

Did you know that about 6,000 British servicemen wed Belgian women and settled here after WW2? Or that Princess Margaret’s divorcee lover Peter Townsend was unceremoniously […]
18 January 2021

Celebrating Martin Luther King Day of Service

Each year, the third Monday in January is a Day of Service and federal holiday in the USA, dedicated to the memory and service of Martin […]
14 January 2021

Amélie Nothomb: Belgium’s most eccentric writer?

To get to know Amélie Nothomb is to get know Belgium itself. The writer, like the country, is full of contradictions. Belgium is just a third […]
14 January 2021

5 books that make you want to explore the Amazon

Great books have an incredible ability to transport you; one minute you’re sat on the sofa finding your page, the next you’re exploring a far off […]
13 January 2021

In Sweden, small talk is not everyone’s cup of tea

It may seem like a totally different era, yet there certainly was a time during which we carelessly and enthusiastically travelled the world. A time during […]
13 January 2021

10 most beautiful airports in the world

With travel currently restricted and air transport being heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the airports are unfortunately not as busy as they used […]
12 January 2021

10 Premieres you’ll want to watch at home in 2021

Confinement periods are being extended in different parts of the world, specially in Europe. Vaccination has started but it remains unclear how soon the safety measures […]
11 January 2021

The film festival you can attend all alone on a Swedish island

The beginning of 2021 is looking a lot like 2020, with social distancing key nowadays due to Covid-19. Cinema is among the hardest hit by this pandemic, however, […]
11 January 2021

What is Japan’s Coming of Age Day?

Today, on Monday 11th January, millions of young Japanese people are celebrating turning 20 years old by dressing up and attending traditional ceremonies to honour Japan’s […]
6 January 2021

Visiting the House of European History in Brussels

On the 7th of December, the House of European History reopened its doors to visitors. The new temporary exhibition is called: “Fake for Real: A History […]
6 January 2021

10 Most anticipated movies to watch in 2021

2020 has been both an indelible and forgettable year. Our lives have been, one way or another, affected by the pandemic and its consequences. As we […]
5 January 2021

Telling Stories

Many of us will recall being accused, as children, by frustrated and sometimes angry parents of “telling stories”, of making things up, of fibbing, a less […]
4 January 2021

5 exhibitions in Brussels that you can’t miss

The thrill of the new year is here – especially with the one behind us being so difficult to say the least. With all the lessons […]
31 December 2020

Miami to welcome underwater museum promoting threatened reefs

Our planet is warming up and that doesn’t stay without consequences. Pointing out every single one would lead us too far, so let’s just focus on […]
30 December 2020

In 2020 Manneken-Pis celebrated 400 years

From 16 October 2019 to 15 May 2020, the City of Brussels celebrated the 400th anniversary of Manneken-Pis. Already in the 15th century, Manneken-Pis played an […]
30 December 2020

2020 Movies that didn’t make it to the big screen due to Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic is having a terrible impact on the entire movie industry. Film productions have been stopped for a long time and most movie theatres […]
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